- Mar 19, 2009
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Why do you think meals were smaller back in the day? Have you ever read an old cookbook? One written in the early 1900's? I have one published in 1919. The proposed menus there would give a modern nutritionist apoplexy. On the farms where there was heavy labor, there were often two breakfasts, a midday meal, and a relatively light evening meal. A lot of cream and butter, but not nearly as much sweet stuff. People were a lot more active. On the subject of hired help, up until WWI almost every household had some domestic help. Usually a girl to help in the kitchen and maybe a housekeeper of sorts. The housewife didn't do everything herself. And then of course the kids did chores.Well I'll play devils advocate. Folks ate less and did more. We were skinny cuz we didn't eat like we do today.
Meals were much smaller back in the day. Folks did more for themselves back in the day. Not like now. You hire someone to clean your carpeting, wash your car.