# What is the most unusual thing about the American diet to people of other nationalities? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 15, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980 "2012-02-15T23:44:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/281 "2012-02-18T16:13:46Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > **gracer** I am glad you are enjoying our national pain. šŸ˜ƒ Should you need to waste 40 or 50 hours of your life, may I suggest [The Gallery of Regrettable Food](http://www.lileks.com/institute/gallery/index.html). Iā€™m certain Britain endured food traditions just as awful in their own way ā€“ Iā€™m told People of a Certain Age thought SPAM was pretty good ā€“ but it seems they are far less thoroughly documented. šŸ˜ƒ BTW, I am somewhat of a collector of the type of recipe booklets profiled in the Gallery. Whenever I trot them out people laugh until they canā€™t breathe, for realisies. Well, Britain has trifle for one thing, which is just plain weird stuff. I loved the idea that it was like something kids would come up with. You could almost add a cup of sand. And SPAM of courseā€¦ People in the Netherlands get freaked out by jelly (Jell-O). They donā€™t have anything like that, so it them itā€™s like alien food. My mum used to serve it at birthday parties when we were kids, but stopped doing it because the other kids wouldnā€™t go near it. And as has been mentioned, take aways serve very greasy disgusting mush. My grandmother laughs at the time she thought she would take me for fish and chips when I was little and I announced that I knew what fish looked like and I knew what chips looked like and that what was on my plate was neither. Plenty of weird everywhere I think. But the weird you didnā€™t know yet is always funnier. šŸ˜ƒ ETA: The gallery is amazing, thanks!! Also, I typed ā€œEATā€ three times before it came out as ā€œETAā€ ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/282 "2012-02-18T16:20:07Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > So in your opinion, fish in set aspic would be improved with the addition of 3/4 cup of pure sugar,artificial lime flavor and some pimento olives? And perhaps a lovely dollop of mayonaise? > > Good to know. Iā€™m afraid Iā€™m too busy for dinner at your placeā€¦ forever. > > Believe me, my family still serves sturgeon in aspic on occasion (and its a hell of a lot more appetizing than the pic on that wiki page! As others have said, its jelled but still soft). There is no commonality between fish cooked in its own broth with some completely appropriate vegetables, and 12 kinds of random crap mixed with Jello. Which, allow me to reiterate, **is 80% sugar**. I didnā€™t notice/understand that the jello was sweet. If so, I completely agree with the puke smiley. But Iā€™ve seen mixed aspics with olives and a dollop of mayo on the top, soā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/283 "2012-02-18T16:41:01Z")
_nm_ ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/284 "2012-02-18T20:16:37Z")
Late to the show, but I couldnā€™t believe the sheer quantities of cheese that are used in American cooking when I got back from living in South America. I just never noticed it before I left, but when I got back, it felt like everything I ate was smothered in cheese. Yes, you eat cheese out of the country, but itā€™s usually to enjoy the flavor of the cheese or to mutually enhance food and drink, and you donā€™t eat that much. But in the U.S., heavy amounts of cheese seem to be very common, especially in the midwest. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/285 "2012-02-18T20:36:36Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > Late to the show, but I couldnā€™t believe the sheer quantities of cheese that are used in American cooking when I got back from living in South America. I just never noticed it before I left, but when I got back, it felt like everything I ate was smothered in cheese. > > Yes, you eat cheese out of the country, but itā€™s usually to enjoy the flavor of the cheese or to mutually enhance food and drink, and you donā€™t eat that much. But in the U.S., heavy amounts of cheese seem to be very common, especially in the midwest. Yeah, too much for me. I guess you get used to it, but it made me sick. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/286 "2012-02-18T21:48:38Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Yeah, too much for me. I guess you get used to it, but it made me sick. Hmm. In three years living there, I never got used to it. Excessive cheese would also by my answer to the OPā€™s question. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/287 "2012-02-19T00:33:44Z")
> [@Norse](#): > > I didnā€™t notice/understand that the jello was sweet. If so, I completely agree with the puke smiley. > > But Iā€™ve seen mixed aspics with olives and a dollop of mayo on the top, soā€¦ Iā€™m not American but I make a lovely tomato aspic which has no sugar at all in it. Tomato juice, various spices, gelatin and some veg. Itā€™s served with cottage cheese mixed with mayo and garnished with avocado, grape tomatoes and bell peppers of differing varietys. Itā€™s quite tasty and always very popular. However, if you made it with a Jello powder - well, that would be disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/288 "2012-02-19T00:46:00Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > That was a pretty kick ass guess though, I couldnā€™t think of anything pink, sweet, and spreadable straight off. Strawberry jam fits the description. But liver pate and salmon spread may also fit the description. They are on the sweet side of savory foods. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/289 "2012-02-19T01:43:37Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Iā€™m not American but I make a lovely tomato aspic which has no sugar at all in it. Tomato juice, various spices, gelatin and some veg. Itā€™s served with cottage cheese mixed with mayo and garnished with avocado, grape tomatoes and bell peppers of differing varietys. > > Itā€™s quite tasty and always very popular. However, if you made it with a Jello powder - well, that would be disgusting. Hey, this actually does sound nice. You have won me over. