Cooking Up History

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When Salad Secrets was published in 1928, Canada was still in the midst of a period of economic prosperity whereby many Canadians were spending lavishly and trying to enjoy life after the deprivations of the war years. Soon after, with the Crash of 1929, Canada was plunged into a Great Depression along with many other countries around the world. Though budgets were tighter, the information in this cookbook was still relevant because healthy options were still expected on the family dinner table. 

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In the 1920s, salads were somewhat of a new food fad and many cookbooks were published at the time, similar to Salad Secrets, emphasizing the importance of dishes that utilized fruits, vegetables, and animal proteins. As more research was being conducted on vitamins, minerals, and the health benefits of certain foods, Canadians were urged to eat more vegetables especially because of their healthful properties. Despite the economic insecurity of the Depression years, women were instructed to ensure that their families continued to eat healthy foods. A book like Salad Secrets, because it was likely distributed for free, would have been accessible for most women and an important source of information about the nutritional properties of salad dishes. 

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