Canadians have always known how to stretch a meal when times get tough. In this video, we’re looking back at 35 forgotten struggle meals Canadians ate to survive — cheap, filling, old-fashioned meals from the Great Depression, wartime kitchens, Newfoundland, Quebec, the Prairies, and working-class homes across the country.
From pouding chômeur and yellow pea soup to fish and brewis, Jiggs dinner, fried bologna sandwiches, Kraft Dinner with hot dogs, shipwreck casserole, bannock, and more, these meals tell the story of Canadian families who made do with whatever they had.
Some of these recipes were born from poverty. Some came from immigrant kitchens. Some were passed down by grandparents who knew how to feed a family with almost nothing. And with grocery prices rising again, many of these budget meals are starting to feel surprisingly relevant today.
If you grew up eating any of these old-fashioned Canadian meals, or if your family had its own “struggle meal,” share it in the comments. We’d love to hear your story.
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1 Comment
Which of these struggle meals did your family actually eat? 🍲
For me, the wildest part is how much our grandparents could do with potatoes, beans, bread, canned goods, and a tiny bit of meat. Drop your family’s “hard times meal” below — I want to hear the ones that didn’t make the list.
And if you remember the recipe, share it so we can keep these old Canadian kitchen stories alive. 🇨🇦