I found this article years ago (1968) and I find it very interesting to read it now especially when were wanting to become so self-sufficient. This article happened in Canada, but I'm sure was very similar in the USA.
RATIONING IN CANADA
Sugar: Rationing was first institued in Canada in 1942, with the rationing of sugar beginning on July 1st. Previous to that the public had been put on their honour not to buy more sugar than was absoluetly necessary. The first ration document was a card bearing coupons sufficient for ten weeks, at the end of which time, the first Ration book No. 1 was issued on Sept. 7th. Sugar was rationed at the rate of 1 lb. per coupon, with two coupons per month allowed to each individual holder of a ration book. This has been adhered to until June, 1945, when the ration was reduced to one coupon per month temporarily.
Ration books Nos. 2, 3 and 4 followed No. 1 at six month intervals but Ration Book No. 5, issued in the Fall of 1944, contains enough coupons to last for a whole year.
Tea/Coffee: Rationing of tea and/or coffee began on August 3rd, 1942, allowing one ounce of tea per week for ration book holders over the age of 12 years. This ration was increased on September 2nd, 1943, by making two coupons come due every three weeks, instead of every four weeks, and a further increase of 40% was granted on May 1st, 1944. Tea/coffee rationing was suspended altogether on September 18th, 1944.
Butter: Butter rationing came into effect on Dec. 21st, 1942, with a value of half pound per coupon. The amount of butter allowed per person has fluctuated from eight ounces per week to six ounces and back to seven ounces. The value of the coupon remained the same, the cut being taken care of by cancelling a coupon every six or eight weeks, as the case might be.
Meat: Meat was rationed on May 27th, 1943, and varied from 1/2 to 1 1/4 pounds per coupon, according to the cut and quality of the meat. Canned salmon was rationed on January 17th, 1944, at the rate of 1/4 pound of canned salmon for one meat coupon.
Meat rationing was temporarily suspended on Feb. 29th, 1944.
A strict meat ration was again imposed on Sept. 10, 1945, however, it was amended on Sept. 30th, so that there would be more cold meat per coupon. Fancy meats such as heart, tongue and liver were taken off the ration. Rationing varies from one to three pounds per coupon and tokens are now in use--eight tokens per coupon, thus enabling smaller famlies to buy small portions of meat.
Preserves: Rationing of preserves was introduced on Sept. 2, 1943 each preserve coupon having a value of 1/2 pound sugar, or 20 ounces of canned fruit, etc. During the periods Feb. to Mayh 32st in the years 1944 and 1945, it was possible to buy 40 ounces of maple syrup for each preserve coupon, but during the balance of the year, thge ration was 24 ounces of maple syrup for one coupon. During 1944, the canning sugar was taken care of by using the rationing sheets of "F" coupongs, instead of having to be specially applied for, as was done previously. These "F" coupons, could, if the individual so desired, be exchanged for preserve coupons, on the basis of one preserve coupon for one "F" coupon. In 1945, the canning sugar has been taken care of by using the preserve coupons, with their usual value of 1/2 pound of sugar for one coupon and having 20 extra preserve coupons come due to take care of this, on the basis of 10 pounds of canning sugar per person.
RATIONING IN CANADA
Sugar: Rationing was first institued in Canada in 1942, with the rationing of sugar beginning on July 1st. Previous to that the public had been put on their honour not to buy more sugar than was absoluetly necessary. The first ration document was a card bearing coupons sufficient for ten weeks, at the end of which time, the first Ration book No. 1 was issued on Sept. 7th. Sugar was rationed at the rate of 1 lb. per coupon, with two coupons per month allowed to each individual holder of a ration book. This has been adhered to until June, 1945, when the ration was reduced to one coupon per month temporarily.
Ration books Nos. 2, 3 and 4 followed No. 1 at six month intervals but Ration Book No. 5, issued in the Fall of 1944, contains enough coupons to last for a whole year.
Tea/Coffee: Rationing of tea and/or coffee began on August 3rd, 1942, allowing one ounce of tea per week for ration book holders over the age of 12 years. This ration was increased on September 2nd, 1943, by making two coupons come due every three weeks, instead of every four weeks, and a further increase of 40% was granted on May 1st, 1944. Tea/coffee rationing was suspended altogether on September 18th, 1944.
Butter: Butter rationing came into effect on Dec. 21st, 1942, with a value of half pound per coupon. The amount of butter allowed per person has fluctuated from eight ounces per week to six ounces and back to seven ounces. The value of the coupon remained the same, the cut being taken care of by cancelling a coupon every six or eight weeks, as the case might be.
Meat: Meat was rationed on May 27th, 1943, and varied from 1/2 to 1 1/4 pounds per coupon, according to the cut and quality of the meat. Canned salmon was rationed on January 17th, 1944, at the rate of 1/4 pound of canned salmon for one meat coupon.
Meat rationing was temporarily suspended on Feb. 29th, 1944.
A strict meat ration was again imposed on Sept. 10, 1945, however, it was amended on Sept. 30th, so that there would be more cold meat per coupon. Fancy meats such as heart, tongue and liver were taken off the ration. Rationing varies from one to three pounds per coupon and tokens are now in use--eight tokens per coupon, thus enabling smaller famlies to buy small portions of meat.
Preserves: Rationing of preserves was introduced on Sept. 2, 1943 each preserve coupon having a value of 1/2 pound sugar, or 20 ounces of canned fruit, etc. During the periods Feb. to Mayh 32st in the years 1944 and 1945, it was possible to buy 40 ounces of maple syrup for each preserve coupon, but during the balance of the year, thge ration was 24 ounces of maple syrup for one coupon. During 1944, the canning sugar was taken care of by using the rationing sheets of "F" coupongs, instead of having to be specially applied for, as was done previously. These "F" coupons, could, if the individual so desired, be exchanged for preserve coupons, on the basis of one preserve coupon for one "F" coupon. In 1945, the canning sugar has been taken care of by using the preserve coupons, with their usual value of 1/2 pound of sugar for one coupon and having 20 extra preserve coupons come due to take care of this, on the basis of 10 pounds of canning sugar per person.