What people ate during World War II – level 1
11-06-2025 15:00
During World War II, two scientists, Elsie Widdowson and Robert McCance, create a very strict diet. Britain needs it when Germany stops importing food to the country. People get one egg a week, little meat, and not much sugar.
The scientists try this diet while hiking and cycling. They want to see if it is healthy. The diet can work. But people have more gas in their stomachs.
The study helps the British government decide which foods to ration, like meat and sugar. But they do not limit vegetables and bread. They also add calcium to bread. Some companies still do it today. This helps Britain stay healthy during the war.
Difficult words: diet (what you eat), import (to bring things from another country), ration (to limit the amount of food).
You can watch the original video in the Level 3 section.
What digestive issue did people notice when they tried the strict diet while hiking and cycling?
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