What vegetable did British cooks substitute for bananas during World War II?

Brits do not call them zucchini and rutabaga.

luckycatfay, It's quite true; people had to make the best of what they could get during rationing. I never tasted a banana until after WW2 ended. (born 1942). It wasn't just the soldiers fighting, everyone had a part to play. I remember when sweet rationing finally ended; it was almost unbelievable to buy and eat a whole Mars bar all to myself instead of cutting it in pieces to share with the family

Leave it to the Brits to go bananas over a root vegetable.

Player #27643412, Parsnips are delicious roasted especially if they caramelise. It is an extremely expensive vegetable now, many a gourmet meat dish is served on a bed of creamed parsnip. The Brits substituted potato for flour in pastry and chicory for coffee, lots of herbal teas but the most lasting one was margarine for butter.

Marguerite Patten was an amazing Woman, almost 5ft tall she became a Giant of Innovation during food rationing. I was fortunate enough to meet her some years ago, she was in her 80's and most spritely. Her demonstration to many youngsters included..Carrot Pops, Beetroot 'sweets ' and other odd TREATS !! some of which we all enjoyed. Parsnips when available we're also used for Wine .

Player #27643412, agreed! My mother-in-law recounted flavouring turnips with banana essence. Fooled her family. However, as she knew the deception, she did not indulge in dessert for those meals. My husband refused to eat pumpkin as he considered them only fit for animals, although he did enjoy pumpkin soup. His attitude came from grandmothers. Even in hot weather, he'd ask where is the rest of my meal when presented with salad

Although bananas (high in Potassium) were not widely available during WWII some were imported and given to children with certain diseases.

of all things substituting them with parsnips, ugghh