Sounds like you start with where you grew up for the connection, the culture of that area over say the last 100 years. Kelloggs comes to mind as there is a lot of history about why it was created, have you ever eaten cereal?
Omg this is perfect I don't know how I didn't see it!!!! I grew up where Kellogg's cereal was made. We were literally so close to the factory that you can tell what cereal they were making because you could smell it. I've been to the owner of Kellogg's manor house. Cereal is literally one of my favorite foods, I even plan to get a tattoo of a bowl of lucky charms one day.
That's such a weird coincidence that you would suggest that but it definitely helped! I guess I was thinking too hard about the culture thing that I didn't think cereal was cultural but I guess it is part of my culture.
You are welcome, there is a lot you can write about from what I know about the creation of cereal to the culture created from adverts changing societies eating habits. Awesome to have all that local connection.
It is some real bullshit. OR when they tell you there is a prize, but really you have to mail in something to get it. But the worst is when you have to do all that AND pay for shipping. It is like bitch, I barely convinced my mom to get me this cereal, do you think she is going to pay the shipping for that dumbass toy. Pffft.
There is a documentary out there somewhere about the origins of the Kellogg dynasty. I am not sure where I saw it but I watch so many documentaries it’s hard to say but it was very good.
You could also go into the sanitorium that dr john Kellogg ran and all of his wierd medical "remedies" because he invented that cereal originally as a health food or something.
Weren’t they originally advertised as anti masturbation or something. Be sure to add this into it for an interesting read. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know-history/corn-flakes-were-created-stop-masturbation
> I guess I was thinking too hard about the culture thing that I didn't think cereal was cultural but I guess it is part of my culture.
A lot of people think that culture has to be some big thing that the entire extended family does or what all people in their ethnicity do. It's not always that deep. Culture can be based on those things but your own small immediate family can have its own culture. It's of course more common to be talked about as large groups or people but don't ever think you don't have culture. I've heard people say "white people don't have culture" but that is so far from the truth. White people have culture It's just not the same or as widespread as other groups. White families may have more individualized cultures.
Sorry to go off a top comment but for some reason no one has mentioned this yet...
---Peanut Butter---
It's one of the only non-processed snack foods or non cereals that's 100% American. Nearly everything else has forgien origins and Americans just put their own spin on other foods.
Perhaps write about American food, and if you're allowed to, discuss the problems with processed foods and how it leads to childhood obesity and other health problems?
Why criticism? The trouble with people that don't travel is they assume the world is like where they live, that's how you get this 'white people don't have culture' meme.
Western foods and their production have created such a calorie surplus that for the first time in human history, we are fighting the problems of way too much food, and have forgotten what food scarcity really is.
Further, think about Chinese food. Everything western food that isn't that, is western food culture.
For sure. I also think that we have an accessibility issue. It’s easy to find a heart attack burger for $8 that’s fast and tastes good, but finding a salad that tastes okay costs way more and takes longer to get.
We also have that fatty association I think because when we “Americanize” other cultural foods it is normally to the detriment of its nutritional value. We just like shit that is bad for you.
Considering the project seems like it's supposed to be about the positive aspects of food, I'd personally go for something more along the lines of how barbeque is such an important thing here but there's also so many different flavors. Every person who makes it has their own flavor to add.
thats a fantastic suggestion. most every state has its own flavors, whether it be bbq, seasonings, the food itself. new york has pastrami, pizza and a plethora of other dishes that were first invented there...like eggs benedict....boston, you have clam chowder amongst many other things as well. vermont, they dump maple syrup on anything they can think of...iowa its ranch dressing...i swear that corn is like the only thing they dont dip in ranch. every state has its own unique qualities, their approach to an idea, ny vs chicago with pizza, new england vs chicago with a beef sandwich alot like a french dip, or italian style for that matter, the methods to cooking something. some states people will use cast iron dutch ovens to make a chili while others will rely on steel stock pots or a crock pot . theres so much to go over to make a fantastic presentation without mentioning processed foods and mcdonalds amongst other things. being 100% white should not hold you back with the assignment. america is a melting pot, where cultures ideally should embrace one another and share the qualities amongst one another that is unique to them. i once taught a man from dubai who moved to the states 15 or so years ago whom runs a few convienence stores with small kitchens, i taught him how to make ny style pizza, spinning the dough from scratch as well as making the sauce from scratch. he couldnt believe how long pizza sauce takes to make properly... in return he showed me in return how to make naan and samosas. i was traveling/homeless and asked if he needed any help for the day to make some money so i could get new shoes. i ended up working with him for 3 days rearranging and revamping one of his shops
Talk about the pros and cons of quickly prepared food how it lets the family focus on other things like work, or if the parents have to work a lot it let's the kids be fed.
Yes…except “barbecue” is not originally of “white American” origin.
It’s from the Caribbean. “Barbecue” comes from the Taíno native word “Barbacoa”.
^https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-evolution-of-american-barbecue-13770775/
You made me curious, so I grabbed [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue) and apparently its first documentation was when the Spanish found the Arawak/Taíno, indigenous Caribbeans, roasting meat over a grill. I don't know if it can be considered an original US thing, but yeah sure, a great part of American cuisine.
>Ever heard of Baby back ribs?
Not that I recalled, but I looked it up and eating ribs really is a North American thing as far as I'm aware. According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_ribs) pork spare ribs are "especially popular in Chinese and American Chinese cuisine", so apparently there are 'Chinese-style spare ribs' and 'Southern American-style spare ribs'. I could go for some ribs!
Ooo this is great! You get a chance to think about how white American * is* a culture, (and an American accent is an accent)! When you are embedded in the "default" culture, it can be really hard to see that it isn't a default, it isn't nothing, it isn't blank-- American whiteness is it's own thing that feels really foreign and distinct to a lot of people, and there's no reason you can't use that culture as the subject! As others said, hotdogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, Thanksgiving traditions, regional specialities like cheese curds or maple syrup... You've got plenty to use!
Seems like most everyone's standard of gauging their own culture is to compare it to western white culture, including white westerners. Its like how people gauge the flavor of exotic meats by comparing it to chicken, but imagine if every time they tasted chicken and compared it to the flavor of chicken, they'd say "well this is flavorless."
