American Food Culture

When one thinks of American food, the things that typically come to mind are of course
hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, fast food, etc. While these are certainly things that many
Americans enjoy, America actually has a very diverse food culture. Many of America’s
famous foods were actually brought to the country by immigrants, although many of
these dishes have changed overtime or have become blended with other cuisines. With
how vast a country America is, the food culture can also differ greatly depending on the
region, or even depending on the state.

“Melting Pot”
The term “melting pot” is often used when describing America. The word is used to
describe a mixture, or “melting pot”, of cultures, nationalities, ethnicities, etc. and gained
popularity in America in the year 1908 following a play by the same name. American
food culture can certainly be thought of in the same way. As America is a country of
immigrants, American cuisine has influences from all around the world. Fusion cuisine,
which combines elements of cuisines from different countries, cultures, etc., is also quite
common.

Additionally, the cuisine and food customs of the various Native American tribes across
the country played an important role in shaping America’s food culture, and the influences
can be seen even in present day. The three primary staples of Native American cuisine are
corn (maize), climbing beans, and squash, which are known as “the three sisters”. These
three crops are planted together and grow exceptionally well together. In addition, hunting
was also an important part of tribe life. Tribes hunted animals such as deer, buffalo, rabbits,
turkeys, etc. depending on where they were located. In present day, many dishes that
originated from Native American tribes remain popular in America including turkey,
cornbread, cranberries, etc.

An American Breakfast
It’s difficult to describe a typical American breakfast as it will differ greatly depending
on the location, family, etc. For many people, breakfasts also differ depending on the day
of the week. For example, many people tend to eat light, simple breakfasts during the
weekdays and reserve the more extravagant breakfasts for the weekends. Some people
may also choose to eat brunch on the weekends.
 Since many people are busy with school or work during the
weekdays, breakfasts tend to be much simpler. Cereal is a
popular choice especially among children, although many
adults enjoy it as well. If you visit an American supermarket
you will typically find an entire aisle dedicated to various
kinds of cereals, and many have cute characters on the box
as well as small prizes inside to entice children. In addition
to cereal, other popular weekday breakfast foods include
oatmeal, granola, toast, fruits, muffins, yogurt, pop-tarts,
doughnuts etc. Popular drinks include orange juice, milk,
Typical Breakfast Cereals
or coffee.

During the weekends, when people tend to have more time to

themselves, many families like to have larger breakfasts. They
especially tend to reserve Sundays for a large, family breakfast.
For these kinds of breakfasts, a myriad of dishes are often served,
and tend to include more filling items. Some examples of popular
foods include pancakes, French toast, eggs, bacon, sausages, hash
browns, omelets, etc.

Breakfasts in the South also have some dishes that are more unique
to the region, although overtime they have spread to the rest of the
nation as well. These include dishes such as grits, chicken and
waffles, biscuits and gravy, fried steak and eggs, breakfast
A Weekend Breakfast casserole, etc.

An American Lunch
Just like American breakfasts, American lunches can be quite diverse. Many people also
tend to opt for simple and light options during the week. Although many lunch and dinner
dishes are the same or similar, the lunch versions tend to be smaller portion wise.

One very common and beloved lunch is the sandwich. Because it’s a simple meal that
takes very little time to prepare, many people choose to make a quick sandwich the night
or morning before work or school. There are a variety of meats, cheeses, and other things
that you can choose from, most being readily available at nearly any grocery store. As
you can simply add any ingredients that you like, it’s a perfect meal for just about anyone.
Probably the most famous sandwich is the simple and classic peanut butter and jelly
sandwich. It is especially beloved among children and is often served for school lunches
even in present day. However, even some savvy chefs have decided to take their own
gourmet spin on this classic dish to make it fancier.

For those that are even too busy to make their own sandwiches at home, there are also
plenty of sandwich shops that can be found just about anywhere. In addition, there are
typically a variety of fast food restaurants available in most cities and towns that provide
fast and cheap options.

An American Dinner
For most Americans, dinner tends to be the
largest meal of the day. Some of the most well-
known American dishes such as hamburgers,
steak, or pizza are of course favorites for many
people. However, just like breakfast and lunch,
dinners are diverse- perhaps the most diverse of
the three meals.
A Steak Dinner
For a typical American dinner, some kind of
vegetable and a side dish are usually served alongside the main dish. These can include
things such as green beans, corn, peas, carrots, potato dishes, rice, noodles, etc.

Many families also tend to make special dinners when the holidays roll
around. For example, a traditional Thanksgiving meal includes turkey,
cornbread, mac & cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls,
pumpkin pie, etc. Christmas dinners typically include turkey or ham,
vegetables, mashed potatoes, some form of pie (such as apple pie),
pudding, and a fruit cake. 4th of July dishes includes hot dogs, burgers,
fried chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, potato chips, pies,
lemonade, etc.

Typical 4th of July Meal

 American Desserts
Perhaps the most iconic American dessert is the apple pie.
In fact, there’s even an expression “as American as apple
pie” which is used to refer to things that are the best of
American culture.

While apple pie may be one of the An American Apple Pie

most representative desserts of
America, there are many other sweet and tasty dishes you can find
if you visit the country. These include pies of all flavors, cakes,
cheesecakes, pudding, cookies, ice cream, fudge, banana splits,
s’mores, brownies, Rice Krispies, etc.

Cherry Pie

S’mores are a common treat that many associate with camping. They
consist of chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers. Traditionally,
the marshmallows are roasted over a campfire until they are nice and
brown. S’mores make for a perfectly gooey treat to enjoy while telling
ghost stories and other campfire-esque activities. Recently they seem to
have gained even more popularity, and you can even find ice cream, cakes,
pies, etc. that are s’mores flavor!

Gooey S’mores