March 29 - 1942: Food rationed during World War II

Momma and I went to school yesterday afternoon to get our ration books. It is March 1942 and the United States is at war in Europe and in the Pacific. Each person in our family gets a book with coupons for things like meat, sugar and butter. These coupons don’t mean we save money when we buy special things. They say we have the right to buy special things. Momma couldn’t buy beef if she didn’t have a coupon, even if she has the money. Everyone’s coupons are the same. My book has just as many food coupons as Daddy’s book. Momma and Daddy get special coupons for gasoline, though. They both drive the car and receive coupons for three gallons of gas a week. Coupons are our way of contributing to the war effort.

America has sent a lot of soldiers into Europe, Africa and the Pacific. It takes a lot to support our troops. The country needs to be able to send food to the military overseas. They need to send gas, clothes and rubber for our soldiers to use, too. Manufacturing plants had made trucks and tractors for farms. Now they are making jeeps, navy ships and airplanes.

Even our chores help America. My brother and I have a route gathering metal. Every Saturday we collect cans and put them in our red wagon. We pull it from house to house picking up things to be recycled. I even help Momma in our Victory Garden. We grow vegetables so we don’t have to buy them in the store. Saturday after our collection route, I weed the garden. Daddy helps us take coffee grounds from the percolator. We spread the grounds around the plants for fertilizer to help them grow.

The war has changed our lives in funny ways. I still go to school. Daddy still goes to work. Momma takes care of the house and little Jaime. But Aunt Betty goes to work in the plant while Uncle Joe is in the Pacific with the Navy. Things are different at home too. Daddy put a map of Europe on the wall. Every night after he listens to the radio he moves colored pins around the map. Shopping takes longer. Momma trades coupons with the neighbors. Last week was my birthday. She tried real hard to get some eggs for a birthday cake but couldn’t. We had an eggless cake for my party. She tried real hard and I told her it was good.

I remember before the war. Life was better. Little Jaime doesn’t know any better. All he knows is life during the war. I hope it ends soon!

March 29 - 1942: Food rationed during World War II

Before Reading: Have you ever not been able to eat what you wanted?

Check Comprehension: What was rationed during World War II? (Coupons were needed to buy meat, sugar, butter, eggs and gasoline.) What are some things kids could do to help during this time? (They could collect metal to recycle or help in Victory Gardens to grow vegetables.) How is life different because of the war? (Due to the war some women went to work and some parents were fighting overseas.)

Discussion Questions: What kind of sacrifices do kids make when their parents are in the army or navy? Answers will include their parents aren’t at home for long periods of time, they have extra chores. Discussion will lead to how the children can be sensitive to their fellow students.