People are influenced by the culture around them, it influences there behaviors and beliefs to what is socially accepted. Americans have created a set of food do's and don'ts and if you eat something that is not socially accepted then you are "weird" or "disgusting". But who is to say what is disgusting? The people that surround you help decide what is a normal or ok food to eat. If there is a food that is foreign and people are not accustomed to eating it many will find it weird. But what I may find as a good tasting food, may be disgusting to another individual if they were raised eating different foods. For example, growing up I almost always had meat as a main course for dinner, but for a vegetarian this may be found as disgusting. Or the fact that I ate beef could be wrong to a culture that believes cows are sacred animals.
American culture is unique because we are a country of many different ethnic groups and all of these different ethnic groups bring their food traditions to our country so we have adapted other cultures foods and americanized it such as our chinese food and italian food. Also American culture has changed over the years it is now part of our culture to eat quick and easy meals such as fast food and many people are not eating together as a family anymore because of busy schedules, or they want to watch their favorite t.v. shows etc. and to many other cultures this may seem weird because they are not used to this lifestyle.
Book Recommendations:
Pollan, Michael, "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" New York: Penguin Press, 2008
Location: Wilson 2W-paperbacks
Call#: PBK
Counihan, Carole and Van Esterik Penny "Food and Culture: A Reader" New York: Routledge, 1997
Location: Haggard 3-Books
Call #: GR2850.F64 1997
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OMG, you're right about the whole fast food nation idea. America created the idea of "fast food" and it's been spreading around the world. I remember going to Paris with my mom a few years ago and there's a McDonald's right smack-dab in the middle of the city. lol. Fast food is definitely a HUGE part of American culture. I feel like when it first developed, it was solely American. Now the rest of the world thinks it's a good idea....I'm not so sure how I feel about a McDonald's being in Paris...but eh, whatevs.
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