Weird Foods People Ate to Get Through the Great Depression
video description
Date: 2022-12-29
Related videos
• TED-Ed
Comments and reviews: 20
Kyprioth
This wasnt during the Great Depression, but my mother grew up very poor on a farm in the Australian outback.
They had a pot that was constantly kept warm on the stove. If there were any leftovers on anyones plate from any meal, it would be scraped into the pot.
It didnt matter if it was porridge from breakfast, the occasional sweet, breadcrumbs, meat or vegetables.
They would eat whatever was in the pot for a meal on Saturdays.
They did it since my Pop would come home every Sunday after working his second job all week. My Nan needed money to afford the Sunday roast to feed him.
If there was food left in the pot, it was put back on the stove for the next Saturday
My mother says that you could always find porridge, onions, carrots and some rabbit her brothers caught somewhere in it. She always says that it didnt taste that bad since my Nan was good with the spices lol.
reply
This wasnt during the Great Depression, but my mother grew up very poor on a farm in the Australian outback.
They had a pot that was constantly kept warm on the stove. If there were any leftovers on anyones plate from any meal, it would be scraped into the pot.
It didnt matter if it was porridge from breakfast, the occasional sweet, breadcrumbs, meat or vegetables.
They would eat whatever was in the pot for a meal on Saturdays.
They did it since my Pop would come home every Sunday after working his second job all week. My Nan needed money to afford the Sunday roast to feed him.
If there was food left in the pot, it was put back on the stove for the next Saturday
My mother says that you could always find porridge, onions, carrots and some rabbit her brothers caught somewhere in it. She always says that it didnt taste that bad since my Nan was good with the spices lol.
reply
kettch777
I'll admit the peanut butter stuffed onions sound weird. but did they try making it with natural, no sugar peanut butter like they had back then or with modern peanut butter with additives like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and honey? I think the natural peanut butter would at least taste a lot more savory than the modern sweetened kind. My grandfather remembers eating a lot of potato soup during the Depression. so much so that he never wants potato soup again (and hasn't since then) He taught us a poem from the era, once. Sugarless, eggless, butterless cake, stands on the shelf and denies that it's fake. With the way the economy is going we may have to resurrect these recipes as more than just a curiosity, unfortunately. I have a couple of recipes I make to save money using cheap ingredients like potatoes, hot dogs, garlic, and onions.
reply
I'll admit the peanut butter stuffed onions sound weird. but did they try making it with natural, no sugar peanut butter like they had back then or with modern peanut butter with additives like sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and honey? I think the natural peanut butter would at least taste a lot more savory than the modern sweetened kind. My grandfather remembers eating a lot of potato soup during the Depression. so much so that he never wants potato soup again (and hasn't since then) He taught us a poem from the era, once. Sugarless, eggless, butterless cake, stands on the shelf and denies that it's fake. With the way the economy is going we may have to resurrect these recipes as more than just a curiosity, unfortunately. I have a couple of recipes I make to save money using cheap ingredients like potatoes, hot dogs, garlic, and onions.
reply
PhantomLover007
I grew up in the 70s and early 80s eating dandelion salad. My grandmother used to love making it and it actually tasted really good. She would browned some potatoes, wilt the Dandelion, and pour a white bacon dressing on it that had some apple cider vinegar in it. It was really good. As far as SOS, grew up eating that also, all the time with the dried beef in it. Never (even in my time in the army) had it with peas and gelatin. But it is a staple in the army made with ground beef. My mom still makes it from time to time with the dried beef over toast. So delicious
Eight other things that folks would consider weird. Grandmother would make fried snapping turtle nuggets.
