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