The Supersizers Go Season 1 Episode 1 Wartime

The Supersizers Go is a British television series that aired on BBC Two in 2008. The show stars writer and presenter Sue Perkins and comedian Giles Coren as they explore the diets of different historical periods by eating the types of food that people would have eaten during those eras.

In the first episode of The Supersizers Go, titled "Wartime," Sue and Giles take on the challenge of living on the wartime rations of World War II Britain. The episode begins with the hosts visiting a recreated wartime home, complete with gas masks, blackout curtains, and a ration book. They quickly discover that food is scarce, and they will need to make do with whatever they can get their hands on.

To help them get through the week, Sue and Giles enlist the help of food historian Dr. Annie Gray and wartime cook Ivan Day. Dr. Gray explains that during the war, the British government introduced rationing in order to ensure that everyone had access to the limited food supply. Each person was given a ration book, which contained coupons for certain food items like meat, butter, and sugar.

The hosts soon find out that the rations are not even enough to feed one person for a week, let alone two. They are forced to get creative with their cooking and make meals out of unlikely ingredients such as dried eggs and powdered milk. They even try making desserts out of grated carrot and potato to satisfy their sweet tooth.

Throughout the episode, Sue and Giles also learn about the social and cultural aspects of wartime food. They discover that food served as a way for people to come together and lift their spirits during a difficult time. The hosts attend a wartime dinner party, where they sample dishes like spam fritters and mock apricot tart. They also visit a reenactment group who dress in period costume and cook meals over a field kitchen, giving the hosts a glimpse into what life was like for soldiers during the war.

As the week goes on, Sue and Giles begin to feel the effects of the small portions and lack of variety in their diet. They become increasingly tired and irritable, and begin to crave foods that are not on the ration. However, their experience also leaves them with a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices that people made during the war, and how food played a crucial role in keeping people going.

Overall, the first episode of The Supersizers Go is an engaging and informative look at what it was like to live on wartime rations. The hosts' struggles with the limited food supply are both funny and poignant, and the historical insights provided by Dr. Gray and Ivan Day add depth to the episode. Fans of food history and British culture will find plenty to enjoy in this episode, and the rest of the series is sure to provide more fascinating insights into the diets of different eras.