During World War 2 much of Britain's food came from other countries in ships, which were at risk from enemy submarines.

Consequently, rationing was introduced and we were urged to conserve food.

People had to register with local shops to use their ration books and often long queues formed as soon as people heard that shops had more supplies.

The first foods rationed were bacon, sugar, tea, butter and meat. Many more foods were rationed later, including sweets!

One egg a week was the ration in 1941. There were no bananas, so younger children did not see their first banana until the war ended.

Here is a government poster of the period.

food