Here is my food journal. I have gone through a number of phases as I am sure that you have as well.

I don’t really have an memories before the age of 5. (That is another story). By the time I was 5, I have 1 had 1 brother, 2 sisters and a brother on the way. Both of my uncles lived with us. First Uncle Joe for a year. Then Uncle Dave for probably 10-12 years.

In our house, breakfast was cereal, milk, toast and some juice drink. Our cereals where things like Sugar Smacks, Fruit loops, Sugar Pops and Cheerios. On Saturday we might have oatmeal. Sunday was usually a big breakfast after church. It could be eggs and potatoes or pancakes.

 Our milk was “mixed”. We used powdered milk. We would make like 20 oz of powdered milk and then add 4 oz of whole milk for flavor. Personally, it was terrible. I hated milk.

Our school was close to home, so we went home for lunch every day during grade school years. Lunch was PB&J or peanut butter and jelly (and milk).

We would snack after school as most kids do. The rule was no snacking after 4:30 as it would interfere with dinner. Dinner was at 7 pm. That is very late for kids. We would gather around the toaster. The seven of us kids would go through a large loaf of white bread (as toast), with oleo, and cinnamon sugar. I think that we had kool aide for drinks.

When I look at what we had to eat, it is amazing that we did so well. My mother was doing the best she could with the money she had budgeted for food for 10 people.

We had a freezer. She bought meat in bulk, like the hind quarter. Our bread came from the day old bread store, which we bought in bulk and froze. Our milk was reconstituted powdered milk with a little whole milk for flavor. Mom would buy one bag of cookies and one bag of fruit each week. When it was gone, it was gone. As we got older and the kids started to cook, we did do more baking. We would make toll house cookies, peanut butter cookies and brownies from scratch.

Well, that is enough for today. I have to go and cook dinner. My son is home. 🙂

Blessings, Mary Pat

Mary Pat FitzGibbons RN MS writes on weight issues and other health issues for Baby Boomer Women.

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