To suggest that enforced national food rationing might help solve the nation's obesity problem?

[Lucia39]

During the period 1939-1954 the nation's diet was, apparently, the healthiest it has ever been.

So would a similar regime assist helping those who are increasingly "dimensionally challenged"?

Vegetables, fruit, and pulses would be more freely available but meat, dairy produce, sugar and fats would be strictly rationed.

Any thoughts?

pointydog: How do you think the British Government brought in rationing?

Anyway under a sensible programme of rationing people wouldn't be apportioned "two bits of shite a day' as you put it. Every person would be given a weekly ration of dairy produce, meat, fish, and carbohydrates [including sugars] based on their needs and that would be it. Fruit and vegetables would not be rationed but would be substantially cheaper. Take-aways, snacks, chocolate etc would be severely rationed to the point where each person was only alllowed a limited amount each month. These foods would then become treats - as they used to be - not the main diet!

I've suddenly got a feeling of déjà vu!

but lucia..there was a war on then....the world is a completely different place now...

And you (or people of the same opinion as you), would be deciding what the ratios are I assume Lucia?

It is not quicker or more convenient to cook crap!That is the cop out of all the people who can't be arsed (me inc at times).Microwave instant food seriously needs to be banned.Daftpunk saying that is the way we live these days is just daft!I wouldn't care if I'd been on my feet 18hrs i wouldn't feed my ds that garbage ever!Wholewheat pasta and a quick veggie pasta sauce with cheese takes minutes Batch cooking often saves the day in this house

It's not only attitudes that have changed, it's tastebuds.

How many people would pick an apple or a pear over and above a snickers bar or a twix ? Really truely ? Despite being educated about the benefits of healthy food, sometimes the temptation is just too great.

Plus of course because our diet has become so sweet, and many of us have blood sugar issues / insulin resistance, we wind up craving more sugar and that perpetuates the cycle.

I'm all for rationing - getting this crap off the shelves ! But I don't think the government policing it and adding to our nanny state is necessarily the answer - more education for the masses and perhaps more taxes on junk food ? I don't know !

i agree with you noddyholder..i have never had a microwave...but alot of families do live on convenience food....

a really nice pasta meal can be made in minutes....and yes, microwaves should be banned..

I would never choose a snickers!I like chocolate but as the exception not the rule and certainly not part of everyday diet.just because you like something doesn't mean you have to eat it!I like wine A LOT but mostly drink water

You can have my microwave when you prise it from my cold dead hands.

DP we are agreeing again!!!!Microwaves are the work of teh devil

ahh..you know i luv ya x x

I don't see why microwaves should be banned. I use mine reguarly but not for ready meals. I start baked potatoes off in it for example, so that they won't take an hour in the oven. I can reheat food that I've made. Heat milk for my lattes etc.

Actually I recently saw on a program an 'expert' talking about our diets today and about 40 years ago. She had concluded that we eat no more sugar now than we did then. So I guess the sugar is the least of our problems.

use my microwave for baked pots,heat lo dinner etc.they are cost effective

mmmm-snoek anyone?

I'm a bit about the 'obesity epidemic'.Out of all the people I know,only one could be described as obese.None of the kids at dds school are overweight.

I may start hoarding chocolate though -just in case the Nanny State does start telling me what I can and can't eat.

we went to the northeast coast on holiday for a few days - I've never ever seen so many overweight people in my life . I struggled to spot a normal weight person.

The local PCT was offering free nutrition clinics I think, which I hadven't seen offered anywhere else ? Might be wrong there - may be really common now.

daftpunk: I know - hence the OP was only a suggestion!

I agree on the speed of being able to produce a quick, easy meal without recourse to ready-mades, but please may I keep the microwave? It's only used for defrosting or heating up milk.

Morloth: Another over-reaction - again?

Lucia, I don't generally overreact to stuff on the internet, I do however enjoy arguing with people.

I understand that it was just a suggestion, but in my opinion it was a bloody stupid one.

if people want to eat to excess and die early do you not live in a society where we have the freedom to do that if we want?

i have to keep my microwave...i cant make porridge in a pot!

but then maybe we should consider making healthcare private - so if people want to eat to excess and die early it's not my taxes paying for it.....

lucia39...apologies...i don't know much about your posting style/history....i just read your op and thought you were joking...(a little bit)......i agree that the eating habits of many people need to change...just not sure rationing would work?

Oh you are naughty puffylovett, I have to go to bed soon and you are going to make this thread get all loud and shouty!

uh oh, i didn't mean to - twas tongue in cheek

Dalrymps: "About forty years ago" was the 1960s!

Back in the 1970s William Duffy published a book called Sugar Blues in which he made a comparison between the addictive properties of sugar with those of heroin. I'm not saying he was right but at the time the book was a commercial success.