"After the war, new technologies were applied to the creation of convenience foods, and patriotic eating became associated with microwaved dinners at home, a slab of meat once more on every plate."
Microwaved dinners probably weren't that common until the 1970s, though. The first home microwave oven wasn't available until 1955 and that was too expensive for most people, the equivalent of $16,000 today. It wasn't until the 1970s that home microwave ovens became affordable.
"By 1986, roughly 25% of households in the U.S. owned a microwave oven, up from only about 1% in 1971;[21] the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that over 90% of American households owned a microwave oven in 1997." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven)
A little meat goes a long way. Plant-based protein is not only a wise heart-healthy choice, but a way to stretch the dollar. This is not a new revelation, it was also an observation in the bible. Thanks for the new lentil recipe. I always have dried lentils and chickpeas in the house.
American food history is fascinating. Twinkies were invented in 1930, Wonder bread in 1921, and in the past, chicken was an expensive luxury and cost far more than beef or pork because chickens were raised for eggs. Americans ate a lot more meat in the past than they do today, mostly red meat (beef, pork, mutton/lamb, venison), around 200 pounds per year per person in 1800 versus 100 pounds per person per year in 2019. Of course, the global human population was only 1 billion in 1800 versus 7.7 billion people in 2019. Only so many cows the environment can support. And that is why eating cows has become political lately.
It's very, very refreshing to see a recipe of 3 steps and manageable number of ingredients. I usually close the page on most recipes after scrolling down through ingredients list.
Meat has been in entrenched in our society since like forever. I think similar to other countries, the ability to consume meat (the environmental and ethical concerns be dammed) reflects wealth. Americans are obsessed with wealth and the wealthy. A few years ago a friend that I think considers himself to be politically and ethically correct basically told me when I challenged him on the consumption of lamb (baby sheep for Christ’s sake!) that it’s just too good to pass up. Really?
"After the war, new technologies were applied to the creation of convenience foods, and patriotic eating became associated with microwaved dinners at home, a slab of meat once more on every plate."
Microwaved dinners probably weren't that common until the 1970s, though. The first home microwave oven wasn't available until 1955 and that was too expensive for most people, the equivalent of $16,000 today. It wasn't until the 1970s that home microwave ovens became affordable.
"By 1986, roughly 25% of households in the U.S. owned a microwave oven, up from only about 1% in 1971;[21] the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that over 90% of American households owned a microwave oven in 1997." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven)
Gerald thank you! This is so fascinating--the evolution of American foodways is complex and meandering
A little meat goes a long way. Plant-based protein is not only a wise heart-healthy choice, but a way to stretch the dollar. This is not a new revelation, it was also an observation in the bible. Thanks for the new lentil recipe. I always have dried lentils and chickpeas in the house.
American food history is fascinating. Twinkies were invented in 1930, Wonder bread in 1921, and in the past, chicken was an expensive luxury and cost far more than beef or pork because chickens were raised for eggs. Americans ate a lot more meat in the past than they do today, mostly red meat (beef, pork, mutton/lamb, venison), around 200 pounds per year per person in 1800 versus 100 pounds per person per year in 2019. Of course, the global human population was only 1 billion in 1800 versus 7.7 billion people in 2019. Only so many cows the environment can support. And that is why eating cows has become political lately.
It's very, very refreshing to see a recipe of 3 steps and manageable number of ingredients. I usually close the page on most recipes after scrolling down through ingredients list.
Meat has been in entrenched in our society since like forever. I think similar to other countries, the ability to consume meat (the environmental and ethical concerns be dammed) reflects wealth. Americans are obsessed with wealth and the wealthy. A few years ago a friend that I think considers himself to be politically and ethically correct basically told me when I challenged him on the consumption of lamb (baby sheep for Christ’s sake!) that it’s just too good to pass up. Really?
Eating something in order to “trigger the libs” is the most pathetic, weak thing I can imagine.