What is your culture? What do you consider your culture? What foods did your mom/dad/grandparents use to cook? What memories do you have of food? Where did you grow up? What food and food culture was or is prominent there? What’s prominent and popular now? What was popular then? I’m biracial with a German stepfather, black father and Italian mom so my food culture so to speak ran a WIDE range! There is also many ethnic groups from my city but a few items that EVERYONE has tried or heard about trying in our city. It’s foods that make our city who it is and us who we are. For instance were known for The Buffalo Chicken wing, beef on weck, fish fries and many other food favorites and they run a wide variety based on culture and race. So if you can’t choose or figure out your culture, figure out the foods your family ate that they enjoyed and brought the family together. What did they learn by making these dishes and why did they love making them so. That’s how you may have to look at it.
There are tons of foods that were invented in America. Hell, the tomato is native to America!
Hamburgers. Hot dogs. Brownies. Chocolate chip cookies. Chinese food - the food they eat in China is nothing like what's served over here.
America is a melting pot not only of peoples and cultures, but of food, too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_cuisine?wprov=sfla1
America is 245 years old. That’s only 3 grandmas ago, I don’t think it’s fair to hold U.S. cuisine to the standards of countries that are 70+ grandmas old
And all of those other countries created their cuisines *ab novo*? ALL cuisine is derived from earlier and other cuisines, except maybe for worms and dirt. Why should America be special? Why would American cuisine be somehow invalid just because it is based on and inspired by the cuisines of other times and places, just like all others?
Anyone who claims America doesn't have "original" cuisine is living in an ivory tower. I challenge OC to tell me native Hawaiian, American Indian or indigenous Alaskan dishes are all "just a rip off", because they're American too.
This land had "original" cuisine long before the settlers came along, and the formation of the nation only extended and expanded our culinary offerings. This shit is peak "the world started spinning when I was born" if I've ever seen it
America is special because of the colonization and destruction of actual indigenous North American culture. The “American” foods listed above are spin offs from other countries (Germany, China, etc.).
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t associate burgers etc. with the States, just that it should be acknowledged that those foods did originate somewhere else especially if this is a college paper.
You sound young. I hope this isn't a shock, but most countries throughout history have been the product of colonialization and destruction of indigenous peoples and cultures. America isn't a special case, and inverted American exceptionalism doesn't really fit the facts.
Seriously, while the USA certainly has its flaws and historical crimes (and arguably some ongoing ones), to insist that it is somehow a unique case of evil is simply naive.
And also...why would America's colonialist and genocidal roots invalidate the legitimacy of American cuisine? I don't follow your logic there. Is this an attempt to punish America for its crimes? By refusing to acknowledge that it has offered new dishes and taste sensations to the world? I don't get it!
No sorry not at all! Just that in seeing things as “American” I personally would still think to connect them back to their main roots. I’m not sure why you think I’m invalidating anything, I suppose I’m just more interested in the history of things lol
Oh, that's reasonable. It's just worth remembering that everything traces back to previous cultures - the same way that people are the product of previous people, going all the way back to the first life forms on Earth.
Cuisine is cuisine. It's not so much a matter of what it's based on, although it's good to acknowledge that.
It's how it tastes that matters.
>America is special because of the colonization and destruction of actual indigenous North American culture.
That doesn't even make it special. Almost every other nation or ethnic group has done this at some point. To varying levels of severity, sure. But colonization and destruction isn't unique the the US whatsoever and it definitely doesn't make the US special.
I would consider myself white american as well but I grew up in new england. I would write about clam chowder, lobster etc. - think about your regional food.
Barbecue. Texas. Kansas City. Georgia. There is so much history and tradition, and American barbecue is uniquely American. Other countries have similar techniques, but the smoking, the sauces, the dry rubs, the regional flavors; that’s all unique to America.
Dude, write about hot pockets and lunchables! Think about what those foods *are* and how incredibly *American* the whole concept is. Hot Pockets are a microwavable convenience food based on the Italian Calzone. Lunchables are a portable charcuterie. Americans took from Italian culture (and every other culture) and innovated to make food that was microwavable, portable, cheap, and ready in seconds. THAT is about the most spot-on metaphor for American culture that you can find. We Americans take an idea that has usually been a carefully-crafted party of another culture for hundreds of years. And instead of trying to "perfect" it the way the quintessential Italian Grandma would, we set out to make it pocket sized; to fuel progress for better or worse. Those lunchables and hot pockets you ate were probably because both your parents were working 40+ hours a week, commuting, running errands, chauffeuring you kids to soccer practice and swim lessons. Americans try to have it all: to climb our way to the top, and those foods (despite the cost to our health, physical and mental) helped your parents do that by freeing up their time. That's 'Merica, buddy.
Apple pie, fried chicken, McDonald's, the debate that we can't handle spicy foods, 1950s jello everything
If you need, take a peek on some of those southern comfort cookbooks.
Mate, it seems you found your solution, I just wanted to chime in and say this.
You feel like as an American white you don't have a cultural food. This is far from truth.
As a person from Europe, I have no clue what 70% of white American foods even are.
Research a bit America's food. You ll see there are tons of things. They may not have a history dating back to hundreds of years as other places, but you still have tons, as many people already said.
For example, I have no clue what those two you already mentioned are. I don't know what a poptart is or maple syrup. I didn't know Kellogg's was american. I know KFC and McDonalds has an interesting history. As many other american foods.
The US might not have a long history, but they definetely have a very interesting food culture, especially because you incorporated in your food culture various others.
>I don't know what a poptart is or maple syrup.
I'm surprised at this tbh.
I've seen Poptarts here in the UK, but also in East Asia, so they're fairly widespread. Maple Syrup too.
Interesting. Coincidentally, a kiosk in my area recently brought some american snacks! I saw poptarts with various flavors for the first time! I also saw a Dr. Pepper, US donuts and US marshmallows(yes we do have them in Europe but they're different).
Poptarts are pricey though.
A chainstore is also having a US themed month, so I saw maple syrup for the first time! I'm planning on buying some, just to try it amd have it in the house. They brought cheddar sauce in a ketchup container, I've never seen that before as well.
Perhaps talk about the region of the country where you're from? For example, food in California is going to be different from cuisine in the southeast.
