What Was The Influence Of Food In America

What do you think of the American food system? Do you think America is doing it’s best to feed you healthy food that’s safe for consumption?

When approaching slavery from a historical standpoint, it is a tendency to generalize the experience of slaves. However, slavery differs per region and time period. The differing climates of the Chesapeake region and Deep South determined the crops that would be grown and consequently the severity of slave labor. Likewise, over time slavery evolved from a class based system (poor indentured servants working alongside blacks) to a

The traditional American diet was simple, it was homemade, it was composed primarily of minimally refined ingredients, it was low in added sugars and fats, with the fats coming primarily from animal sources, and required effort to produce, by comparison, the contemporary American diet is much more diverse it's composed a lot of “palatable” sometimes artificial materials, its commercially engineered and sold, it's composed of refined ingredients, it's high in added sugars and fats with the fat coming primarily from seed oils, and requires minimal effort to procure(Pillsbury). At the same time as modern medicine is conquered the leading killers of the 19 century such as infectious diseases modern culture has created a whole new set of epidemics that we must now cure.

The world’s dietary functionality differs from region to region, but a consensus remains constant; americans have an unfulfilling diet overall. In other countries the have their diet scheduled for three structured meals for each day, whereas americans eat whenever their minds tell them that they are hungry. The problem with the american way is when americans eat, they eat food that is filling to the brain but not to the stomach. Americans are always on the run, therefore there is not sufficient time to prepare a structured meals; instead americans rely on fast food. This method of nourishment comes with its own set of issues, food is of a lower quality than that of a home-cooked meal. Along with that comes poor beverage quality instituted

In American culture, we typically center our food choices around american options such as burgers, fries, chicken fried steaks, and chicken tenders. However, I decided to seek out a food from a culture that differs than my American background. I sought out a restaurant that served and Indian cuisine and one that I wouldn’t usually try. I decided Indian for the reason that I love spice in food and the spice that the Indian culture uses in their food should really compliment the food. The restaurant that I found was called Taco Naan, which combines cultures and serves food that cater to Mexican and Indian cultures.

During the slaves’ trip through the middle passage, they had to abandon their old customs and hide their religious rituals as well as priceless artifacts. After arriving into the new world, they had to adapt themselves and create a new way of life in order to survive. Slaves introduced many different foods and edible plants to the colonies (“Slavery”). Before their journey to the colonies, they had gathered black-eyed peas, okra, lima, and kidney beans and brought the food with them. Traditional African dishes and techniques have been perpetrated in American food culture, most prominently deep frying, gumbo, fufu and millet bread. Also, many nursery rhymes and folklore were derived from those of Africans, some famous ones being Chicken Little and Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox. Furthermore, indigenous people had made drums, but due to some slave owners banning them, they were forced to use foot tapping as well as clapping, which are two motions prominently featured in today’s music culture. These achievements mentioned are only some of those notable contributions African culture made on white in the

Slavery became an established activity in America by 1600’s. The slaves were mostly to provide free and cheap labor. Apart from America, slavery was practiced in other parts of the world throughout history, and in fact it can be traced back to the time of the ancient civilization. With industrial revolution especially with the rise of sugar plantations, the slaves were used to grow sugar in the periods from 1100. This intensified between 1400 and 1500 when Portugal and Spain ventured into sugar growing in the eastern Atlantic regions. The growth of the plantations required labor, hence African slaves were bought from Africa, to provide labor.

Moreover, Ferris talks about how throughout the history of the south, the politics of power and place, have lead to the establishment of a cuisine that includes both privilege and deprivation. Thus, continuously impacting the food patterns of the modern day south. Ferris states, “In food lies the harsh dynamics of racism, sexism, class struggle, and ecological exploitation that have long defined the south; yet there, too, resides family, a strong connection to place, conviviality, creativity, and flavor” (Edible South, 1) . This is exemplified all throughout the text by many accounts of antebellum cuisine influenced by that of African and Native Americans.

The Columbian Exchange had a negative and positive impact on both the Europeans and the American Indians. With the exchange of foods, animals, plants, culture, and many other things these people were able to develop new ways of life on both sides of the world. The people throughout Europe were able to benefit from wheat, grain and rye. They had animals such as horses that were able to help them work, travel, and of course their meat was used for food.

The word barbecue originated in the West Indies. Barbecuing was a method of preserving meats and keeping them from going rancid. John Reed explains that early Spanish explorers in the Caribbean's found the natives cooking meat over fires, making sure they were placed at certain heights above the fire with sticks,

All countries are defined by their specific religions, cultures and traditions. African culture is just one of those disposed with traditions, spirituality and music. Unfortunately, as Africans were taken from their homes to be sold in America as slaves, they were separated from the cultures that they understood and that were theirs. The Africans in America had to find ways to fit their culture into their new environment. In order to acclimate to their new country, African slaves from different countries and cultures in Africa combined their unique traditions with the Christian ideology of their masters to create their own new form of existence. Slaves were able to form their own culture with unique food, religion, and ceremonies. Slave culture was developed from Christian ideas, African traditions and devoutness, as well as the distinctive mentality that arose from slave experiences.

There are many variety of soul foods that are eaten by all cultures throughout the world. However, soul food is mainly eaten by African American as a traditional ritual passed down from their slave roots. Soul food has a long lineage, that African American contribution didn’t start in the 60’s, but deeply root’s in its beginning. Soul food was born from the economics of survival for the slaves. Soul food is comforting.

In the documentary America Before Columbus food was a major part of the early success of the settlers in America. In terms of food “horses, pig, sheep, goats, chickens” are but a few that become very popular in America (2009). The impact that food had in America as well as Europe has more to do with thriving and surviving than with the economics of food trade. The Irish could maximize the use of the American potatoes so much that “in a hundred years the Irish population more than doubles” (2009). In the America’s meat was the most inexpensive food and thus settlers of the new world became one of the best fed people on earth. (2009). Without a doubt food trade, to include the byproducts of food became a high demand as trades among the people

“Dietary patterns of Americans differ widely, but most Americans eat a diet that could best be described as in need of improvement”. Compared to other countries, the American diet is very different. I have first hand experienced how much different Americans eat from other countries. For a brief, but very beneficial and productive time, I lived in Barcelona, Spain with my host family. Over in Spain, they eat much more fresh, organic food. There was a lot more seafood in the average diet. The meal configuration over there is also different than ours. Lunch is the largest meal eaten every day; different than America, where dinner is the largest.

Slaves were maimed and sometimes killed for practicing certain forms of their culture. Punishment of slaves was usually carried out for these offences, because the planter was intimidated by these practices, knowing that the slaves could start a revolt at any time.