With WWII looming on the horizon, an overwhelming rush to arms spread like fire through the nation. Just a few years ago, America had emerged from the Great Depression, and the citizens were exhausted from the simple, plain foods they were forced to eat in order to save money. During WWII, the government wanted to further conserve resources and money, so rationing, canning, and other dieting strategies were promoted. In addition, the government invested in research about strategies to stay healthy with the smallest possible amount of food, an unprecedented action in history. This rationing in the US started in 1942 and ended three years later in 1945. An example of how diets were changed was the fact that there wasn’t much fat(butter), so many people didn’t have much to eat and became thinner. Other methods of food conservation included canning, which quickly became popular in American households.