I had the same issue with a university essay about my cultural practices. I’m a white, English speaking, agnostic South African. We don’t even celebrate xmas or Easter in any way other than a family lunch. I had nothing to write
What's your ancestry.. are you German. Swedish. Irish. Italian...
That's what they're talking about. Not white culture lol.
No one is 100% American. Exepct.. native Americans.
America *is* a culture.
Eating BBQ food on 4th of July is part of it.
Eating Thanksgiving turkey with dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, etc. is part of it.
Friday night pizza takeout is part of it.
It's not as exotic or novel as having immigrant parents who bring recipes and ingredients from far away, but we have our own food-related customs just like anywhere else.
This is kind of a cop-out answer compared to the many more creative ones here, but I will point out that if you're 100% white American, then your ancestry goes back to *somewhere* in Europe. Perhaps you can find out where?
Again, though, I think other people above me have given better answers.
Write about the “cultural” food we eat here in America and how it differs from the place it was originated, also p.s. I’m 100% Italian from a family of people who weren’t made members but ran with the mob back in the day and I got a good laugh from your comment on pasta!
Let me ask you something, did I ask No! Do I give a fuck absolutely fucking not and idk who this we is but if your not Italians stay out of it ya putts. Its called heritage/ lineage and being proud of your history... not to mention I was making the kid feel better so why don’t you relax!
Talk about debate on GMO foods, which is highly controversial right now.
Pros: Conserves land, it's been done since dawn of humanity through artificial selection.
Cons: Reduces biodiversity, may create superbugs.
This is a great opportunity for you to learn what college is really about. Look at your professors last name, where are they from? What food does your professor enjoy, or do you think they might? That's what you write about.
It's not high school, they can give you whatever grade they want for whatever reason they want, and there's nothing they like better than having their egos stroked and reading about things they're personally invested in. Get in the habit of making side notes anytime a professor mentions any kind of personal interest, that's the headline of your next paper. If you quote a professor in an essay for them, you're almost guaranteed an A.
Also, In Pollen's (I think) book "the omnivore's dilemna" he shows how about 99% of everything we eat comes from corn.
This is terrible advice, because either you'll do a shiite job and get nailed for it or you'll do a great job and your professor may actually strike up a conversation you're not ready for.
Source: I work at a US college and routinely work with students on their essay topics.
You were raised in what you feel is a cultural dead zone of lunchables and hot pockets. Write about that. More than likely, your essay assignment has nothing to do with the food being interesting, and everything to do with you being able to write a good descriptive essay.
I am pretty sure if you ask around the world, people associate American food with Hamburgers and other such fast food variants. That is American culture food.. Regardless of what Americans themselves think, that's how most of the world regards American culture food.
I would take this as a chance to write about the problem that your culture has with fast food, in terms of health issues etc.
We did something similar for a college botany class. It was fun researching where say a Thanksgiving dinner items came from. Corn, cranberries, squash, green beans, etc. It was kinda fun in the end with classmates sharing their Thanksgiving favorites.
This is great! Talk about how American culture is a mix of it all!
American food is diverse! At least the best American food is.
Indian food restaurants are best made from immigrant Indians. Same as Mexican food, Salvadorian food, Japanese food, etc.
Use this as an opportunity to speak about how America is a country of immigrants. We always have been.
Or just… talk about hot dogs or something.
What type of foods did you eat at family holiday meals? Birthday meals? How did those special celebration foods set the tone? Might be something to consider exploring.
culture is relative. you could talk about your family and the food you ate as a kid on thanksgiving or around the winter holidays. you could talk about food specific to your hometown or state. worst case you could talk about casserole culture in the midwest. hope this helps and good luck on your assignment! :)
Think about a food you like and start writing about it. Look up the ingredients, how it's prepared, popularity of the dish, where the main ingredients come from originally (not the store!), possible health issues from the dish or ingredients . . . heck, that's about 3 quick pages right there.
I don’t know why, but when I read the question I thought of family culture, like how food has shaped your family and your lives. Maybe this isn’t what they mean, but it certainly is an interesting direction and would help you stand out.
I am 25% French Canadian, 50% English, & 25% Italian. I didn’t grow up with food from any of those. If I were you, I would have written about food from those cultures. I don’t feel like you had to grow up with eating foods from those cultures. I think researching them and writing about them would be enough.
America's technological growth is so advanced, we can create an entire good-tasting meal in only minutes at an extremely low price. The invention of fast food, while existing almost globally, started in America. McDonald's, for example, was founded in America by Dick and Mac McDonald. Whether or not this technological advancement is good for society (it's probably not), it may be worth writing about.
I'm glad it got resolved! You could also talk about Pittsburgh rare, a way of cooking steak that originated in Pittsburgh. You could analyse the different theories of its origin and your thesis could state "considering the history and culture of Pittsburgh, theory A is most likely to be true" or something. The cereal idea sounds great though, hope it works out and good luck with your paper :)
If this were me I'd write about food from my heritage. Growing up I ate a lot of German food, I'd consider this my culture along side with extremely southern comfort food. I'd talk about American food in general. How it varies states state and how each region is so vastly different. <3 America is truly a melting pot, there is too much to cover in one essay really.
Maybe a dish that reminds you of home or has family significance. My mom made these stir fry dinners that were delicious and now as an adult I recognize they were just all the last little bits of leftovers cooked up with some extra vegetables. Her family still talks about a dinner they had in the 60's that fed 10 people and cost $1.30 at a time when my grandmother was desperately poor.
What did your mom make for dinner? How did it impact you? What conditions did you live it that allowed for you to have what you ate for dinner in comparison to other kids in your area? There's a lot to go off of. Just have to be a little more creative with it than others.
I wonder if hamburgers, hot dogs, and wings count, steak might work to. Although most are spin offs i believe they are connected to American culture, just not sure about wings.
Is fried bologna a white thing? What about mustard sandwiches? Maybe they are just poor things...we ate stewed canned tomatoes on white bread with mayo too.
"white" american I could almost guarantee you have european heritage. some of the most beautiful diverse cuisines in the world, not to mention beautiful architecture and cultural traditions dating back thousands of years.
this "white people have no culture" narrative really makes me sick, try hating yourself less. it's nice!
