# what (if anything) do other cultures think is gross in American diets? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 8, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271 "2004-10-08T21:29:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/161 "2004-10-14T15:27:47Z")
> [@missbunny](#): > > Shrinking Violet, you’re right - I forgot about UK jelly being American Jello. > > I don’t recall ever seeing Jello or its French equivalent in France. > > Then again, they certainly are fond of aspic, which is kind of not-sweet Jello. Those wacky French! 😉 A French ‘rude’ term for a Brit is “Jelly Eater” equivalent to a Brit calling a French person a Frog. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/162 "2004-10-14T16:06:44Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > What’s the deal on Cheesecake? > > I am in the U.S., but always thought a big ol’ slab of cheese as a dessert is vile…repulsive…gross. Like Alton Brown once explained on his excellent show, “cheesecake” is not cake, and it’s not very cheesy. It’s more accurate to call it a “custard pie.” When it’s good, it’s orgasmically good. And when it’s bad…well, it’s still pretty darn good. ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/163 "2004-10-14T17:16:47Z")
> [@MelCthefirst](#): > > My American cousins reckoned that the food here, was more tasty, especially the meats. I think this may be the difference between grain fed and grass fed beasts? I would be willing to bet you’ve nailed the cause on that one. I take it your cousin isn’t a Midwesterner? Beef in the Midwest tends to be corn-fed, whereas on the coasts you generally get range-fed beef. Many people don’t believe it can make that much of a difference until they actually try it. ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/164 "2004-10-14T19:37:59Z")
> [@mrklutz](#): > > I would be willing to bet you’ve nailed the cause on that one. I take it your cousin isn’t a Midwesterner? Beef in the Midwest tends to be corn-fed, whereas on the coasts you generally get range-fed beef. Many people don’t believe it can make that much of a difference until they actually try it. My cousins are in Connetticut - so not sure what the deal is? ---
**Author:** ![Scarface\_Z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Scarface\_Z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarface_Z)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/165 "2004-10-15T00:31:24Z")
[overlong text deleted] > [@](#): > > Scarface Z > > For those who have never seen it and do not get it yet spell Nacirema backward and get a true feeling for how strange our customs must be seen around the world, 😕 \*\*Moderator hat on] Hey! I’m confused too. Don’t EVER cut and paste something that long and post it here. A one line or two is allowed. More than that, you link to the page/article. “Spell it backward” ?? Does that relate to the tribes that inhabited England in the first centuries AD? Amorican? [Moderator hat off] ---
**Author:** ![MelCthefirst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/166 "2004-10-15T01:30:02Z")
And that is related directly to food how? ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/167 "2004-10-15T01:59:08Z")
**yabob:** > [@](#): > > Corn on the cob. From the viewpoint of much of Europe, this is “animal food”. Supposedly because they aren’t very familiar with sweet corn, as opposed to field corn. BTW, can one find corn-based processed foods in Europe, such as corn chips? If so, are they primarily imported products? > > And, yeah, the rest of the world just doesn’t seem to understand peanut butter. Or pumpkin pie (though sweet potato pie is better, IMO). Having spent over three years in Germany, I can attest that the general German attitude is that corn is only fit for pig’s slops…_until there’s an American-style BBQ._ Then the bucketheads (and I say that with the utmost affection) can’t seem to get enough of corn-on-the-cob, with enough butter to cause an instant heart attack. **Maastricht:** > [@](#): > > …Whaddareyounutsputthreequartersofthatback,… How do you think _we_ feel… we have to actually try to eat it. Talk about food for days! I feel guilty about eating out simply because I have to take at least 1/2 home in a _styrofoam_ container. But I’m with you on the mayo thing; especially with beer, and the darker the better. Most of My Fellow Americans turn green when I do it, and want to know where in the hell I would pick up a such disgusting habits as Bock beer and french fries with mayo. 