My stepdad who also grew up in depression in coal country was used to eating beans with scallions and bits of ham/pork in it and cornbread all the time.
reply
I grew up in the 70s and early 80s eating dandelion salad. My grandmother used to love making it and it actually tasted really good. She would browned some potatoes, wilt the Dandelion, and pour a white bacon dressing on it that had some apple cider vinegar in it. It was really good. As far as SOS, grew up eating that also, all the time with the dried beef in it. Never (even in my time in the army) had it with peas and gelatin. But it is a staple in the army made with ground beef. My mom still makes it from time to time with the dried beef over toast. So delicious
Eight other things that folks would consider weird. Grandmother would make fried snapping turtle nuggets.
My stepdad who also grew up in depression in coal country was used to eating beans with scallions and bits of ham/pork in it and cornbread all the time.
reply
Texas60
My Parents also grew up during the Depression. Altho my Mother was born during the end of the Depression. They didn't really have problems and She and her Siblings an Parents lived on a farm. My Dad an his Siblings and Parents Grew up in a few small towns from before to pretty much the end of the Depression. They were very poor. My Dad said his most memorable moment during the time was when he was young and didn't understand what they were, was when he pasting Sugar Stamps on the wall, said the thought his Dad was going to beat his half to death. We Grandpa did whip him pretty bad but Grandma stopped him before it got any further. Grandma was able to save the stamps and use them. Since I was born way after the Great Depression my Favorite food was Grandmas homemade Donuts. They were so good.
reply
My Parents also grew up during the Depression. Altho my Mother was born during the end of the Depression. They didn't really have problems and She and her Siblings an Parents lived on a farm. My Dad an his Siblings and Parents Grew up in a few small towns from before to pretty much the end of the Depression. They were very poor. My Dad said his most memorable moment during the time was when he was young and didn't understand what they were, was when he pasting Sugar Stamps on the wall, said the thought his Dad was going to beat his half to death. We Grandpa did whip him pretty bad but Grandma stopped him before it got any further. Grandma was able to save the stamps and use them. Since I was born way after the Great Depression my Favorite food was Grandmas homemade Donuts. They were so good.
reply
CamaroAmx
We still eat some of this stuff today. Mac and cheese, tomato soup, various loafs, liverwurst, SOS, and that hot dog pasta recipe are all staples I grew up with and still eat today. If I go out for breakfast to a restaurant, its always SOS. The only way I know how to make meatloaf is exactly as described and I was born 50+ years after the Great Depression ended.
My grandfather was born towards the end of the depression but he still had some strange tastes in food. My guess is his family kept making the same meals for many years after the Great Depression. Many of the recipes handed down through the generations probably had roots in the Great Depression.
reply
We still eat some of this stuff today. Mac and cheese, tomato soup, various loafs, liverwurst, SOS, and that hot dog pasta recipe are all staples I grew up with and still eat today. If I go out for breakfast to a restaurant, its always SOS. The only way I know how to make meatloaf is exactly as described and I was born 50+ years after the Great Depression ended.
My grandfather was born towards the end of the depression but he still had some strange tastes in food. My guess is his family kept making the same meals for many years after the Great Depression. Many of the recipes handed down through the generations probably had roots in the Great Depression.
reply
Pamela
My parents were a product of the Depression! I ate SOS and still love it (I make sure I rinse it as it is soooo salty. I also make Hamburger soup. Each so simple but delicious. Potato soup is also one of my favorites. Doesn't need anything but potatoes, onions, salted water & evaporated milk (the French would add a good knob of butter; ). Even as a young adult, on my own, I could always fall back of those meals. I was never hungry unless time or circumstances kept me from cooking. My father insisted there be a good meal on the table every night (he never wanted to see his kids be hungry. To this day, I can always rely on those Depression meals.
reply
My parents were a product of the Depression! I ate SOS and still love it (I make sure I rinse it as it is soooo salty. I also make Hamburger soup. Each so simple but delicious. Potato soup is also one of my favorites. Doesn't need anything but potatoes, onions, salted water & evaporated milk (the French would add a good knob of butter; ). Even as a young adult, on my own, I could always fall back of those meals. I was never hungry unless time or circumstances kept me from cooking. My father insisted there be a good meal on the table every night (he never wanted to see his kids be hungry. To this day, I can always rely on those Depression meals.
