Why
Loyal Americans are keeping the Pledge to eat less Wheat and Meat

THE United States Food Administration by your efforts alone is able to send our soldiers and sailors 
and the people whose fate is linked with ours the food to sustain them through defense to victory. 
Every man, woman and child, by eating plenty, but wisely, without waste, can help to create a supply 
of wheat, beef, pork, fats and sugar to serve the common cause.

What the food situation is

WAR has brought Europe to the verge of famine. War demands, absorbing all surplus of wheat, meat, sugar 
and fats, reach into every American home. America must provide in increasing amounts—and only America 
can provide—these vital foods which, packed in the smallest space, are all that can go in the limited 
shipping available. Before the New Year began we had sent to Europe our normal surplus. Now we must 
create fresh supplies by patriotic savings. Our Government will hold here enough for our needs; every 
pound above that will be sent where war demands are most pressing. We cannot spare more; we dare not 
send less.

Why we must help


WHY WE MUST EAT LESS WHEAT
Bread comes first. Bread means wheat. The people of the Allies, eating war bread darker and heavier 
than any we are asked to adopt, must have enough to make the raised loaf. They are eating corn and 
barley and rye; that they may have Bread we must send them 75,000,000 bushels of wheat.

To create that supply, we must cut down our own use of wheat by one-third. To sustain them against 
famine, to protect the armies from disaster, loyal Americans are eating Victory Bread.

WHY WE MUST EAT LESS MEAT
Beef and pork keep the armies and workers in fighting trim. All Europe has eaten into its herds of 
meat animals down to the danger point. All we save will go to strengthen our fighting arms across the 
Atlantic.
We have been eating twice what we needed. We can create a supply without harm to ourselves by drawing 
on other food resources. So doing, loyal America gives power to our armies and our associates to gain 
the victory.

WHY WE MUST EAT LESS FATS
Animal fats mean pork and dairy products. The nation that is without enough of these is destroyed. 
While Europe has been slaughtering its swine and its dairy cattle down to the danger point, we have 
been eating and wasting more than twice as much fats as we need. We have increased our exports tenfold 
and more; but we must increase our shipments still further.
We can safely eat and use in cooking more vegetable oils, giving the children plenty of butter and 
milk, and thus save what is necessary to send over-seas.

WHY WE MUST EAT LESS SUGAR
Sugar is a food that releases energy in the quickest way. France, Italy and Belgium, which formerly 
produced their own sugar have been able to produce but little during the war. England is now cut off 
from Germany, Austria, and far-off Java, from which she got most of her supply. The whole demand of 
the Allies now falls on Cuba and us, and we rely upon Cuba for part of our own needs. To meet the situation 
we must cut down our lavish consumption, and share with the Allies.

How you can help
EAT LESS WHEAT BREAD
Have at least TWO WHEATLESS days (Monday and Wednesday) each week and ONE WHEATLESS MEAL each day. By 
wheatless we mean without wheat products. Use corn, oats, barley, or Victory Bread (made of mixed cereals) 
as wheat saving breads.
Order bread from your baker at least 24 hours in advance so that he will not bake too much. Cut the loaf 
of bread on the table. Use all stale bread for toast or cooking. Eat less cake and pastry.

EAT LESS MEAT
It is imperative in order that we may send over-seas the wheat necessary to maintain the Allies this 
year to eat fish and other sea food, poultry and rabbits, instead of beef, mutton and pork. Fish, chicken, 
etc., can not be shipped in compact form like meat, and are more perishable

Have at least ONE MEATLESS DAY (Tuesday) and TWO FORK LESS DAYS (Tuesday and Saturday) each week and 
ONE MEATLESS MEAL each day. By meatless we mean without any beef, pork or sheep products. For other 
meals use mutton and lamb in preference to beef or pork. Use all left-over meat cold or in made dishes. 
Use more soups. Use beans; they have nearly the same food value as meat.

EAT LESS FATS
Use butter on the table only; give children all they need. Use no butter in cooking except left-overs 
that would otherwise go to waste. Cook with cottonseed or corn oil or other vegetable oils instead. 
Save lard.
Try to use up all left-over fats in cooking. Waste no soap; it is made from fat.
As a nation we use and waste two and one-half times as much fat as we need.

EAT LESS SUGAR
Cut down on sweet drinks and candy containing sugar. Use honey, maple syrup, corn syrup, or molasses 
on the breakfast table instead of sugar.
Serve cake without frosting or icing. Eat plenty of fruit.
We will endeavor to see that the country is provided with a supply of household sugar on the basis of 
three pounds of sugar for each person per month. Do not consume more. The English allow themselves 
but 2 lbs. a month; the French and Italians only 1 lb.

It is the firm policy of the U. S. Government to retain in this country by means of its. control of 
exports, a sufficient supply of every essential kind of food for its people. And it has no intention 
of taking the preserved fruits and vegetables, of the homegrown food supplies of private citizens, 
either now or at any future time. Any other statement is enemy propaganda to frighten you into withholding 
your support from the cause of freedom. Only there must be no unnecessary buying and holding of food 
supplies—in a word, no hoarding. The hoarder is an enemy at home.

UNITED STATES FOOD ADMINISTRATION
No. 7—Revised.
Washington, D. C.