| Vintage cook books are catching the eyes - and | | | | would. |
| dollars - of customers. For some, vintage cook books | | | | School cafeteria menus continued the fruit and |
| are a trip down memory lane, a chance to recreate | | | | vegetable theme. A sample lunch menu menu includes |
| childhood recipes. Other customers are interested in | | | | brown bread sandwiches filled with cottage cheese, a |
| food history. Avid cook book collectors may buy a | | | | thermos of cocoa, applesauce, and graham crackers. |
| cook book for one recipe only. | | | | Today's kids would probably strike if their school |
| Old cook books, the ones our mothers and | | | | cafeteria served this food. |
| grandmothers used, have things to tell us. "The | | | | The point is, there's no mention of a double |
| Victory Cook Book," published in 1943, is a good | | | | cheeseburger, giant order of fries, or supersized soda |
| example. The title page tells you instantly what the | | | | pop. What is the "new" news in this old cook book? |
| book is about. "Wartime Edition," the page declares, | | | | It's eating fruit and vegetables, things that can help |
| "With Victory Substitutes and Economical Recipes for | | | | us to feel fit and live longer lives. This news could |
| Delicious Wartime Meals." | | | | help to reverse the obesity trend. |
| The key words for Americans in the thoes of a war | | | | According to government statistics 65% of |
| were "substitutes" and "economical." This cook book | | | | Americans are overweight. Many Americans are |
| told them how prepare store food and home grown | | | | eating double or triple servings of food and it shows. |
| food. Cooks were told how to render the fat from | | | | Go to a mall and you'll see people who are waddling, |
| meat, which was put in cans and turned in to local | | | | not walking, people who are at risk for heart disease |
| butcher shops. Hard as it is to believe, this fat was | | | | and diabetes. Some Americans are literally eating |
| made into explosives. | | | | themelves to death. |
| A large section of the book is devoted to menu | | | | Maybe it's time to return to the foods recommended |
| planning. Doughnuts, cookies, and pancakes were to | | | | in "The Victory Cook Book." We can plan meals |
| be eaten only after you had eaten "wholesome | | | | around fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, small |
| foods." Meat was eaten in small amounts. Sweets | | | | servings of meat, and few sweets. The best news |
| were to be eaten in moderation and "The Victory | | | | of all is that fresh vegetables and fruit taste really |
| Cook Book" recommends eating salad for dessert. | | | | good. |
| Meat was scarce during World War II the chapter on | | | | The next time you go to a used book store or are |
| meatless meals must have been very helpful. Just | | | | on the Internet, look for vintage cook books. Find |
| reading a dinner menu can make you feel full. A | | | | books that feature fresh fruits, vegetables, and |
| sample dinner menu includes chilled fruit, stuffed | | | | vegetarian meals. Look for brand name cook books |
| tomatoes, parsley potatoes, creamed asparagus, | | | | and booklets, too. You may be surprised at their |
| pumpkin pie, and milk. If that didn't fill you up nothing | | | | "new" and healthy news. |