reply
Sophie
Didn't grow up during that time, but my Parents were born in the 40's, and my Grandma was a good cook. My Mom still made certain things from that era. Creamed tuna on toast was one item. Cinnamon sugar toast was another thing we loved. English pea salad would have probably been after the war, but was another yummy. The last I remember was puffy salad. It was green pistachio pudding, with crushed pineapple, whipped cream, and mini marshmallows. The one thing I would never eat, was carrot salad! It was shredded carrots, raisins, and a mayo base. Lol
reply
Didn't grow up during that time, but my Parents were born in the 40's, and my Grandma was a good cook. My Mom still made certain things from that era. Creamed tuna on toast was one item. Cinnamon sugar toast was another thing we loved. English pea salad would have probably been after the war, but was another yummy. The last I remember was puffy salad. It was green pistachio pudding, with crushed pineapple, whipped cream, and mini marshmallows. The one thing I would never eat, was carrot salad! It was shredded carrots, raisins, and a mayo base. Lol
reply
Diva
Legit question: why are so many videos that talk about the past so condescending and belittling? Sure, the beginning talked a tiny bit about how hard times were and how people starved to death, but then went on and made fun of people for trying to experiment with what little food they did have. If this is what people with money we're eating during the Great Depression, imagine what people without money we're eating or trying to eat. These were people too.
reply
Legit question: why are so many videos that talk about the past so condescending and belittling? Sure, the beginning talked a tiny bit about how hard times were and how people starved to death, but then went on and made fun of people for trying to experiment with what little food they did have. If this is what people with money we're eating during the Great Depression, imagine what people without money we're eating or trying to eat. These were people too.
reply
Think
My grandmother (who grew up in the depression) made excellent corned beef in gravy on biscuits. I became a vegetarian later on but that is one food I am nostalgic for and may try to make a veggie version of it with faux meat. Also, southern staples such as kidney beans and rice, okra, corn bread, black-eyed peas, collard greens -- you could make an inexpensive meal that was filling and good.
reply
My grandmother (who grew up in the depression) made excellent corned beef in gravy on biscuits. I became a vegetarian later on but that is one food I am nostalgic for and may try to make a veggie version of it with faux meat. Also, southern staples such as kidney beans and rice, okra, corn bread, black-eyed peas, collard greens -- you could make an inexpensive meal that was filling and good.
reply
park
We seldom had anything pork or chicken growing up. Turns out, during the depression beef was a money maker, so pork and chicken were their go to foods and dad really didnt want them often anymore. The depression was hard on dads family but they had a well developed orchard and fruit garden as well as veggie garden, honey sources and those chickens so they at least had food variety.
reply
We seldom had anything pork or chicken growing up. Turns out, during the depression beef was a money maker, so pork and chicken were their go to foods and dad really didnt want them often anymore. The depression was hard on dads family but they had a well developed orchard and fruit garden as well as veggie garden, honey sources and those chickens so they at least had food variety.
reply
Teresa
You may get to it in this article, but there were assorted recipes for nuttoes: casseroles made of peanut butter and tomato sauce or paste. with some seasonings if there were some. I had an old nutto recipe and lost it, but it was basically pretty simple. Equal parts I seem to remember. Unmixed peanut butter can be thicker if you dump some of the oil out, if your sauce is thinner.
reply
You may get to it in this article, but there were assorted recipes for nuttoes: casseroles made of peanut butter and tomato sauce or paste. with some seasonings if there were some. I had an old nutto recipe and lost it, but it was basically pretty simple. Equal parts I seem to remember. Unmixed peanut butter can be thicker if you dump some of the oil out, if your sauce is thinner.
reply
Joy
Some of these sound terrible but that peanut butter and onion takes the cake. Lord! Why not just eat the peanut butter solo and drink some water.
