When we look back, life in Canada in the 1930s was much different than it is today. For many Canadians, that decade was marked by uncertainty, sadness, and instability. The Great Depression, which lasted from roughly 1929 to 1939, left millions of Canadians jobless, hungry, and struggling to survive. Unemployment skyrocketed to over 30% and many families were forced to live off scraps and scrounge for food. After the worst of the crisis passed in 1933, Canadians struggled to pull themselves up again, but were then met with the outbreak of war in 1939. Just two years prior, in 1937, Salads That Are Different, was published. At a time when many families couldn’t afford basic necessities, this cookbook reminded readers that health and nutrition shouldn’t be sacrificed. Other cookbooks published during this period contain similar messages, demonstrating that Canadians were taking their health more seriously at the time.

Though the book’s primary audience was probably women, it is not explicitly stated who the content is for. In the 1930s, domestic responsibilities such as cooking and food shopping were still, largely, considered women’s responsibilities. Along with taking care of the family’s food needs, women were also entrusted with the healthcare of their families. Especially at a time when universal healthcare was still unavailable and doctors charged fees for appointments, women looked after family members when they were ill. Increasingly, the healing power of food was being recognized. In 1933, the Ontario Medical Association established a dietary standard for families, including vitamin and mineral intakes that were necessary for staying healthy, and which foods to eat. This cookbook supports those recommendations by focusing on salads and directly mentioning what was required to be healthy at the time. In 1938, the year after Salads That Are Different was published, Canada received a national dietary standard from Dr. E. W. McHenry.