Dickens' eponymous hero famously asked for more of the "thin gruel" doled out three times daily in the grim institution for the poor where he grew up.
Oliver Twist is asking for more in the old illustration shown above.
In fact, contemporary recipes suggest such workhouse gruel was substantial, with each pint containing 1.25 ounces of best oatmeal, and servings supplemented by wholesome coarse bread.
Historical data also shows large quantities of beef and mutton were delivered to workhouses, pediatric dietician Sue Thornton of Northampton General Hospital in central England and colleagues wrote in the British Medical Journal.
Given the limited number of food staples used, the workhouse diet was certainly dreary, but it was adequate.
Dreary indeed! Gruel and coarse bread. Oliver Twist must have been quite hungry to ask for more!
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A picture of my cave
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