Eat the Basic 7... every day! Eat a lunch that packs a punch!
Landscape nutrition chart. A colour wheel in the middle divides food into seven numbered groups, with a family walking together at its hub, and cartoons around the edge show benefits such as fighting tiredness, building muscle, and protecting against 'Illness' drawn as a dog attacking a knight. It lists only the benefits claimed for the diet and attaches each to an everyday image.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1943
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, War Food Administration
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Mobilize or secure compliance
- Themes
- Health, Home front
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, War Food Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-712 (NAID 514199).
Text on the object
Eat the Basic 7... EVERY DAY! GOOD EYESIGHT PAYS FIGHT THAT TIRED FEELING HO HUM PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ILLNESS ILLNESS TEN STRIKE FOR ENERGY HELPS YOU DISH IT OUT BUILDS MUSCLE FOR STRONG BONES AND TEETH GROUP ONE GREEN AND YELLOW VEGETABLES... some raw—some cooked, frozen or canned GROUP TWO ORANGES, TOMATOES, GRAPEFRUIT... or raw cabbage or salad greens GROUP THREE POTATOES AND OTHER VEGETABLES AND FRUITS raw, dried, cooked, frozen or canned GROUP FOUR MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS... fluid, evaporated, dried milk, or cheese GROUP FIVE MEAT, POULTRY, FISH, OR EGGS... or dried beans, peas, nuts, or peanut butter GROUP SIX BREAD, FLOUR, AND CEREALS... Natural whole-grain or enriched or restored GROUP SEVEN BUTTER AND FORTIFIED MARGARINE (with added Vitamin A) U.S. NEEDS US STRONG EAT THE BASIC 7 EVERY DAY EAT A LUNCH THAT PACKS A PUNCH! [imprint:] U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1943 - O - 544268 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE—WAR FOOD ADMINISTRATION 10