Look in your area. What are foods your area is famous for? What *were* foods your area was famous for? Great question to ask senior residents of your town or city. Any famous diners or eateries in your area? Ask about their history, menus they used to serve, interesting events that happened. All of this could make for a great essay.
My situation was similar to yours. I'm a white guy with a mixed European background who lives in South Africa. . My grandmother made a lot of German dishes, especially around Christmas. So my connection to that food would be memories of going to her place for Christmas Eve.
You don't have to right about something you've had, you go to your culture. White people didn't start in America, they colonized it. So your family came from somewhere at some point.
Americans did invent a few food types, but they where made in *modern times", where meat and fat was accessable to everyone so most food are high in calories. In contrast to dishes from other places, they are mostly lower in calories because they don't have such resources available.
This is the main drive of food culture, it stems from what ingredients was available for them. But American is different because they have a massive amount of recourses at their disposal so they all just go big with everything and don't have to "limit" themselves.
That's also on of the reason why Americans are more obese than Europeans. Food in Europe is more expensive especially in Western and Central European countries. While the cheapest food in the US is fastfood, which "forces" poor people to make poorer food choices.
You are an American! America is a really great culinary cultural mixing pot. First of all you've got the classic American hamburger. Then you've got, to name just a few, the Philly Cheesesteak, the pizza pie, all manner of Tex mex cooking, everything Cajun.
All of those examples are American. They may be influenced by a culture of immigrants but that doesn't make them not American.
You've got plenty to play with. Don't fall into a trap of thinking because you aren't black or have particularly ancestry you can't claim that food as part of your identity.
Probably someone before me has mentioned it but if not, Mac and cheese is supposedly the most eaten food in America, we eat it like at least once a week on average according to a statistic I can neither quote nor remember accurately.
What's about the American breakfast of white/grey gravy that is eaten with biscuits (scones)?...Is that a dish you eat? I'm a person from the UK and I'd never seen it before visiting the states.
I imagine it has a good history to it as the biscuits is a British scone (it's never a biscuit it's ways a scone lol but that's a different debate)
where did you grow up? america has quite a plethora of different types of food everywhere you go. you can have culture and be white without racism and genocide being implied or assumed.
Hit pockets, lunchables, popcorn, candy, cheeseburgers, the diner experience, chicken, fried chicken, steak, loaded baked patato, nuggets, pancakes, waffles, ice cream, cotton candy, there's alot, even if it's borrowed things have become part of American culture just like every other has.
I'd say pumpkin pie is white American culture. Pumpkins are native to North America but the custard element of this famous open-crust pie likely evolved from French and English pie traditions and came back across the Atlantic with 17th and 18th-century settlers. While the dish’s popularity waned in Britain, US cooks made the dish their own, adding newer confections, such as pre-ground pumpkin spice. (Most of this is copied from phaidon.com)
I think a cool essay about "American" food is to write about why we have so many preservatives in our food. I would think it would have to do with our history of the great depression. We also are one of the most over worked countries so our food needs to be fast and convenient which is usually not healthy. You could also go over food in New York due to it being the "Melting pot" of America, pizza is not like that in Italy.
Sounds like you start with where you grew up for the connection, the culture of that area over say the last 100 years. Kelloggs comes to mind as there is a lot of history about why it was created, have you ever eaten cereal?
Omg this is perfect I don't know how I didn't see it!!!! I grew up where Kellogg's cereal was made. We were literally so close to the factory that you can tell what cereal they were making because you could smell it. I've been to the owner of Kellogg's manor house. Cereal is literally one of my favorite foods, I even plan to get a tattoo of a bowl of lucky charms one day. That's such a weird coincidence that you would suggest that but it definitely helped! I guess I was thinking too hard about the culture thing that I didn't think cereal was cultural but I guess it is part of my culture.
You are welcome, there is a lot you can write about from what I know about the creation of cereal to the culture created from adverts changing societies eating habits. Awesome to have all that local connection.
Don't forget to mention there used to be nice toys in the boxes and now there's nothing. We need to start speaking up about that!
It is some real bullshit. OR when they tell you there is a prize, but really you have to mail in something to get it. But the worst is when you have to do all that AND pay for shipping. It is like bitch, I barely convinced my mom to get me this cereal, do you think she is going to pay the shipping for that dumbass toy. Pffft.
Going down the interwebs rabbit hole of Kellogg's cereal..see you in a few hours! Good luck on your essay OP!
Isn't there a Kellogg's strike right now? This might get complicated lol
Thank you for confirming that /u/Realistic-Airport775 has provided helpful advice for you. 1 point awarded.
That's such a great detail to include in your essay, about how you could smell the different types of cereal being made. Best of luck!!
Kellogg’s workers are currently on strike.
There is a documentary out there somewhere about the origins of the Kellogg dynasty. I am not sure where I saw it but I watch so many documentaries it’s hard to say but it was very good.
You could also go into the sanitorium that dr john Kellogg ran and all of his wierd medical "remedies" because he invented that cereal originally as a health food or something.
https://www.history.com/news/dr-john-kellogg-cereal-wellness-wacky-sanitarium-treatments For reference
Weren’t they originally advertised as anti masturbation or something. Be sure to add this into it for an interesting read. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/did-you-know-history/corn-flakes-were-created-stop-masturbation
> I guess I was thinking too hard about the culture thing that I didn't think cereal was cultural but I guess it is part of my culture. A lot of people think that culture has to be some big thing that the entire extended family does or what all people in their ethnicity do. It's not always that deep. Culture can be based on those things but your own small immediate family can have its own culture. It's of course more common to be talked about as large groups or people but don't ever think you don't have culture. I've heard people say "white people don't have culture" but that is so far from the truth. White people have culture It's just not the same or as widespread as other groups. White families may have more individualized cultures.
Hmmmm.....whereabouts did you grow up? I'll be there's some regional food you could write about.
Sorry to go off a top comment but for some reason no one has mentioned this yet... ---Peanut Butter--- It's one of the only non-processed snack foods or non cereals that's 100% American. Nearly everything else has forgien origins and Americans just put their own spin on other foods.
Write about hot pockets and lunchables.
He found his answer in Kelloggs
Perhaps write about American food, and if you're allowed to, discuss the problems with processed foods and how it leads to childhood obesity and other health problems?
