An ancient 'superfood' sent from heaven
Americans had their food rationed during World War II, so people had to be creative. This led to the creation of new products and dishes, but then restrictions were over, and, again, new foods became popular. Indeed, post-war abundance led to a significant change in the diets of millions of Americans.
But what did regular folk eat after 1945, really? Well, as you're about to find out in this gallery, they ate many of today's cuisine staples!
Ready? Click on to find out what America was eating after WWII.
Peanut butter and jelly is a classic combo, and one that American soldiers enjoyed during WWII. When troops returned home, the popularity of the combo exploded across the nation.
Convenient, easy to prepare, and tasty, PB&J sandwiches became a staple in post-war America. These would be eaten anywhere, from homes to schools and workplaces, and the sandwich's popularity has never really died down ever since.
Spam, originally sold as "spiced ham," hit the shelves when WWII began. The canned pork meat product was also included in military rations. The Hormel Foods creation gained even more popularity after the war, not only in America but also in countries that were introduced to it by American troops.
This is particularly true for those on the Pacific home front. To this day, Spam remains hugely popular in places like Guam and the Philippines. Back in the US, Spam became a staple after the war.
M&Ms were included in military C-rations during the war. After 1945, the candy became popular among the general public.
Meatloaf dates all the way back to medieval Europe, but it didn't reach the Americas until the 1870s. The dish became increasingly popular during the Great Depression, WWII, and post-war.
The budget-friendly dish could be made with a number of leftovers, meats, and things like breadcrumbs. This comfort food remains popular to this day.
Powdered cheese was used by troops for its light weight and overall convenience. After the war, there was an excess of if, so the military sold it to a number of private companies. One of those companies was Frito (later Frito-Lay), which decided to use the cheese to coat puffed cornmeal pieces, and voilà: Cheetos were born!
Another company to make use of powdered cheese was Kraft. Their instant Macaroni & Cheese was invented in 1937 and gained popularity during and after the war.
Orange juice concentrate as we know it was born in 1945. Minute Maid hit the shelves and OJ became a staple in the diet of millions of Americans.
Introduced in the beginning of the 20th century, cereal became a popular breakfast food, especially among children. By the 1950s, these had become a staple in American households.
The first presweetened cereal was introduced in America in 1939, and the sugary trend exploded in the post-war period.
Wonder Bread was the first presliced bread to hit the shelves nationwide in the US. It became the bread of choice for millions of Americans during the 1950s and '60s.
Originally launched in 1949, these prepackaged frozen meals became all the rage in the 1950s. Swanson, the company that marketed these as "TV Dinners," sold 25 million units in 1954 alone.
Many Americans had television sets in their homes by then, and the convenience and price of these frozen meals proved to be a huge success after the war.
Casseroles were easy to prepare, tasty, and budget-friendly, making it the perfect filling comfort food in post-war America.
By the 1950s, numerous brands were advertising their own casserole recipes (where their products would be included, of course), so anyone could cook easy and delicious meals.
This alternative to lard was created in 1911, but it didn't become really popular in the US until the 1950s. Crisco was the first shortening entirely made of vegetable oil.
The original formula contained partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, but their formula later changed to reduce the amount of trans fat. The brand is still going strong to this day.
Consisting of just a few ingredients, fruit cobblers became a popular dessert during WWII, and remain a popular staple of American cuisine to this day.
Ovaltine (or Ovomaltine) was first introduced as a healthy drink. Pictured is an ad in an American medical journal from 1917.
But it was not until the 1950s that Ovaltine became really popular. This was mostly due to their advertising. The popular milk flavoring product has survived to this day.
Aspic, also called meat jelly, can be found in a number of cuisines around the world, but it was not until the early 20th century that it made its way to America.
By the 1950s, many American homes had refrigerators, so the cold required to set the jelly was no longer an issue. Aspic became one of the most popular post-war foods.
Chop suey is said to have been introduced in San Francisco during the Gold Rush. This American Chinese dish became increasingly popular in the 1920s, but it was not until the '50s that it really exploded in popularity.
Chop suey was easy to make, nutritious, and very filling, making it very popular in American households.
Ground beef became popular during WWII because it required fewer ration stamps than other meat cuts. As a result, many recipes were created with it, including stuffed peppers.
Sources: (National Park Service) (Tasting Table) (Ranker)
See also: What’s on your table? How America’s diet changed since the 1970s
Unusual dishes Americans ate after WWII
The American diet changed in the post-war period
FOOD Diet
Americans had their food rationed during World War II, so people had to be creative. This led to the creation of new products and dishes, but then restrictions were over, and, again, new foods became popular. Indeed, post-war abundance led to a significant change in the diets of millions of Americans.
But what did regular folk eat after 1945, really? Well, as you're about to find out in this gallery, they ate many of today's cuisine staples!
Ready? Click on to find out what America was eating after WWII.