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/290 "2012-02-19T04:44:51Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The portion sizes, definitely. > Another one for the frozen cookie dough. > That people seem to actually _prefer_ foods with HFCS over sugar? > Or what seems to pass for chocolate there (granted, Iā€™ve only had Hersheyā€™s and Seeā€™s candy) > > ek: You have a problem with Seeā€™s candy? Itā€™s not even in the same universe with Hersheyā€™sā€¦ Joe ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/291 "2012-02-19T09:02:57Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > You have a problem with Seeā€™s candy? Itā€™s not even in the same universe with Hersheyā€™sā€¦ I had Seeā€™s for the first time a few months ago and I agree. Itā€™s a little sweet and cloying, but is pretty nice otherwise and definitely a different animal to Hurl-sheys. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/292 "2012-02-19T11:49:51Z")
When I first met my Exā€™s father, he served us a molded orange jello containing bean sprouts, carrots and minced red onion. Really.\* In and of itself, instant gelatin is the most digusting ā€œfoodā€ I can imagine. Seriously, sausage-making has nothing on this stuff. Donā€™t eat it. Aspic is the natural juices and proteins produced by cooking fresh fsh or meat, which become fairly solid when stored in the fridge. Nothing wrong with that at all. Anyone who canā€™t recognize the utter perfection that is Seeā€™s chocolate has no business writing food reviews in even the most casual setting. šŸ˜‰ Hersheyā€™s, on the other hand, does have a scent of spoiled milk about it, and I canā€™t stand the stuff. The early advertisements passed this off as ā€œA hint of the barnyardā€ in an attempt to make it appealing. Yech. I would guesstimate that about 35% of American housholds would have a jar of marshmallow fluff in the pantry, and about 60% of those would eventually be thrown away unopened. Itā€™s the sort of thing you buy in preparation for the holidays, in case you need a batch of quick fudge to send off with the kids to a school party they told you about right before bed the night before. There are a very few people who will eat a sandwich of white bread, peanut butter, and fluff, but none I know of those would argue that this was actual ā€œfood.ā€ \*I hasten to add that this is no longer ā€œnormalā€ in the USA, although it was a fairly common food in the 1950ā€™s, and considered the sort of thing that well-off suburbanites would eat. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/293 "2012-02-19T15:34:15Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I had Seeā€™s for the first time a few months ago and I agree. Itā€™s a little sweet and cloying, but is pretty nice otherwise and definitely a different animal to Hurl-sheys. I agree that itā€™s a tad too sweet. Joe ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/294 "2012-02-19T15:57:08Z")
I always go for the [dark](http://www.sees.com/prod.cfm/Dark_Chocolates/Almond_Royal) chocolate, so Iā€™ll concede the possibility that their milk chocolate is less than optimal. But these [almond-toffees](http://www.sees.com/prod.cfm/Brittles_Toffees/Toffee_ettes) are to die for. ---
**Author:** ![Jasper\_Kent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@Jasper\_Kent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasper_Kent)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/295 "2012-02-19T16:20:33Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Iā€™m not American but I make a lovely tomato aspicā€¦ Yes, that does sound good. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/296 "2012-02-19T18:25:36Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > You have a problem with Seeā€™s candy? Itā€™s not even in the same universe with Hersheyā€™sā€¦ > [@jjimm](#): > > I had Seeā€™s for the first time a few months ago and I agree. Itā€™s a little sweet and cloying, but is pretty nice otherwise and definitely a different animal to Hurl-sheys. > [@TruCelt](#): > > Anyone who canā€™t recognize the utter perfection that is Seeā€™s chocolate has no business writing food reviews in even the most casual setting. šŸ˜‰ Itā€™s too cloying, and that double goes for the fillings. I prefer my chocolate more chocolate-tasting. Dark, bittersweet, coverture. Without the extra sweetness I find in Seeā€™s. Plus it was too melty. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/297 "2012-02-19T19:40:21Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > All these mentions of peanut butter and nobodyā€™s mentioned peanut butter AND JELLY? We are indoctrinated very earlyā€¦ I once tried to introduce a German friendā€™s 5 year old to PBā€™nJ - I guess he was too old. He did not take to it but on the spot he took to combining peanut butter with Nutella on his bread. Sort of like a Reeseā€™s Peanut Butter Cup sandwich to me:eek: > [@](#): > > Dear God, why? Care to explain Vegemite;) If you have issues with PBā€™nJ, how about an [Elvis Sandwich](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_butter,_banana_and_bacon_sandwich)? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/298 "2012-02-20T03:40:03Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Itā€™s too cloying > ā€¦ > Plus it was too melty. Cloying = melty surely. Thatā€™s what I meant anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/299 "2012-02-20T04:09:41Z")
I understand cloying to mean too sweet. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/300 "2012-02-20T04:23:36Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I understand cloying to mean too sweet. Oh dear. I think Iā€™ve been using that word incorrectly all my life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980.md?page=16)