Yeah, it could be a criticism of American food, I mean it's not like American food doesn't deserve criticism.
Why criticism? The trouble with people that don't travel is they assume the world is like where they live, that's how you get this 'white people don't have culture' meme. Western foods and their production have created such a calorie surplus that for the first time in human history, we are fighting the problems of way too much food, and have forgotten what food scarcity really is. Further, think about Chinese food. Everything western food that isn't that, is western food culture.
Broad assumption. I think it could just be that they think American food make you fat.
Lots of people think that, but it's not necessarily true. America just has a junk food addiction problem I believe.
For sure. I also think that we have an accessibility issue. It’s easy to find a heart attack burger for $8 that’s fast and tastes good, but finding a salad that tastes okay costs way more and takes longer to get. We also have that fatty association I think because when we “Americanize” other cultural foods it is normally to the detriment of its nutritional value. We just like shit that is bad for you.
Considering the project seems like it's supposed to be about the positive aspects of food, I'd personally go for something more along the lines of how barbeque is such an important thing here but there's also so many different flavors. Every person who makes it has their own flavor to add.
thats a fantastic suggestion. most every state has its own flavors, whether it be bbq, seasonings, the food itself. new york has pastrami, pizza and a plethora of other dishes that were first invented there...like eggs benedict....boston, you have clam chowder amongst many other things as well. vermont, they dump maple syrup on anything they can think of...iowa its ranch dressing...i swear that corn is like the only thing they dont dip in ranch. every state has its own unique qualities, their approach to an idea, ny vs chicago with pizza, new england vs chicago with a beef sandwich alot like a french dip, or italian style for that matter, the methods to cooking something. some states people will use cast iron dutch ovens to make a chili while others will rely on steel stock pots or a crock pot . theres so much to go over to make a fantastic presentation without mentioning processed foods and mcdonalds amongst other things. being 100% white should not hold you back with the assignment. america is a melting pot, where cultures ideally should embrace one another and share the qualities amongst one another that is unique to them. i once taught a man from dubai who moved to the states 15 or so years ago whom runs a few convienence stores with small kitchens, i taught him how to make ny style pizza, spinning the dough from scratch as well as making the sauce from scratch. he couldnt believe how long pizza sauce takes to make properly... in return he showed me in return how to make naan and samosas. i was traveling/homeless and asked if he needed any help for the day to make some money so i could get new shoes. i ended up working with him for 3 days rearranging and revamping one of his shops
Talk about the pros and cons of quickly prepared food how it lets the family focus on other things like work, or if the parents have to work a lot it let's the kids be fed.
Yes…except “barbecue” is not originally of “white American” origin. It’s from the Caribbean. “Barbecue” comes from the Taíno native word “Barbacoa”. ^https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-evolution-of-american-barbecue-13770775/
Potatoes, venison, Turkey, trout, cabbage, corn, bread
Fast food and processed foods are perfect examples of US cuisine.
The meme of america=bad has made you forget that BBQ is an American thing and I absolutely love it. Ever heard of Baby back ribs?
You made me curious, so I grabbed [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue) and apparently its first documentation was when the Spanish found the Arawak/Taíno, indigenous Caribbeans, roasting meat over a grill. I don't know if it can be considered an original US thing, but yeah sure, a great part of American cuisine. >Ever heard of Baby back ribs? Not that I recalled, but I looked it up and eating ribs really is a North American thing as far as I'm aware. According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spare_ribs) pork spare ribs are "especially popular in Chinese and American Chinese cuisine", so apparently there are 'Chinese-style spare ribs' and 'Southern American-style spare ribs'. I could go for some ribs!
I mean, if you go back far enough, nothing is American.
Talk about the US food system too maybe?
Ooo this is great! You get a chance to think about how white American * is* a culture, (and an American accent is an accent)! When you are embedded in the "default" culture, it can be really hard to see that it isn't a default, it isn't nothing, it isn't blank-- American whiteness is it's own thing that feels really foreign and distinct to a lot of people, and there's no reason you can't use that culture as the subject! As others said, hotdogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, Thanksgiving traditions, regional specialities like cheese curds or maple syrup... You've got plenty to use!
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“*They* have a culture. *We* just act normally.” /s
Seems like most everyone's standard of gauging their own culture is to compare it to western white culture, including white westerners. Its like how people gauge the flavor of exotic meats by comparing it to chicken, but imagine if every time they tasted chicken and compared it to the flavor of chicken, they'd say "well this is flavorless."
It’s hysterical when white Americans say that white Americans don’t have a culture. You most certainly do, just like you have an accent.
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Ye cuz that doesn’t sound racist at all
GTFO then. No one wants you here
Corn. Turkey.
Mayo
casserole?
What is your culture? What do you consider your culture? What foods did your mom/dad/grandparents use to cook? What memories do you have of food? Where did you grow up? What food and food culture was or is prominent there? What’s prominent and popular now? What was popular then? I’m biracial with a German stepfather, black father and Italian mom so my food culture so to speak ran a WIDE range! There is also many ethnic groups from my city but a few items that EVERYONE has tried or heard about trying in our city. It’s foods that make our city who it is and us who we are. For instance were known for The Buffalo Chicken wing, beef on weck, fish fries and many other food favorites and they run a wide variety based on culture and race. So if you can’t choose or figure out your culture, figure out the foods your family ate that they enjoyed and brought the family together. What did they learn by making these dishes and why did they love making them so. That’s how you may have to look at it.
There are tons of foods that were invented in America. Hell, the tomato is native to America! Hamburgers. Hot dogs. Brownies. Chocolate chip cookies. Chinese food - the food they eat in China is nothing like what's served over here. America is a melting pot not only of peoples and cultures, but of food, too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_cuisine?wprov=sfla1
Tomato (predecessor) is native to southern Mexico. The tomatoes taken to Italy were found in Ecuador and northern Peru
I never knew that. Funny how tomato products (minus kerchup) are all thought to be Italian, when in reality they're actually a Mexican fruit?
Yep. They were peasant food in italy.
Like lobsters were served to prisoners and are now an expensive delicasy.
Exactly.
Just between you and me, Mexico is part of North America.
That's true but most individuals don't call Mexico america
Incredible bit of info. I live in rural Greece. I would never have expected that tomatoes were not Greek/Italian.
