| Vintage cook books are catching the eyes - and | | | | served this food.The point is, there's no mention |
| dollars - of customers. For some, vintage cook | | | | of a double cheeseburger, giant order of fries, or |
| books are a trip down memory lane, a chance to | | | | supersized soda pop. What is the "new" news in |
| recreate childhood recipes. Other customers are | | | | this old cook book? It's eating fruit and |
| interested in food history. Avid cook book | | | | vegetables, things that can help us to feel fit and |
| collectors may buy a cook book for one recipe | | | | live longer lives. This news could help to reverse |
| only.Old cook books, the ones our mothers and | | | | the obesity trend.According to government |
| grandmothers used, have things to tell us. "The | | | | statistics 65% of Americans are overweight. |
| Victory Cook Book," published in 1943, is a good | | | | Many Americans are eating double or triple |
| example. The title page tells you instantly what | | | | servings of food and it shows. Go to a mall and |
| the book is about. "Wartime Edition," the page | | | | you'll see people who are waddling, not walking, |
| declares, "With Victory Substitutes and Economical | | | | people who are at risk for heart disease and |
| Recipes for Delicious Wartime Meals."The key | | | | diabetes. Some Americans are literally eating |
| words for Americans in the thoes of a war were | | | | themelves to death.Maybe it's time to return to |
| "substitutes" and "economical." This cook book told | | | | the foods recommended in "The Victory Cook |
| them how prepare store food and home grown | | | | Book." We can plan meals around fresh fruit, |
| food. Cooks were told how to render the fat | | | | vegetables, whole grains, small servings of meat, |
| from meat, which was put in cans and turned in | | | | and few sweets. The best news of all is that |
| to local butcher shops. Hard as it is to believe, this | | | | fresh vegetables and fruit taste really good.The |
| fat was made into explosives.A large section of | | | | next time you go to a used book store or are on |
| the book is devoted to menu planning. Doughnuts, | | | | the Internet, look for vintage cook books. Find |
| cookies, and pancakes were to be eaten only | | | | books that feature fresh fruits, vegetables, and |
| after you had eaten "wholesome foods." Meat | | | | vegetarian meals. Look for brand name cook |
| was eaten in small amounts. Sweets were to be | | | | books and booklets, too. You may be surprised at |
| eaten in moderation and "The Victory Cook Book" | | | | their "new" and healthy news.Copyright 2006 by |
| recommends eating salad for dessert.Meat was | | | | Harriet Hodgson Hodgson has been a nonfiction |
| scarce during World War II the chapter on | | | | writer for 27 years and is a member of the |
| meatless meals must have been very helpful. Just | | | | Association of Health Care Journalists. Before she |
| reading a dinner menu can make you feel full. A | | | | became a health writer she was a food writer for |
| sample dinner menu includes chilled fruit, stuffed | | | | the former "Rochester Magazine" in her |
| tomatoes, parsley potatoes, creamed asparagus, | | | | hometown of Rochester, MN. Her 24th book, |
| pumpkin pie, and milk. If that didn't fill you up | | | | "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," |
| nothing would.School cafeteria menus continued | | | | written with Lois Krahn, MD is available from A |
| the fruit and vegetable theme. A sample lunch | | | | five-star review of the book is also posted on |
| menu menu includes brown bread sandwiches filled | | | | Amazon. You'll find another review on The |
| with cottage cheese, a thermos of cocoa, | | | | Ameican Hospice Foundation website under the |
| applesauce, and graham crackers. Today's kids | | | | "School Corner" heading. |
| would probably strike if their school cafeteria | | | | |