My latest release is From This Moment On: Two Kings Meadow Novellas. One of the stories is set in 1932, the other in 2015. While writing the first novella, Bible and a .44, I came across one really interesting food choice that was served during the Great Depression. See if it stands out to you in this post. (There’s a hint in my title.)
In the mountains of Idaho during the Great Depression, asking “What’s for lunch?” often brought a creative and resourceful response. Life was challenging, but in small towns like Kings Meadow that were surrounded by farms and cattle ranches, residents relied on ingenuity and the bounty from their own land to nourish their families.
Most meals centered around simplicity and frugality, staples harvested from gardens, preserved foods, and whatever livestock could provide. Potatoes (Idaho is famous for its potatoes or so say our license plates) became a cornerstone of nearly every meal. From hearty potato soups seasoned with wild herbs to simple potato pancakes fried in homemade lard, these versatile vegetables offered both comfort and sustenance.
Bread was another crucial staple, baked fresh at home and often stretched further through resourceful recipes. Sandwiches provided convenient midday meals and sometimes featured unusual but calorie-rich combinations. One such sandwich was peanut butter and mayonnaise. While it might sound odd today, peanut butter was valued for its protein, and mayonnaise added crucial fats and calories necessary for hard-working farmers and ranchers. Many locals, initially skeptical, grew fond of the creamy, savory-sweet combination.
Meat, when available, was typically used sparingly. Families often depended on small game like rabbits or squirrels, hunted by skilled family members, turning simple meats into stews, pies, and casseroles stretched with vegetables and grains. Occasionally, a rancher might share beef, transforming tougher cuts into nourishing soups and stews, cooked slowly over hours to tenderize the meat. Wild foods, too, became essential, with families foraging for berries, mushrooms, and edible greens like dandelions and nettles to supplement their diets. Wild blackberries and huckleberries picked in late summer were treasures, turned into preserves that brightened meals throughout colder months.
Today, looking back at those Depression-era lunches in small towns offers more than a historical snapshot—it reveals powerful lessons in resilience, creativity, and the enduring value of community. And yes, it even makes us reconsider the humble peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwich with newfound respect.
~robin
This blog post was originally part of the spring 2025 Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt.
Robin Lee Hatcher
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