But this series of advertisements from our 1940s archives can provide glimpses into the past.
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They can show us more about peoples' family dynamics, how they prepared their food and what they missed most in times of hardship such as Second World War rationing.
Take a moment now to step back in time by browsing the gallery below.
Colman's - a local treasure (Image: Colman's/Archant Library)
OXO was branded here as 'first aid for the larder' (Image: OXO/Archant Library)
An ode to Nestle's milk... (Image: Nestle/Archant Library)
'Available only within a limited area until removal of restrictions' (Image: Jacob's/Archant Library)
Still a dinnertime staple (Image: Sarson's/Archant Library)
'Whenever the present control of distribution is withdrawn' (Image: Macfarlane Lang & Co/Archant Library)
'Always budget points for Quaker Puffed Wheat' (Image: Quaker Oats/Archant Library)
'Potatoes keep you fighting fit!' (Image: Archant Library)
This ad, from the second week of the ration period, explains how to cook fish (Image: Archant Library)
Lucozade - 'the tonic you can trust'. Available in chemists. (Image: Lucozade/Archant Library)
Which one is your favourite?
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