😛 > [@](#): > > I forgot an important one: Coke (or any other soda’s) with breakfast. Europeans drink coffee, tea, (butter)milk or OJ with breakfast. Drinking Coke with breakfast is, in my European eyes, slightly childish, like eating a plate full of hard candy for breakfast. It would also be considered upsetting to the stomach. That’s silly, of course. Both coffee and Coke contain caffeine, and both aren’t exactly stomach-soothing beverages. I’ve noticed this more recently(last decade), too, and it is sick. I had a coworker who would get _two_ of those giant Snickers bars (big enough to grab two-handed and bludgeon someone with) and a Super Big-Gulp Dr. Pepper or Mountain dew and call it breakfast. Can I get a “yuck” smiley? **levdrakon:** > [@](#): > > I just came back from Germany and I was surprised how often they add corn to things, and it’s not just when they’re making something “American Style.” They stick it in salads, on pizza, in tomato sauces. Yuck. I mostly like corn the good old fashioned American on the cob way. If German chefs think they’re being hip & American by adding corn to stuff, I really wish they’d quit it. Really? Well, the last time I was actually in Germany was 1998… > [@](#): > > (Germany has the best Italian food in the world, sorry Italy) Having been to Italy, as well, I agree. But, IIRC, most of those were Italian restaurants run by…_Italians._ Or are you trying to tell me that Spaetzle and ketchup are being passed off as “Italian?” 😉 **rjung:** > [@](#): > > I got a similar reaction from some relatives visiting from mainland China. The idea of a salad was bizarre enough (“You eat this without cooking it first??”), and the idea of an all-you-can-eat salad bar/restaurant (Souplantation) was beyond the pale. Really? Huh. Most “All-You-Can-Eat” buffets I see are Chinese. **Philster:** > [@](#): > > What’s the deal on Cheesecake? > > I am in the U.S., but always thought a big ol’ slab of cheese as a dessert is vile…repulsive…gross. The best cheesecake I ever had was in Germany, where they typically _don’t_ drown stuff in sugar. Mmmmmm…_kasekuche…_ :drool: ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/168 "2004-10-15T02:05:18Z")
> [@Scarface Z](#): > > The anthropologist has become so familiar with the diversity of ways…nor could man have advanced to the higher stages of civilization. Nice wholesale [cut & paste](http://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html) job, **Scarface Z,** but copying entire articles to SDMB posts is not only a possible copyright violation, but without attribution, might be called, oh, I dunno, _plagarism?_ Next time, perhaps you could read our FAQ, briefly summarize the point you are trying to make, and give credit to the source with a link? And if in doubt, a mod is only an email message away. Meanwhile, welcome to SDMB and have a nice day! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/169 "2004-10-15T06:03:07Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > I feel guilty about eating out simply because I have to take at least 1/2 home in a _styrofoam_ container. [No such thing.](http://www.dow.com/styrofoam/na/story.htm)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/170 "2004-10-15T21:45:57Z")
Alright, **Walloon,** if you _must…_ :rolleyes: I feel guilty because I look at my _waistline_ and go :eek: 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/171 "2004-10-16T00:14:32Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > You guys put KETCHUP on french fries! :eek: > The whole world knows that the only possible sauce with french fries is mayonaise, you Huns. 😃 Potatoes and tomatoes are both on the solanaceae family so they naturally go together. 😉 And \*\*Larry Mudd \*\* nailed it: the sheer size of a portion. Everything comes in four sizes: Dietpetite, Extra Large, Whaddareyounutsputthreequartersofthatback, and Nauseating. [/QUOTE] I think what most people forget is that no, you don’t HAVE to finish all of your food, and you can take it with you to eat later. But then again, I assume Europeans haven’t discovered the beauty of leftovers :). I could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/172 "2004-10-16T00:29:16Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I have heard that there is something of a bean problem between the US and Japan - there, beans are sweet, and here, beans are savory. They think baked or refried beans are pretty nasty, and we’re weirded out by red bean confections. (Although I’ve had red bean ice cream that I liked, but it’s hard to think of it as a bean.) There, I suppose, the problem is that you’re eating something that you expect to taste one way, and it tastes completely different. A lot of Americans eye azuki beans with suspicion. My favorite treats are Azuki beans over shaved ice, azuki bean filling in lightly sweet cakes, and this jelly brick made from agar and azuki beans. It’s quite tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Ozchick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/f6c823/32.png) [@Ozchick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ozchick)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/173 "2004-10-16T00:46:53Z")
