1919 magazines were filled with articles about World War I, and how the U.S. and other countries were returning to normalcy following the end of war.
During the war, Americans conserved food and were able to send huge amounts of flour and sugar to Europe to feed the troops and others in need.
At the end of the war there was lots of sugar stockpiled in Europe, and people wondered what should be done with it. Here’s what the February, 1919 issue of American Cookery had to say about this:
Cookies! Yanks Eat Millions
More than 6,000,000 old-fashioned American cookies have been manufactured in France and distributed with the compliments of the American Red Cross to the soldiers in service, the wounded in hospitals and to scores of canteens. Within a month it is expected that 700,000 will be made a day. At present the output is 200,000 a day.
It is the belief of Red Cross officials that the manufacture of cookies will not be affected by the cessation of hostilities.
It is pointed out that there is a six-months stock of sugar and one and a half years’ supply of flour in storage for making the cookies.
A Hundred Years Ago 
Cookies save the day? 😋
Cookies always make things better. 🙂
I agree!
I’ll be singing “don’t worry, eat cookies,” to Bobby McFerrins’ “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” all day now!!
I love it. Next thing you know, I’ll be singing it, too.
I’m sure that was a wonderful treat for the soldiers. I wonder who made all the cookies?
I’m guessing that Red Cross volunteers made them.
Oooooo, cookies!
Cookies are always a wonderful treat. 🙂
Just think how happy the Cookie Monster would have been!
He would have thought that he hit the jackpot.
I can’t help but think of Cookie Monster and how these people are the ones who paved the way for him to be the monster he is today.
How true – sweets are so readily available today.
Interesting! The women who organized and staffed the canteens were passionate about what they served the soldiers to eat as well as offering them a respite from their duties. It wasn’t the same plentiful food situation in Europe after WWII as food was scarce and rationing continued for several years.
It must have been awful after WWII. To a certain extent, there were food shortages in the U.S. during WWI. Food was very expensive, and people were strongly encouraged to use alternatives to wheat flour and sugar, so that much of it could be shipped to Europe. But something seems to have gotten out of balance with there being excess food and sugar in the Red Cross system at the end of the war.
Learned something new today! Thank you!
It’s wonderful to hear that you enjoyed this post.
Lovely post. Love almost any cookie. Still here.
So do I. It’s wonderful to hear from you.
That is sure interesting…lots of cookie lovers. Homemade cookies are the best for sure and I bet those were yummy.
Until I read your comment, I hadn’t thought about it in quite this way. It’s really cool that the soldiers, people in hospitals, and others were getting homemade cookies instead of commercial products. I strongly believe that one of the biggest losses over the past hundred years has been the loss of appreciation of homemade foods.
I agree on the homemade foods.
A sweet history lesson, Sheryl! Homemade cookies are fun to eat before & after baking 😉
It’s nice to hear that you enjoyed this post.
I had no idea about this interesting historical food fact. Thanks for sharing, Sheryl.
You’re welcome. I’m glad that you liked it.