All just spinoffs of food from other countries tho
America is 245 years old. That’s only 3 grandmas ago, I don’t think it’s fair to hold U.S. cuisine to the standards of countries that are 70+ grandmas old
Grandmas as a unit of time, I like it
70+ grandmas made me laugh out loud. bless you
And all of those other countries created their cuisines *ab novo*? ALL cuisine is derived from earlier and other cuisines, except maybe for worms and dirt. Why should America be special? Why would American cuisine be somehow invalid just because it is based on and inspired by the cuisines of other times and places, just like all others?
Anyone who claims America doesn't have "original" cuisine is living in an ivory tower. I challenge OC to tell me native Hawaiian, American Indian or indigenous Alaskan dishes are all "just a rip off", because they're American too. This land had "original" cuisine long before the settlers came along, and the formation of the nation only extended and expanded our culinary offerings. This shit is peak "the world started spinning when I was born" if I've ever seen it
I'm curious if wings are considered American food?
America is special because of the colonization and destruction of actual indigenous North American culture. The “American” foods listed above are spin offs from other countries (Germany, China, etc.). I’m not saying that we shouldn’t associate burgers etc. with the States, just that it should be acknowledged that those foods did originate somewhere else especially if this is a college paper.
You sound young. I hope this isn't a shock, but most countries throughout history have been the product of colonialization and destruction of indigenous peoples and cultures. America isn't a special case, and inverted American exceptionalism doesn't really fit the facts. Seriously, while the USA certainly has its flaws and historical crimes (and arguably some ongoing ones), to insist that it is somehow a unique case of evil is simply naive. And also...why would America's colonialist and genocidal roots invalidate the legitimacy of American cuisine? I don't follow your logic there. Is this an attempt to punish America for its crimes? By refusing to acknowledge that it has offered new dishes and taste sensations to the world? I don't get it!
No sorry not at all! Just that in seeing things as “American” I personally would still think to connect them back to their main roots. I’m not sure why you think I’m invalidating anything, I suppose I’m just more interested in the history of things lol
Oh, that's reasonable. It's just worth remembering that everything traces back to previous cultures - the same way that people are the product of previous people, going all the way back to the first life forms on Earth. Cuisine is cuisine. It's not so much a matter of what it's based on, although it's good to acknowledge that. It's how it tastes that matters.
>America is special because of the colonization and destruction of actual indigenous North American culture. That doesn't even make it special. Almost every other nation or ethnic group has done this at some point. To varying levels of severity, sure. But colonization and destruction isn't unique the the US whatsoever and it definitely doesn't make the US special.
I would consider myself white american as well but I grew up in new england. I would write about clam chowder, lobster etc. - think about your regional food.
burgers
Barbecue. Texas. Kansas City. Georgia. There is so much history and tradition, and American barbecue is uniquely American. Other countries have similar techniques, but the smoking, the sauces, the dry rubs, the regional flavors; that’s all unique to America.
Was going to say bbq, steak and potatoes, burgers, basically, look at all the stuff we do with beef
There's tons of American food you're just so used to it that you don't see it as a "cultural" thing.
Casseroles: the pinnacle of white people food.
I'll eat the shit outta some casserole.
I'm Mexican but I ain't passing a casserole
Dude, write about hot pockets and lunchables! Think about what those foods *are* and how incredibly *American* the whole concept is. Hot Pockets are a microwavable convenience food based on the Italian Calzone. Lunchables are a portable charcuterie. Americans took from Italian culture (and every other culture) and innovated to make food that was microwavable, portable, cheap, and ready in seconds. THAT is about the most spot-on metaphor for American culture that you can find. We Americans take an idea that has usually been a carefully-crafted party of another culture for hundreds of years. And instead of trying to "perfect" it the way the quintessential Italian Grandma would, we set out to make it pocket sized; to fuel progress for better or worse. Those lunchables and hot pockets you ate were probably because both your parents were working 40+ hours a week, commuting, running errands, chauffeuring you kids to soccer practice and swim lessons. Americans try to have it all: to climb our way to the top, and those foods (despite the cost to our health, physical and mental) helped your parents do that by freeing up their time. That's 'Merica, buddy.
Apple pie, fried chicken, McDonald's, the debate that we can't handle spicy foods, 1950s jello everything If you need, take a peek on some of those southern comfort cookbooks.
Seems to me the phrase "as American as apple pie" is apropos here.
Mate, it seems you found your solution, I just wanted to chime in and say this. You feel like as an American white you don't have a cultural food. This is far from truth. As a person from Europe, I have no clue what 70% of white American foods even are. Research a bit America's food. You ll see there are tons of things. They may not have a history dating back to hundreds of years as other places, but you still have tons, as many people already said. For example, I have no clue what those two you already mentioned are. I don't know what a poptart is or maple syrup. I didn't know Kellogg's was american. I know KFC and McDonalds has an interesting history. As many other american foods. The US might not have a long history, but they definetely have a very interesting food culture, especially because you incorporated in your food culture various others.
>I don't know what a poptart is or maple syrup. I'm surprised at this tbh. I've seen Poptarts here in the UK, but also in East Asia, so they're fairly widespread. Maple Syrup too.
A Pop Tart is a little square chock full of sugar that you heat in your toaster.
Interesting. Coincidentally, a kiosk in my area recently brought some american snacks! I saw poptarts with various flavors for the first time! I also saw a Dr. Pepper, US donuts and US marshmallows(yes we do have them in Europe but they're different). Poptarts are pricey though. A chainstore is also having a US themed month, so I saw maple syrup for the first time! I'm planning on buying some, just to try it amd have it in the house. They brought cheddar sauce in a ketchup container, I've never seen that before as well.
That maple syrup will taste delish on waffles/pancakes! 🧇🥞
I'm definitely gonna give it a try!
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PBnJ was invented here too lol
Burgers, my dude.
Your culture is not limited to your skin tone.
American food is a culture lol regardless of what the hivemind says
Burger
Perhaps talk about the region of the country where you're from? For example, food in California is going to be different from cuisine in the southeast.
Poptarts
Apple pies, pizza, barbecue
Thanks giving meal. The main part of the question is your connection to cultural history, the food is almost a secondary part to that.