I've eaten some things others will call weird like caterpillar, crickets, snails, frogs, Bush rats, antelope but I think I'd draw the line at onion and peanut butter.
reply
Some of these sound terrible but that peanut butter and onion takes the cake. Lord! Why not just eat the peanut butter solo and drink some water.
I've eaten some things others will call weird like caterpillar, crickets, snails, frogs, Bush rats, antelope but I think I'd draw the line at onion and peanut butter.
reply
Chuck
So simple - my nana born 1903 wound up with the simplest thing - sliced spam, a slice of cheese and topped with baked beans - in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or so - a culinary delight - heck even my kids these days LOVE it - (i put a bead of yellow mustard on top for a bit of zip): )
reply
So simple - my nana born 1903 wound up with the simplest thing - sliced spam, a slice of cheese and topped with baked beans - in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes or so - a culinary delight - heck even my kids these days LOVE it - (i put a bead of yellow mustard on top for a bit of zip): )
reply
Garlic
I honestly wouldn't mind some slices of the Ritz mock pie. Looking at it, I am not surprised people have asked for its comeback several time. It seems particularly practical these days, if you have the ingredients and don't want to shop for others and make a fancy pie.
reply
I honestly wouldn't mind some slices of the Ritz mock pie. Looking at it, I am not surprised people have asked for its comeback several time. It seems particularly practical these days, if you have the ingredients and don't want to shop for others and make a fancy pie.
reply
Mute
If youre ever in a tight situation, every part of the dandelion can be eaten and used in different ways, some people even make the roots into a sort of coffee. You just need a ton of them. As a kid I figured out how to make crafts with the glue inside the stem too
reply
If youre ever in a tight situation, every part of the dandelion can be eaten and used in different ways, some people even make the roots into a sort of coffee. You just need a ton of them. As a kid I figured out how to make crafts with the glue inside the stem too
reply
Dale
My mother, with a B. A. in Home Economics, would occasionally serve our family S. O. S for an evening meal; it was gross! (That was in the 1950s & 60s) On a lighter note, I am enjoying watching your video series on Weird Foods. I appreciate your sense of humor!
reply
My mother, with a B. A. in Home Economics, would occasionally serve our family S. O. S for an evening meal; it was gross! (That was in the 1950s & 60s) On a lighter note, I am enjoying watching your video series on Weird Foods. I appreciate your sense of humor!
reply
Sully
My mom would dress up sos by adding peas and hard boiled chopped eggs then serving them with waffles. My mamaw made mulligan stew out of hamburger and tomato soup, and whatever canned vegetables she had on hand, then serve it with a side of hominy.
reply
My mom would dress up sos by adding peas and hard boiled chopped eggs then serving them with waffles. My mamaw made mulligan stew out of hamburger and tomato soup, and whatever canned vegetables she had on hand, then serve it with a side of hominy.
reply
Deborah
I grew up during the 60s. I seem to remember this depression pie showing up at least a few times/year as an adult. My aunt always baked blueberry pie from the blueberries we picked from the bush in the yard. It was the best pie in the world!
reply
I grew up during the 60s. I seem to remember this depression pie showing up at least a few times/year as an adult. My aunt always baked blueberry pie from the blueberries we picked from the bush in the yard. It was the best pie in the world!
reply
Tera
My mom and grandmother both made Chipped beef over toast or SOS. They make it with dried chip beef White gravy and sweet peas over toast is surprisingly good Do not add the vinegar or jellytin none of that
reply
My mom and grandmother both made Chipped beef over toast or SOS. They make it with dried chip beef White gravy and sweet peas over toast is surprisingly good Do not add the vinegar or jellytin none of that
reply
weird_history
My grandmother said they couldn't survive on PB&J. First she said they had no jelly, then no peanut butter then no bread. She did say the pictures they ate of food filled them up fast.
reply
My grandmother said they couldn't survive on PB&J. First she said they had no jelly, then no peanut butter then no bread. She did say the pictures they ate of food filled them up fast.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
