# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/41 "2012-02-16T03:59:47Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > … the prevalence of apple sauce with meals was also very strange. I’d have apple sauce with a nice pork loin, but I wouldn’t just have a dish of it to eat with dinner. My mother went on an applesauce kick when I was younger. We’d eat bowls of it with meals. But I’ll admit that that was a little unusual in my neighbourhood. No, it was probably a lot unusual. 🙂 As a Canadian, I don’t find very many things unusual in American cuisine, except for the portion sizes. They’re much bigger compared to what I’m used to. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/42 "2012-02-16T04:09:45Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > The other thing is that some folks, especially some middle-aged women, treat antacids as calcium supplements, and so they may take 1-2 a day for that purpose. Heh. When I reach middle age I’ll be set, then. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/43 "2012-02-16T04:17:26Z")
> [@Crawlspace](#): > > The last lab I worked in had people from, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, the UK, China, Japan, Singapore, Russia, Portugal, and Northern Africa. They universally did not understand the concept of or reason for peanut butter. Huh, most of those countries have peanut butter. In the Netherlands and Germany it’s not really sweet, more savoury. In Portugal it’s sweeter, like I think it is in the US. In the UK it’s in between, and you can get sweeter versions. US peanut butter is too sweet for my taste, but maybe you have different kinds too? (Confusing stuff, this peanut butter business.) I’ve never been to the US, but people have brought things over. Some sort of gloopy spread for on bread that tasted of sugar and chemicals. Yummy, in a weird and kinda gross way 🙂 Squirty cheese in a tube: :eek: Fun sorts of food though! ETA: gloopy spread was pink :eek: ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/44 "2012-02-16T04:21:24Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Oh, and eating raw hamburger is not a common thing in the United States. Not at all. In fact vast swathes of the country will not touch anything less than burnt to a crisp. According to wikipedia, steak tartare or similar is popular in “Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Serbia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Romania, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Nepal, Japan, and Switzerland.” No mention of the USA. Add similar products from Ethiopia, the Middle East, etc. Tartare or Carpaccio can often be found in fancier or hipster-ier restaurants, but I would guess that 90% of Americans would find the idea unsettling. Products like “fancy” Jell-o deserts, applesauce, etc. are really a Midwest think. Coastal people often scratch their head at these, too. I feel like applesauce is something associated with the cuisine of German immigration but I may be wrong. > [@gracer](#): > > I’ve never been to the US, but people have brought things over. Some sort of gloopy spread for on bread that tasted of sugar and chemicals. Yummy, in a weird and kinda gross way 🙂 Squirty cheese in a tube: :eek: Fun sorts of food though! > > ETA: gloopy spread was pink :eek: Was the gloop meat-based? I’ve seen similar in Scandinavia, but can’t figure out what this might be. Liverwurst or similar if meat? ---
**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 16, 2012, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/45 "2012-02-16T04:22:45Z")
I have no idea what that might be. Unless its champagne flavored processed cheese spread. But that would be more cheesy than sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/46 "2012-02-16T04:41:57Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > I’ve never been to the US, but people have brought things over. Some sort of gloopy spread for on bread that tasted of sugar and chemicals. > > ETA: gloopy spread was pink :eek: Ok, this one stumped me for a bit but I’m guessing it was the hideous strawberry version of Marshmallow Fluff ™. It’s marshmallows made spreadable. You might ask “why god why” but its the same spirit that put a man on the moon: because we can. 😃 **gracer** do [these jars](http://www.marshmallowfluff.com/pages/order_by_credit.html) look familiar at all? A sandwhich of peanut butter and plain-style Marshmallow Fluff™ is called a Fluffernutter (yup) and is something no adult would admit to enjoying, but many secretly do. And its the sort of thing Elvis like to eat before being a huge fat slob killed him. Its not like Fluff™ is a household staple for many, but most people know what it is and have eaten it at least once; it’s super kitschy and evokes the nutritionally-alarming-yet-nostalgic 1950s, when processed foods were very much the rage and people probably ate this crap non-ironically. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/47 "2012-02-16T04:50:53Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > the quantity. This, and the fixation on chain restaurants. Sure we have them here, but the _ambition_ of any successful restaurateur in the US seems to be to run a chain, here people seem to be happy to have one successful establishment, in the main. ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/48 "2012-02-16T04:54:58Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I have no idea what that might be. > > Unless its champagne flavored processed cheese spread. But that would be more cheesy than sweet. That was a pretty kick ass guess though, I couldn’t think of anything pink, sweet, and spreadable straight off. Maybe pink marshmallow fluff or a can of pre-fab cake frosting. I thought I didn’t care for ground meat until I started making it rare, I’m definitely in the minority though. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/49 "2012-02-16T05:14:56Z")
