"For many of those estimated 76 million Americans, their parents likely had memories of the Great Depression, which didn't end until the start of World War II. To say "times were tough" is an understatement, as nearly 25% of the working population was unemployed. Food costs were sky high, and families struggled to eat even a single meal a day. But sometimes with adversity comes invention, and one of the cheapest food items - mayonnaise - offered a much-needed boost."
"Peanut butter was another one of many foods people ate during the Depression, and combining it with mayo offered some protein to the standard sandwich. Peanut butter wasn't always the creamy delight we grew up with. It was a pretty gnarly, thick goo, and some advised loosening it up to be more spreadable by moistening the bread first with mayonnaise."
People born between 1946 and 1964 grew up with parents who remembered the Great Depression, when nearly 25% of the workforce was unemployed and food costs soared. Mayonnaise became an economical, calorie-dense filling when spread between two slices of bread, providing carbohydrates and fat for those recovering economically. Depression-era children served mayonnaise sandwiches to their own children as lunches and snacks. Peanut butter paired with mayonnaise added protein and improved spreadability by moistening bread with mayo. Hellman's once promoted mayo with additions like bacon, pickles, fruits, marmalade, and salami. Mayonnaise sandwiches remain part of Southern U.S. cuisine, often paired with tomatoes or pineapple.
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