-
In the early 1900s, most people focused on agriculture and homesteading. It was true farm-to-table living as the Industrial Revolution had yet to impact food in a major way. Here are three food facts from this time period:
- Most menus and homes ate a lot of meat and game hunted fresh throughout the day.
- There was no electric refrigeration during this time so people still salted and canned items to keep them fresh.
- Green vegetables were typically only prepared for the rich. -
They ate a lot of meats like elk, caribou, bear, and more. Hearty meals were prepared for hearty people. While they ate a lot of ground vegetables, green vegetables were slightly harder to come by on a normal person's plate. That being said, a lot of people ate sweets because it was cheap and easy to produce in the Industrial Revolution. -
In 1927, the electric refrigerator became a must-have in everyone's kitchen as it made the lifespan of food last a lot longer without a lot of extra work. -
In these decades, immigration was increasing and the American palate was expanding. The industrialization of the food system allowed for this to happen. 3 food facts from this time:
- Many iconic foods like Helmann's Mayonaisse and Oreo cookies were introduced to the American market at this time.
- Onion and potato soup was a popular home-cooked meal during this time.
- With the flamboyancy of the Roaring Twenties, many wanted the best food and that was only found at restaurants and hotels. -
In the trying times of the Great Depression, many people had to eat from breadlines and soup kitchens to get some food in their bellies. There were other inexpensive dishes like macaroni and cheese, chili, casseroles of all types, and more. -
From the World Wars to the Great Depression, the 1930s, 40s, and 50s were a trying time. This is reflected in the foods consumed. Here are some food facts from this time:
- People ate less meat and protein because of rationed foods. Vegetables and beans were used as substitutes.
- City dwellers ate a lot of hot dogs and hamburgers because of how inexpensive they were.
- People used shortcuts like Ritz Crackers as a crust in apple pie to make up for the foods they no longer had easy access to. -
Home cooking was still popular thanks to the advent of cooking shows hosted by people like Julia Child. These shows had -
With the horrors of the World Wars and the Great Depression behind us, our food systems were instilled with a new sense of vibrancy.
Here are some food facts from this time frame:
- Processed foods were back and better than ever with TV dinners in almost everyone's fridge.
- The Food and Drug Administration is created during this time
- The counter-culture movement focused on making people aware of the nutritional value of foods. -
From the 1980s on, people have begun embracing various foods into their diets. For example: 1) Ethiopian cuisine, Tex-Mex, southwestern cooking, and even Spanish tapas have all found their way into the spotlight.
2) Food was extremely expensive so people paid a lot more for increasingly processed foods.
3) Health-conscious eating was a more prevalent sentiment and people tried creating their own food at home while relying on meal prep boxes as well. -
In the 90s, the World Wide Web made a splash and the world was forever changed. Food blogs and recipe websites made cookbooks almost obsolete for the average home chef. You can type in a website like "epicurious.com" and get back over 10,000 delicious recipes for week-night cooking. The system of making food at home was back in style and the advent of the Internet made sure it was here to stay.