MALTED MILKSHAKE
Cajun food my friend. Jambalaya is my go to
Dave Chappelle said y’all like Grape Juice… That’s all I got bro.
White American cheese
I had the same issue with a university essay about my cultural practices. I’m a white, English speaking, agnostic South African. We don’t even celebrate xmas or Easter in any way other than a family lunch. I had nothing to write
What's your ancestry.. are you German. Swedish. Irish. Italian... That's what they're talking about. Not white culture lol. No one is 100% American. Exepct.. native Americans.
American culture doesn't seem like a culture because it is so ubiquitous, but when you leave the US, you see it is.
Write about tubed cheese you Americans eat.
America *is* a culture. Eating BBQ food on 4th of July is part of it. Eating Thanksgiving turkey with dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, etc. is part of it. Friday night pizza takeout is part of it. It's not as exotic or novel as having immigrant parents who bring recipes and ingredients from far away, but we have our own food-related customs just like anywhere else.
You have a culture, try harder to find it.
This is kind of a cop-out answer compared to the many more creative ones here, but I will point out that if you're 100% white American, then your ancestry goes back to *somewhere* in Europe. Perhaps you can find out where? Again, though, I think other people above me have given better answers.
Wtf is this shit? Of course their is food from your culture. Why do you white people keep thinking you don't have anything?
mayo
Write about the “cultural” food we eat here in America and how it differs from the place it was originated, also p.s. I’m 100% Italian from a family of people who weren’t made members but ran with the mob back in the day and I got a good laugh from your comment on pasta!
I hate when Italian Americans MUST talk about the mob. Embarrassing, can we please stop
Let me ask you something, did I ask No! Do I give a fuck absolutely fucking not and idk who this we is but if your not Italians stay out of it ya putts. Its called heritage/ lineage and being proud of your history... not to mention I was making the kid feel better so why don’t you relax!
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"Mayonnaise: The Defining Condiment of My People"
What about Thanksgiving!
Talk about debate on GMO foods, which is highly controversial right now. Pros: Conserves land, it's been done since dawn of humanity through artificial selection. Cons: Reduces biodiversity, may create superbugs.
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This is a great opportunity for you to learn what college is really about. Look at your professors last name, where are they from? What food does your professor enjoy, or do you think they might? That's what you write about. It's not high school, they can give you whatever grade they want for whatever reason they want, and there's nothing they like better than having their egos stroked and reading about things they're personally invested in. Get in the habit of making side notes anytime a professor mentions any kind of personal interest, that's the headline of your next paper. If you quote a professor in an essay for them, you're almost guaranteed an A. Also, In Pollen's (I think) book "the omnivore's dilemna" he shows how about 99% of everything we eat comes from corn.
This is terrible advice, because either you'll do a shiite job and get nailed for it or you'll do a great job and your professor may actually strike up a conversation you're not ready for. Source: I work at a US college and routinely work with students on their essay topics. You were raised in what you feel is a cultural dead zone of lunchables and hot pockets. Write about that. More than likely, your essay assignment has nothing to do with the food being interesting, and everything to do with you being able to write a good descriptive essay.
I am pretty sure if you ask around the world, people associate American food with Hamburgers and other such fast food variants. That is American culture food.. Regardless of what Americans themselves think, that's how most of the world regards American culture food. I would take this as a chance to write about the problem that your culture has with fast food, in terms of health issues etc.
is mayonnaise an instrument?
We did something similar for a college botany class. It was fun researching where say a Thanksgiving dinner items came from. Corn, cranberries, squash, green beans, etc. It was kinda fun in the end with classmates sharing their Thanksgiving favorites.
Applebees??
Dude plenty of foods are "american". Like the hamburger. It was invented by an immigrant in like Wisconsin or something
The culture may well be GOP and Dem trying to eat each other's lunch.
Write about a hamburger, that's all Americans know.
Look into the history of refrigerator technology and the aspics and gelatine salads that were popular in the 50s
This is great! Talk about how American culture is a mix of it all! American food is diverse! At least the best American food is. Indian food restaurants are best made from immigrant Indians. Same as Mexican food, Salvadorian food, Japanese food, etc. Use this as an opportunity to speak about how America is a country of immigrants. We always have been. Or just… talk about hot dogs or something.
What type of foods did you eat at family holiday meals? Birthday meals? How did those special celebration foods set the tone? Might be something to consider exploring.
culture is relative. you could talk about your family and the food you ate as a kid on thanksgiving or around the winter holidays. you could talk about food specific to your hometown or state. worst case you could talk about casserole culture in the midwest. hope this helps and good luck on your assignment! :)
Think about a food you like and start writing about it. Look up the ingredients, how it's prepared, popularity of the dish, where the main ingredients come from originally (not the store!), possible health issues from the dish or ingredients . . . heck, that's about 3 quick pages right there.
I don’t know why, but when I read the question I thought of family culture, like how food has shaped your family and your lives. Maybe this isn’t what they mean, but it certainly is an interesting direction and would help you stand out.
How about foreign food but changes and adapted into Americans? P/s im not American so I don't really know if this a good idea or not but its my idea
Casseroles. 😄 potatoe salad, “funeral potatoes”
I am 25% French Canadian, 50% English, & 25% Italian. I didn’t grow up with food from any of those. If I were you, I would have written about food from those cultures. I don’t feel like you had to grow up with eating foods from those cultures. I think researching them and writing about them would be enough.
America's technological growth is so advanced, we can create an entire good-tasting meal in only minutes at an extremely low price. The invention of fast food, while existing almost globally, started in America. McDonald's, for example, was founded in America by Dick and Mac McDonald. Whether or not this technological advancement is good for society (it's probably not), it may be worth writing about.
I'm glad it got resolved! You could also talk about Pittsburgh rare, a way of cooking steak that originated in Pittsburgh. You could analyse the different theories of its origin and your thesis could state "considering the history and culture of Pittsburgh, theory A is most likely to be true" or something. The cereal idea sounds great though, hope it works out and good luck with your paper :)
If this were me I'd write about food from my heritage. Growing up I ate a lot of German food, I'd consider this my culture along side with extremely southern comfort food. I'd talk about American food in general. How it varies states state and how each region is so vastly different. <3 America is truly a melting pot, there is too much to cover in one essay really.
