For the Square Deal and the Square Meal Share the Meat
Black-and-white sponsor advertisement sheet: an Uncle Sam figure in a star-banded top hat saws a large cut of meat. Text gives a weekly fair-share table by age, a seven-point list of meat-use tips and the line 'Don't cheat your neighbor to pamper yourself.' The technique is transfer, the national symbol carrying the request, plus 'square deal' wording.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- Share the Meat program (sponsoring firms; sponsor panel blank)
- 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
- Home front, Economy and finance
- 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)
Share the Meat program. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-808 (NAID 514303).
Text on the object
For the Square Deal and the Square Meal Share the Meat Meat for fighters first. Meat for the rest of us next. After 6½ billion pounds of meat have gone to our fighting forces and our allies, there are still 17½ billion pounds for the rest of us. That's far from a meat shortage, but it means that for a fair and adequate distribution of this fine protein food, we shall have to share and share alike. Here is your fair share: Men, women and children (Over 12 years of age) ........ 2½ pounds per week Children 6 to 12 ........ 1½ pounds per week Children under 6 ........ ¾ pound per week (Your 2½-pound share may be supplemented by the nonrestricted meats such as ox joints, bacon squares, liver, tongue and other fine meat foods, also by poultry and fish. Your meat-man will help you plan.) Don't cheat your neighbor to pamper yourself. Share the meat! How to Make the Most of Meat 1. Manage your meat—Distribute it over the week so your family will get a regular supply of the complete high-quality proteins, B vitamins and minerals which meat provides. Your meat-man will help you plan your meat order based on the number of people in your family and the sharing allowance of each. 2. Learn more cuts of meat—Learn how to make delicious dishes out of available cuts, even if you have never served them before. 3. Serve smaller portions—fewer extra helpings. 4. Spread the good flavor of meat by combining with such foods as potatoes, rice, noodles, dumplings, macaroni, spaghetti and vegetables. Make more of that good meat gravy. 5. Plan leftovers carefully for use in such dishes as hash, croquettes, soufflés and chop suey. 6. Cook meat the modern way—at moderate, even temperatures. This means less shrinkage, less loss of food values. 7. Store meat safely—in coldest part of your refrigerator. A temperature of 45° Fahrenheit or lower is needed. Be doubly careful of raw ground meat. It spoils more quickly than meat in one piece. If you have no refrigerator, buy meat only shortly before you intend to use it. These firms pledge cooperation in the "Share the Meat" program and sponsor this advertisement [sponsor panel blank]
