Just by keeping well you can help win this war
Blue folded sheet with five cartoon roundels (eating, sleeping, a doctor's visit, a bath, play) and five numbered health rules. The headline ties personal health to winning the war, and the body text says nearly one-third of physicians are in the armed forces. The persuasion is mostly plain instruction; the technique is faint here, with the war-winning framing a mild glittering generality.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Office of War Information (issuer not printed)
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Mixed
- 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)
Office of War Information (issuer not printed). National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1157 (NAID 514753).
Text on the object
JUST BY Keeping Well YOU can help WIN THIS WAR With nearly one-third of America's physicians in the armed forces, we must save our remaining doctors' time for serious and unavoidable sickness and accidents. FOLLOW THESE 5 SIMPLE HEALTH RULES 1. EAT RIGHT These are the key foods: milk, butter, eggs, fish, meat, cheese, beans and peas, fruit, green leafy vegetables and the yellow ones, whole grain or enriched cereals and bread. Eat 3 good meals a day! 2. GET YOUR REST Regularity counts most. You can't catch up on lost sleep or missed relaxation! Try to keep on a regular schedule every day. Take it easy for a little while after lunch and dinner. Go to bed on time, get up on time. 3. SEE YOUR DOCTOR ONCE A YEAR You have your car checked and serviced every thousand miles. Do as much for your body. Physi- cians can prevent many diseases and illnesses for both children and grownups nowadays. Give your doctor a chance now, BEFORE you get sick. Go to see him! 4. KEEP CLEAN Plenty of baths, lots of soap. Clean hands, clothes, houses, beds! Get fresh air, sunshine. Drink plenty of water. [sign on mat:] BATH 5. "PLAY" SOME EACH DAY Romp with the family, visit with friends, take walks, play games—or do whatever you like to give your mind and body a rest from the daily grind on the job. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
