ABSTRACT
The Kitchen Front was a key dimension of the Home Front for both the government and the population, although it was the latter – housewives in particular – who had to manage the consequences of wartime food policies and inconveniences. This chapter tackles the reality of the diarists’ wartime food difficulties and their impact on their everyday lives. It first provides an analysis of the main food issues discussed in the diaries, from food restrictions and shortages to the question of food prices and shopping issues. Then it presents the impact of this challenging situation on their life, habits, perspectives and behaviours, and their legal, illegal or immoral responses to wartime food issues, from growing one’s own food to hoarding or black marketing. The consequences of these difficulties for the role and value of food is also discussed, as well as the impact of food scarcity on priorities regarding mutual help, socialisation and questions of conflict and jealousy, challenging the view of a nation united against the enemy and transcending social tensions.
