Bland Foods of Your Ancestors

In the 20^th Century, some of the big events your ancestors went through included the Spanish Flu, World War One, Prohibition (no alcohol), Women getting the right to vote, the Roaring Twenties; the Stock Market Crash in 1929, and then the Great Depression-with people out of work.

Many people saw the introduction of more ethnic foods due to the increased number of immigrants to America, felt these ethnic foods were too spicy and might agitate the body and arouse a hidden addiction. The view that spicy or stimulating foods could make one crave more and more, leading an addictive personality to lose control.

So many families and school lunch programs went to eating very bland foods. Examples would be toasted cheese sandwiches, simple sandwiches, tomato soup, potatoes, and split pea soup. Also during the 1930s, spices and exotic foods were more expensive. Eating bland foods was all they could afford. Even chocolate and cocoa were expensive so that was a treat to have. The main spices in a household were salt, pepper, molasses or honey, sugar, cinnamon and bay leaves.

Your ancestors held the belief of brand food and not too many spices through the 1930s and well to after 1945 and the end of World War Two.

By the 1950s, having foods associated with German, French, Italian, Mexican, or Polynesian cooking grew to be popular.

Photo: Split Pea Soup

Related FamilyTree.com Blogs:

Early 20^th Century

Photos of the 1930s-1940s

Beginning of the Consumer Age