It might the Americanized versions of the food from their own countries. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/50 "2012-02-16T05:29:27Z")
Anyone else want to try champagne-flavoured processed cheese spread now? Just me? ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/51 "2012-02-16T05:31:48Z")
I’m American, and there are things that I find strange now that I’m living abroad. (1) The amount of desserts and candy and snack cakes, not for meals but just casual snacking. (2) The variety of different kinds of frozen meals. (3) Things like [this](http://media.fakeposters.com/results/2009/08/10/kgwcf448v3.jpg). (4) Why when growing up I was never made aware that you can eat fish in any other form but battered and fried. My wife and inlaws (Taiwanese) think it’s flabbergasting to drink a refreshing cold Coke with ice in the morning, but I don’t mind. There’s all sorts of food theories about when you shouldn’t eat or drink “cold” things, not always necessarily cold temperature-wise but somehow classified as “cold.” There are other things that are classified as “hot” for which there are times you’re not supposed to eat or drink. If you’re ever married to a pregnant Chinese woman, you’ll hear aaaaallll about it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/52 "2012-02-16T05:34:58Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Anyone else want to try champagne-flavoured processed cheese spread now? Just me? Just you. And you can have mine! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/53 "2012-02-16T05:41:04Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Just you. And you can have mine! Even with some nice, sturdy crackers? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/54 "2012-02-16T05:51:30Z")
The amounts. You guys seem to eat mountains of food. Restaurant portions are double what you’d get in any European restaurant (“American-style” chains excluded). The way servings are organized is different from the way it is in Mediterranean countries, but similar to how it is in Parts Further North: we tend to have several dishes, you tend to have sides on an entree. The sugar. Your pastries and desserts are so sweet it tastes of nothing but sugar to many foreigners. Your approach to sugar use seems to be “when in doubt, add more”. Some of the things you guys call “bread” are considered “cakes” in Spain. The supplements. You guys seem to think that a diet isn’t complete unless it includes pills 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/55 "2012-02-16T06:55:41Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > When my folks immigrated here in the 1950s, corn on the cob befuddled them. > > I’ve seen similar reactions by Europeans at conferences I’ve been at. To them, though it’s a sweeter variety, it’s still animal feed. Sweet corn and field corn taste very, very different, and sweet corn cobs are smaller than field corn cobs, too. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/56 "2012-02-16T07:08:42Z")
I work at Whole Foods and we sell a champagne-flavored cheddar cheese spread. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/57 "2012-02-16T07:10:30Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Anyone else want to try champagne-flavoured processed cheese spread now? Just me? With some cheese-flavored champagne. Topic: I’ve read that in some urban areas, a lot of people mainly eat fast food. As in at least once or twice everyday. Is this truly exceptional or is it a significant phenomenon? I’ve only once been to a US diner and it was visually unappealing and tasted horrible. It was a big “fuck you” on a plate. Is this generally the case? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/58 "2012-02-16T07:33:35Z")
The idea of cooking something “from scratch”. Here, that’s known as “cooking”. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/59 "2012-02-16T07:33:36Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Topic: > I’ve read that in some urban areas, a lot of people mainly eat fast food. As in at least once or twice everyday. Is this truly exceptional or is it a significant phenomenon? This is very common. Management jobs tend to pay well enough to afford fast food or delivery on a daily basis, in exchange for 10-12+ hour days. When people get off a shift like that, the last thing they want to do is cook. I don’t even get paid that well (I’m not a manager of anything, just a typical office job), and I usually eat fast food 5+ times a week. More when the weather is bad and I don’t feel like going to the grocery store. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-unusual-thing-about-the-american-diet-to-people-of-other-nationalities/612980/60 "2012-02-16T07:36:53Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Sweet corn and field corn taste very, very different, and sweet corn cobs are smaller than field corn cobs, too. Yes… I know. But that’s the point. Sweet corn is an American phenomenon, and to them it looks like we’re eating animal feed. [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=2) [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=4)