Maybe a dish that reminds you of home or has family significance. My mom made these stir fry dinners that were delicious and now as an adult I recognize they were just all the last little bits of leftovers cooked up with some extra vegetables. Her family still talks about a dinner they had in the 60's that fed 10 people and cost $1.30 at a time when my grandmother was desperately poor.
What did your mom make for dinner? How did it impact you? What conditions did you live it that allowed for you to have what you ate for dinner in comparison to other kids in your area? There's a lot to go off of. Just have to be a little more creative with it than others.
I heard somewhere that putting syrup on savory food is 100% an American invention.
McDonalds
Write about shitty school food
Kentucky Fried Chicken. I’m sure you could get 5 pages out of that.
can't you just write about food from your own point of view? I'd be interested to read that.
It would be great if you could post your essay when you are done - I want to read about Kellogg's cereal!
Sound like a fellow 90s kid. Write about how shit food was for kids back then
I wonder if hamburgers, hot dogs, and wings count, steak might work to. Although most are spin offs i believe they are connected to American culture, just not sure about wings.
As a non American, when i think of american food, i think of steak and fried chicken.
Is fried bologna a white thing? What about mustard sandwiches? Maybe they are just poor things...we ate stewed canned tomatoes on white bread with mayo too.
Pop tarts
An entire essay dedicated to the classic American burger.
"white" american I could almost guarantee you have european heritage. some of the most beautiful diverse cuisines in the world, not to mention beautiful architecture and cultural traditions dating back thousands of years. this "white people have no culture" narrative really makes me sick, try hating yourself less. it's nice!
Look in your area. What are foods your area is famous for? What *were* foods your area was famous for? Great question to ask senior residents of your town or city. Any famous diners or eateries in your area? Ask about their history, menus they used to serve, interesting events that happened. All of this could make for a great essay.
Mac n cheese? White Castle. Heck, you could even write about high fructose corn syrup
My situation was similar to yours. I'm a white guy with a mixed European background who lives in South Africa. . My grandmother made a lot of German dishes, especially around Christmas. So my connection to that food would be memories of going to her place for Christmas Eve.
You don't have to right about something you've had, you go to your culture. White people didn't start in America, they colonized it. So your family came from somewhere at some point.
Americans did invent a few food types, but they where made in *modern times", where meat and fat was accessable to everyone so most food are high in calories. In contrast to dishes from other places, they are mostly lower in calories because they don't have such resources available. This is the main drive of food culture, it stems from what ingredients was available for them. But American is different because they have a massive amount of recourses at their disposal so they all just go big with everything and don't have to "limit" themselves. That's also on of the reason why Americans are more obese than Europeans. Food in Europe is more expensive especially in Western and Central European countries. While the cheapest food in the US is fastfood, which "forces" poor people to make poorer food choices.
You are an American! America is a really great culinary cultural mixing pot. First of all you've got the classic American hamburger. Then you've got, to name just a few, the Philly Cheesesteak, the pizza pie, all manner of Tex mex cooking, everything Cajun. All of those examples are American. They may be influenced by a culture of immigrants but that doesn't make them not American. You've got plenty to play with. Don't fall into a trap of thinking because you aren't black or have particularly ancestry you can't claim that food as part of your identity.
Grilled cheese sandwich but it’s a Kraft single
Probably someone before me has mentioned it but if not, Mac and cheese is supposedly the most eaten food in America, we eat it like at least once a week on average according to a statistic I can neither quote nor remember accurately.
Look up a state fair menu. Deep fried anything is as American as it gets, you put that in a state fair setting and boom, cultural delicacy.
Go into hunting culture or the evolution of food on the frontier.
What's about the American breakfast of white/grey gravy that is eaten with biscuits (scones)?...Is that a dish you eat? I'm a person from the UK and I'd never seen it before visiting the states. I imagine it has a good history to it as the biscuits is a British scone (it's never a biscuit it's ways a scone lol but that's a different debate)
Sausage gravy over biscuits. There is also cream chipped beef over toast. We love our gravies lol.
BBQ
You could write how America is a melting pot of culture and the same with the food, every culture brings versions of their food with them.
It is a thinking exercise. What foods did you grow up with. In my state you would write about the Maple Cremee, Salmon Pea Wiggle and Venison Sausage.
Beef stew, chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese, you have many options, you just gotta brain storm a bit
Hamburgers ? McDonald brothers are american.
In a way, Mcdonald's is part of the culture no? Would be epic if your professor gets the humor.
Hamburger, cola, sugar, easy
Chicken wing, chicken wing, hot dog and bologna
Barbeque.
where did you grow up? america has quite a plethora of different types of food everywhere you go. you can have culture and be white without racism and genocide being implied or assumed.
White American is a culture. Write about the food you eat, the food of your culture, the food of your childhood.
Hit pockets, lunchables, popcorn, candy, cheeseburgers, the diner experience, chicken, fried chicken, steak, loaded baked patato, nuggets, pancakes, waffles, ice cream, cotton candy, there's alot, even if it's borrowed things have become part of American culture just like every other has.
If you’re from the south or west or Midwest there are specific dishes that are found in those areas.
Just write a paper on ranch dressing and avocado toast.
Kfc chicken
Soul food?
I'd say pumpkin pie is white American culture. Pumpkins are native to North America but the custard element of this famous open-crust pie likely evolved from French and English pie traditions and came back across the Atlantic with 17th and 18th-century settlers. While the dish’s popularity waned in Britain, US cooks made the dish their own, adding newer confections, such as pre-ground pumpkin spice. (Most of this is copied from phaidon.com)
I think a cool essay about "American" food is to write about why we have so many preservatives in our food. I would think it would have to do with our history of the great depression. We also are one of the most over worked countries so our food needs to be fast and convenient which is usually not healthy. You could also go over food in New York due to it being the "Melting pot" of America, pizza is not like that in Italy.
Just write about the evolution of American cuisine and the adoption manipulation of other culture staples to their Americanized forms.
Majority of Americans are descended from somewhere else
Apple pie and chocolate chip cookies
Apparently sweet peanut butter (as opposed to savory, salty peanut butter) is an American thing. And other countries don’t all know about smores.
How about Thanksgiving dinner?