I made a spinach nut loaf today and a family member asked me about the origin of the dish. I reckoned it came about during the 1970s vegetarian movement. I was off by several decades. Turns out, spinach loaf and nut loaf were recipes dating to the first world war.
I came across this e-book on the internet, published in 1918, advising the home economist how to cut down on consumption of meat, wheat, fat, and sugar in order to save food for the Allied soldiers fighting in Europe during World War I. Given the 1918 publication date, I reckon they were a bit late with their message. This e-book a fascinating look at how our grandparents ate compared to us - particularly during times of strife (I also own five cookbooks from the Depression - same idea).
That said, the recommendations to cut down on meat, fat, and sugar are as relevant today but for different reasons. I was astonished to read here that the recommended calorie intake for a 'sedentary' woman in 1918 is 2400 calories per day. I'm sure sedentary by 1918 homemaker standards was busy by today's truly sedentary standards for those of us who toil by pushing buttons from a chair all day, with the bulk of movement confined to breathing.
It's also intriguing to read here how a physician of the day said that meat would eventually become just a condiment in future American cooking and not a key part of the diet. He didn't anticipate the McDonald brothers and their Henry Ford approach to creating take out food.
Click on the blog post title to view the e-book. I found some interesting cookie/cake recipes using reduced fat and sugar. Not sure what they'll taste look but it's worth a shot.
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