| Just like it is said that America is a melting pot, so is American cuisine, with an array of styles from around the world, but some things have come to be regarded as quintessentially American. Pot roast, hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, and of course, apple pie, are all American food.
Some may look down upon American food recipes, but there’s a charm to these foods and in recent years, chefs across the country have been embracing these “comfort foods,” but adding some twists to them. Truffle oil mixed with gourmet cheese and macaroni takes mac-n-cheese to a new level.
Traditional ingredients in American food recipes include sugar, ketchup, beef, chicken, bacon, corn, potatoes, beans, onions, tomatoes, salt and peanuts. American food certainly has its roots in British cooking as well as Native American foods. As wave after wave of immigrants arrive in America, the food changes. African slaves, brought here mainly to the South in the 1600s, had a heavy influence on cooking there. As Asian immigrants and those from Latin America and the Caribbean arrived, they brought their cooking styles and traditions with them.
Every region in America has its own unique styles of food. In New England, seafood has always reigned supreme. The South is known for fried chicken, okra and pecan pie. The Southwest is influenced by Mexican cooking and enchiladas, tacos and nachos are popular. In America’s heartland, where farming is vital, people eat a lot of foods produced there, such as eggs, chickens, dairy products and hogs. On the Pacific coast, popular food is fresh and light. A lot of America’s tree fruits are found on the West Coast, such as pear and apples trees. Seafood is also a staple.
Many Americans are concerned with eating a better and healthier diet in recent years. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased sharply for both adults and children since the 1970s. Data they have collected shows that among adults aged 20–74 years the prevalence of obesity increased from 15 percent (in the 1976–1980 survey) to about 32 percent (in the 2003–2004 survey).
Smart American health food choices include a variety of foods, with lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Eating low-fat dairy products is smart, as well as eating lean meats. Drinking lots of water is important. Exercise goes hand-in-hand with a healthy diet.
|
