The 1940s in Harris County was a time of big change in cooking.  During World War II food was rationed.  Many foods were sent overseas to our soldiers.  Other foods relied on transportation for distribution to local stores and with gas rationing they were delivered erratically or not at all.  The Office of Price Administration distributed rationing stamps for families on May 5, 1942. Families were given ration stamps to spend along with money. Rationed foods included sugar, coffee, butter and fats, canned and frozen foods and red meat. Sugar even had its own ration stamps.Office of Price Administration Office also created price ceilings for the stores.  Each rationed food, by brand, had a cap on how much consumers would pay.  The price caps changed constantly and the changes were published in the local newspapers.

People were encouraged by the government to grow Victory gardens to supplement their food from the stores.Home demonstration ladies were sent out by the counties to teach women how to can food safely. Canning the vegetables and fruit from their gardens helped to stretch their money and supply much needed food during the winter. Entire families would participate, washing and preparing the vegetables before the canning process could begin. People were also encouraged to raise chickens to supply meat and eggs.  Poultry was not rationed like beef.

Appliances in kitchens were also changing and being updated.  Electric refrigerators were replacing ice boxes. Electric stoves were also replacing wood fire stoves.  The electric companies sent women out to show how easy these new appliances were to use.

After the war, food was sent to the bombed areas in Europe where people did not have access to any food.  The war destroyed their homes, gardens and sometimes whole neighborhoods and villages.

In the United States when the war ended soldiers came home.  The supermarkets started carrying frozen, canned, dehydrated and packaged foods.  Although there was no longer any rationing people still kept up the traditions of canning food and raising Victory gardens.