These 14 Unusual Foods Kept People Alive During the Great Depression Era

The Great Depression saw a drastic economic decline from 1929 until 1939. It was the longest and most severe economic downturn on record and affected many parts of the world, especially the US and Europe. 

During the Great Depression era, people cared less about how appetizing the food was and more about how cheap and wholesome it could be. These characteristics are how the plate termed “the Poor Man’s Meal” was created. 

Today, Americans consume more pizza than any other country, with three billion pizzas sold in the US each year. With sauce, cheese, and delicious toppings to choose from, it’s no wonder the figure is so high.

Considering what Americans filled their bellies with during the Great Depression, it is true that necessity births invention. Oddly, a peanut butter and pickle sandwich was a cheap lunch counter staple at the time. 

One of the popular dishes enjoyed by families living in the shanty towns of Hooverville (the poor areas on the outskirt of town) was “Hoover Stew.” The Hoover Stew, inspired by President Herbert Hoover, was an early rendition to the modern-day meal of macaroni and hot dogs.

“Creamed Chip Beef on Toast,” nicknamed SOS (same old stuff), was a to-go source of protein for people who lived during the Great Depression because it was inexpensive. It was served to the US Army in the late nineteenth century before making its way into the American kitchen during the Depression.

During the period of the Great Depression, many had to pool their resources together, leading to meals like the “Garbage Plate.” No, this meal wasn’t made from actual garbage. Instead, it was a mash-up of macaroni salad, home fries, baked beans, and sausage or cheeseburger topped with beef chili, white onions, mustard, and ketchup or hot sauce.

The economic darkness caused by the Depression made Americans create recipes with a renewed focus on hearty, simple dishes that provided nutrition despite the scarcity of many ingredients.

Loaves were very popular during the great depression as it was one of those foods that could last a long time. When certain ingredients were unavailable, bakers and homemakers were forced to make different adaptations to them.

When fresh food produce was sold at a premium, people turned to the land to survive. Edible plants like dandelions provided the basis for meals like “Dandelion Salad,” which was dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, and a pinch of salt. 

One of the foods recommended by the Bureau of Home Economics to help the economy during the Great Depression was “Peanut Butter-Stuffed Onions.” The meal was made by simply baking an onion, removing the inner parts of it, and stuffing it with peanut butter.

Depression-era recipes like vinegar pie, also called “Desperation Pie,” made the rounds during the 1930s. With American families struggling to survive on the bare minimum, people were forced to substitute their meals, hence the term “desperation pies.” 

No ice cream? No problem. Being the Great Depression, cream and thickening agents used to make modern-day ice creams were impossible to come by. Thus, people improvised with ice cream substitutes to make no-churn ice cream. 

One of the cheapest fruits available during the Depression era was prunes. Some of the common desserts that could be made with the fruit were prune pudding, prune whip, etc. The dessert was made with sugar and cornstarch with boiled or dried prunes.

Last but definitely not least is “Amish Cold Milk Soup,” which is still a staple in Amish households today. The meal is the simple combination of milk, bananas, and sugar in a bowl and is usually served cold on a summer day—just envision cereal without actual cereal.

Bite-sized pieces of dry or hard bread are put in the bottom of a bowl when making coffee soup. Then, freshly made coffee was poured over the bread, and sugar, cream or milk were added. This was done until a gruel was made.  

This food is a vegetable stew with turtle meat added instead of chicken or beef. To make the soup, the turtle meat is slowly cooked with carrots, celery, and onions in a pot of water. After the turtle has been cooked, it is taken out of the pot while still in its shell. 

During the Great Depression, popcorn was one of the few things that could be bought for a low price. Some people turned their popcorn into a meal by putting milk on it instead of melted butter and eating it as a main source of food. 

During the Great Depression, beans were used as a base for a lot of different recipes because they were easy to find and cheap. Baked beans were a popular side dish and sometimes even a whole meal because they were cheap and easy to make. 

Because they were so versatile, potatoes were used as the base for a huge number of different meals during the Great Depression. One of the easiest and most delicious ways that potatoes were used was to make pancakes. During the Great Depression, potato pancakes were most often made with baking powder, flour, and an egg.