Most of what we Australians watch on the teev is American, yet there are many American foods we don’t have here, and just don’t get. I’m thinking primarily of the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich. Sure, we have those 2 ingredients down here (except we call jelly jam, and what we call jelly I think you cal gello.) But putting them _together?_ No Australian has ever done that. I broke it to my daughter (11) the other day that you guys actually have a desert called pumpkin pie, (sweet potato pie in the South, I believe.) She was totally grossed out. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/174 "2004-10-16T00:47:09Z")
> [@Doobieous](#): > > I think what most people forget is that no, you don’t HAVE to finish all of your food, and you can take it with you to eat later. Well, here usually you can’t. At a pizzeria you might get away with it, but at most restaurants that’s not possible. I know it’s just a silly matter of tradition, but for me asking for the leftovers would feel very odd. ---
**Author:** ![Doobieous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/da6949/32.png) [@Doobieous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doobieous)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/175 "2004-10-16T01:05:35Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Taco Bell (face meat taco’s…yuck, how can you guys EAT that crap???) If you have to ask… well… then we just can’t explain to you how? And we also have many fine Mexican restaurants here (we differentiate between Taco Bell and proper Mexican food). [/quote] I’ll tell you some things I found ‘gross’ when I moved to America from Mexico though: 1. Portion sizes. Floored me, and this was YEARS ago…its worse today. [/quote] I’ve gotten some huge portions in Mexico. This was in several restaurants around Santiago De Queretaro also. One was a fancier place, the other was a hole in the wall restaurant and the other was a trendier upscale joint. > [@](#): > > 1. Sweet! Gods, everything is so SWEET! I will say, candy isn’t as sweet in Mexico, neither are the desserts, but holy crap, it seems like most of the candy has lime and chile in it along with salt. How can anyone stand tamarind with chile and salt in it? YUCK > [@](#): > > 1. So MUCH cheese. Cheese on EVERYTHING. Mexicans use cheese in a lot of things too, but gods. Actually most thing I eat here, and most restaurants I’ve been to only add cheese to things like burgers or as a bit of a topping. > [@](#): > > 1. Store bought vegatables. I was used to fresh vegatables…the ones I buy in the store seem pretty tasteless (though they LOOK good). Which is funny because in Mexico in all of the markets I had been to, I BARELY saw any vegetables being sold other than calabasas, tomatoes, and chiles. When I was living out in the villages around Santiago de Queretaro, I can’t remember having any vegetables other than an occasional serving of calabasas or those god awful nopales, which was on occasion. If you have a good grocery store you can get excellent produce. > [@](#): > > And of course most of the fast food places which are a bane on society IMO. What passes for food in most of those…yuck. 🙂 Well I saw fast food EVERYWHERE in the cities in Mexico. You had to travel outside of the cities to escape them. One thing I cannot stand whcih was served at almost every other meal while I was in Mexico were Chicharones. Holy hell is that some nasty crap. Ugh, how can anyone eat that?! Or those weird cheese puff shaped snacks served with some weird white gelatinous thing and hot sauce. Also, hot sauce is put on every snack unless it’s pre wrapped, from my experience About Asians abhorring cheese and dairy. Filipinos are quite fond of dairy, although it tends to show up in desserts mostly, and cheese isn’t common (although, i did see a ball of colby made in the Philippines being sold in an Asian Market here). A few desserts i’ve seen in Filipino stores: Queso y Maiz ice cream (Cheese and corn), one ice cream had beans in it (lima, kidney, etc), There is also the avocado ice cream (which my friend Kenneth says is good). There’s also such desserts like Avocado shakes, where you blend avocados with sweetened condensed milk and some sugar. Most americans are afraid of the Filipino dish called Dinuguan, which is pork blood cooked with some jalapeño and cubed pork meat. I don’t understand being grossed out by huge portions. I can see “amazed”. but really, i’ve been fed a LOT more food in a household where the family is from outside of the united states, than I ever am