School Lunch from the Great Depression
Tasting History with Max Miller・15 minutes read
School lunches have evolved significantly since 1934 when they included peanut butter and tomato soup, a butter sandwich, Hermit cookies, an apple, and milk from the cookbook 'School Lunches With Recipes to Serve 50 Children'. Various countries like Germany, France, England, and the US have implemented school lunch programs to combat child hunger, with the National School Lunch Act of 1946 shaping the standard cafeteria model for school lunches in the mid-1900s.
Insights
- School lunches in the 1930s consisted of peanut butter and tomato soup, a butter sandwich, a Hermit cookie, an apple, and milk, showcasing the historical evolution of school meal programs with specific recipes from the cookbook 'School Lunches With Recipes to Serve 50 Children'.
- The development of school lunch programs globally, from Munich in 1790 to France in 1867 and the US in 1853, was influenced by historical events like the Great Depression, leading to the National School Lunch Act of 1946 and subsequent changes driven by lobbying, privatization, and nutritional guidelines.
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Recent questions
What were school lunches like in 1934?
School lunches in 1934 consisted of peanut butter and tomato soup, a butter sandwich, a Hermit cookie, an apple, and milk.
Where did school lunches originate?
School lunches began in Munich, Germany in 1790, organized by Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford.
When did France start school lunch programs?
France started school lunch programs in 1867, with publicly funded canteens in Paris.
Why were school lunches introduced in the US during the Great Depression?
The Great Depression led to increased child hunger due to parents being out of work and unable to afford food, prompting the introduction of school lunches through the New Deal.
What was the purpose of the National School Lunch Act of 1946?
The National School Lunch Act of 1946 was passed to ensure healthier children and prosperous farmers, leading to the standard cafeteria model for school lunches in the 1950s and 60s.
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Summary
00:00
Historical School Lunches: Peanut Butter & Soup
- In 1934, school lunches consisted of peanut butter and tomato soup, a butter sandwich, a Hermit cookie, an apple, and milk.
- The recipes for this meal come from the cookbook 'School Lunches With Recipes to Serve 50 Children'.
- To make the peanut butter and tomato soup, you need a #10 can of tomatoes, flour, smooth peanut butter, chopped onions, and salt.
- The soup recipe involves pressing canned tomatoes through a sieve, mixing them with flour and peanut butter, and cooking for 10 minutes.
- The hermit cookie recipe requires flour, dried skim milk, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, butter, light brown sugar, eggs, and raisins.
- The cookie dough is scooped onto baking sheets and baked at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 8 to 10 minutes.
- School lunches began in Munich, Germany in 1790, organized by Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford.
- France started school lunch programs in 1867, with publicly funded canteens in Paris.
- England passed the Provision of Meals Act for school lunches, including desserts like gypsy tart and spotted dick.
- In the US, local lunch programs began in 1853, with Robert Hunter's book 'Poverty' highlighting the need for feeding hungry children.
11:53
Evolution of American School Lunches: A History
- The Great Depression led to increased child hunger due to parents being out of work and unable to afford food, prompting the introduction of school lunches through the New Deal.
- School lunches initially featured meat-heavy meals like salisbury steak due to surplus pork and beef, a result of the Great Depression.
- The National School Lunch Act of 1946 was passed to ensure healthier children and prosperous farmers, leading to the standard cafeteria model for school lunches in the 1950s and 60s.
- Over the years, school lunches in America saw changes influenced by lobbying, privatization, and nutritional guidelines, with recent efforts to improve food quality and nutrition.
