Food in the Usa

Adele Magheri, Alessia Nannicini, Chiara Santaniello

in the usa

Food

Portion sizes

Obesity

Fast-food

american stereotypes

Breakfast: from 7 to 9 am Lunch: from 11 am to 1 pm Dinner: from 5 to 8 pm ☞ On workdays it’s unusual to have dinner at 5 pm, so they tend to eat earlier in the morning and later in the evening.

MEALTIMES

• Hamburger
• Fried chicken, chicken wings, chicken nuggets
• Macaroni and cheese
• Hot dog
• New York-style pizza
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich

• Chocolate chip cookies
• Pancakes

typical food

6,5%

11%

There is not just one type of American food, but rather a mix of culinary traditions from all over the world

Culinary influences

• Americans cook far less than Europeans, and their interest in experimenting with different cuisines often drives them to:
• eat out;

• order takeout;
• order home delivery.

Food producers' strategy:

• ready-made meals --> decrease of fresh products

Americans don't cook: is it true?

Food additives

Impact on sports

Health issues

HOW MUCH Did YOU listen?

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for the attention!

THANKS

• Only tourists go to Mc Donald's and Burger King
• New fast-food chains are born --> Shake Shack, Just Salad...
• These chains focus on the quality of the food

Do Americans only eat fast-food?

USA’s portion sizes at restaurants

Many people complain about portion sizes at restaurants in the US, but probably they don’t know they can take home their remaining meal, no one is forcing them to eat it all. American consider it a “win-win situation”.

• Tea, milk, American coffee
• Eggs (scrambled, boiled, or fried)
• Grilled bacon or sausages
• Pancakes with maple syrup or honey
• Yogurt and cereals

The American breakfast

• Busy lifestyle
• Fast food culture
• Cost and availability of pre-prepared food
• Culinary skills and limited interest
• Convenience and speed of delivery services
• Lack of strong culinary traditions

There are a number of ingredients and food additives that other countries have banned, but the U.S. still uses:

• Synthetic hormones
• Ractopamine
• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

➤ Rates of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity are high in the U.S. In many cases, these conditions are highly preventable.

Food additives

Asian and Latin influence

Dishes such as tacos, sushi, and pad thai are now widespread throughout the country, and are often reinterpreted in an "American way", mixing local flavors and ingredients with traditional ones from other cultures.

• Prevalence of ultra-processed food
• Large portions
• Fast food
• High animal protein diet
• Deficiency of fruit and vegetables

➤ Recently, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of eating healthy.

• Obesity
• Chronic diseases
• Mental well-being

These are caused by:

Health issues

The African contribution

African slaves brought not only ingredients, but also cooking techniques and flavors. Dishes such as gumbo and jambalaya, reflect the African influence, combining intense spices and local ingredients such as shrimp and sausage. Even the concept of barbecue is strongly influenced by African cooking techniques.

They are all obese!

Are Amaricans really all obese? Let's consider a few facts:

• the number of overweight people is still very high;
• increase of people practicing sports;
• more attention on nutrition;
• differences between the south, the north and the big cities

• Reduced physical performance
• Increased risk of injury
• Weight problems and obesity
• Influence on mental health
• Difficulty in recovery
• Long-term health effects

Impact on sports

➤ There is a growing awareness towards a healthier lifestyle, but the prevalence of an unbalanced diet can still have a negative impact on the sports world.

• Roast turkey
• Mashed potatoes
• Cranberry sauce
• Green bean casserole
• Sweet potatoes
• Roasted vegetables
• Cornbread
• Macaroni and cheese
• Pumpkin pie
• Apple pie

Thanksgiving

The arrival of europeans

They brought with them:

• cows, pigs and chickens,
• spices, grains
• cooking techniques such as baking and fermentation.

Traditional European dishes were adapted to new American ingredients to create new versions of already known recipes. For example, cornbread is a fusion between native-grown corn flour and the European bread tradition.The French settlers brought the art of pastry, which has evolved into the current tradition of American cakes and sweets such as apple pie.