at any American restaurant. You practically have to push your plate away at a Filipino household, or they’ll stuff you. My grandmother kept feeding me until I threw up as a baby (she’s Filipino). And you can’t leave a Filipino house hold unless you take food with you either. I’ve had huge lunches, dinners, and breakfasts while I was in Mexico as well. However, one American thing that I, as an American DO get grossed out by is putting peanut butter in desserts. I like it in savory things (like satay), or warmed up on toasted bread, but in snickers pie, or peanutbutter pie? GROSS ugh makes me want to vomit. As to cheddar here in the states, I’ve gotten some very good, very sharp cheddar cheese that crumbled like proper cheddar does, and it was store brand too. It wasn’t at all plasticy or tasteless. We have access to excellent cheese here as well, and can get 47 different varieties (my favorites are a good blue, a nice sharp cheddar, and good gruyere). Of course, I am spoiled living in an area with a lot of restaurants and snippy snooty rich people who demand good stuff. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/176 "2004-10-16T02:27:52Z")
**Ozchick:** > [@](#): > > I broke it to my daughter (11) the other day that you guys actually have a desert called pumpkin pie, (sweet potato pie in the South, I believe.) She was totally grossed out. No, pumpkin and sweet potato pies are two different types. Sweet potato pie is probably closer to pecan pie than pumpkin. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/177 "2004-10-16T04:00:20Z")
> [@Ozchick](#): > > I’m thinking primarily of the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich. Sure, we have those 2 ingredients down here (except we call jelly jam, and what we call jelly I think you cal gello.) But putting them _together?_ No Australian has ever done that. Just minutes ago, I ate a delicious peanut butter & jelly sandwich with your fantastic Australian ingredients. It was greatly enhanced by the fact that it’s so easy to get cheap, freshly-baked bread here. Yum! I would recommend to any visiting Americans to buy jam instead of “conserve”, which tastes like gelled sugar with food coloring in it. I must admit that I’ve had trouble adjusting to the food here, so PB&J’s have become a staple of my diet that they never were in the U.S. And, Ozchick, if you’re in the Sydney area and want to bring your daughter over for an authentic American pumpkin pie, I’d be happy to whip one up for y’all! Thanksgiving’s coming up! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/178 "2004-10-16T05:36:01Z")
Regarding American portion sizes, I think part of it is Americans want value for their dollar. Restaurants feel the need to charge, say, $10 for an average entree, $20 for the whole meal (drinks, salad, soup etc.) in order to stay profitable and in business. It doesn’t make much difference what they actually serve you, they need a certain amount of money per head. It doesn’t cost the restaurant much more to double the portion size, and people feel they’ve gotten their money’s worth and can take half of it home. You have to be a pretty damn fancy & popular restaurant to charge an American $20 for a meal about the size of a boiled egg, even if the presentation & atmosphere is excellent. My roommate & I eat out a lot. The other day we checked out this new Thaihawaiin place. We ordered the whole deal, like we always do. Appetizers, salads, soups, entrees & beer. We always try a little of everything & come home with leftovers but at this place we ate everything. The food was OK, but we won’t be going back, because we really didn’t feel we got our money’s worth. This place definitely didn’t have the atmosphere, service, presentation & food quality to make the small serving sizes worth the same money we spend elsewhere, and come home with tomorrow’s lunch & dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Kegg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kegg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kegg)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/179 "2004-10-16T09:28:27Z")
XTANK- I don’t think sweet potato pie is any whee near pecan pie (pecan pie is aure-d sugar). I LOVE bean pie altho I don’t make it often. My family won’t touch it, but thats OK I don’t like to share\> * * * Spelling and grammer subjet to change without notice. ---
**Author:** ![Kegg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kegg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kegg)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271/180 "2004-10-16T09:29:38Z")
that is Pure-d sugar!!! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-anything-do-other-cultures-think-is-gross-in-american-diets/268271.md?page=10)