I have always wondered... what do White Americans eat?

Question

For instance, African-Americans have soul food and Caribbean Americans have Caribbean food. Latinos have their different types of Latin food (this food tends to vary depending on the individual's country). Asian people have their own type of food, and White immigrants from European countries like Germany for instance, have German cuisine. So what do White Americans eat?

I am not trying to sound racist or anything... but from observation, I have noticed that White Americans tend to favor organic food and macaroni & cheese? Ha-ha.

Of course Americans eat everything, but what exactly is White American cuisine?

First of all, it is extremely stupid to say that White Americans have some "background" all because their greatx6 was German. That culture is gone. You can not claim to be Polish if your great great great great great great great grandmother was Polish. If that was the case, you should still be eating Polish cuisine.

Answer 1

I was thinking about this the other day. I think it also depends on where you live. My family and I eat a lot of meat and potatoes. I get kinda tired of it at times and mix it up with what we call wexican food (white Mexican food). But we rarely have seafood, because it's not very good quality.
So, we live in Idaho, we have lots of potatoes and cows and chickens, so that's what we eat!

Answer 2

There is no such thing as a "white american" in the sense you are suggesting, where we have no roots or culture. We didn't just show up here from nothing. We all came from somewhere. In New England for example, we have alot of dishes that come from our Canadian ancestors and are mixes of French and English cuisine with some pioneer changes. I know my family is pretty far removed from those two cultures but we grew up in a house that honored these traditional foods.

In the Midwest, where alot of Dutch and German settlers went, there are alot dishes that are reminicient of those countries cuisines.

In addition, there is alot of crossover, we don't all fit into neat little Latino/Black/White/French, Etc. boxes. In Morocco for example there is a cuisine that has middleastern and french influences. In the Caribbean, there's a ton of cross-over that's part Latino, part colonial, some creole, etc.

Look at France, there is no one french cuisine, there are really several. In Alsace-Lorraine it is somewhere between french and german style, in Bretagne its a mix of french and english influences.

And organic food is pan-cultural. Many regions grow organic food. You can make anything from organic food. That's a pretty ridiculous argument if you think about it, one has nothing to do with the other.

And all this is constantly changing as people move around, mix it up and exchange ideas.

So in short, Americans do eat everything.

And I don't buy that you aren't trying to sound racist, judging a group of people based on a their skin color is racism, so you DO sound like a racisct. The "ha-ha" doesn't help either.

Answer 3

If you have ever been to a St. Stanislaus Festival, a St. Patrick's day lunch at a church, a Santa Lucia festival, or any other ethnic festival in America you would know that people are still very much tied to their ethnic heritage and love the foods their great, great whatever ate. Culture and heritage are very important in some families and are often kept alive through the foods we eat.

I am a white American of Irish descent and my Husband is of Polish and Irish descent. We love these ethnic foods and festivals, but we are just as likely to eat Chinese, Italian, Indian, etc. or a steak, or mac n cheese, or whatever we are in the mood for. Most "White Americans" these day have a very global view of food and eat pretty much what strikes our fancy at the moment.

Answer 4

Traditional american cuisine has always had influence from the American Indians, the English and Dutch. Things like apple pie, baked beans, corn bread, fried chicken, bisquits , and yes, even macaroni and cheese are all traditional american foods

Answer 5

My father likes and considers an American meal to be basic meat and potatoes, like in the old days. For example, pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn. American food has always been characterized as "cheeseburgers, hot dogs, bacon & eggs, apple pie, and meat & potatoes". Much of that has changed since many ethnic foods are very popular. Me personally, I love macaroni & cheese but not much of a meat and potatoes gal.

Answer 6

As a "White American", I'll take a shot at your question.

As far back as I can remember, I have eaten curry. Usually chicken curry, but sometimes pork curry as well. Oh, and Tex-Mex style chili. Always had the Tex-Mex chili.

I've always been partial to greens; Turnip greens, Mustard greens, Collard greens that I cook with hog jowl and I usually put hot sauce on it before I eat it, but not always.

Good cornbread is a must. I use bacon drippings to make mine. Not as healthy as shortening, but it sure tastes a helluva lot better.

When I make gumbo, I do it with hot Italian sausage. I don't thicken it with Okra (I freaking HATE Okra), but I do thicken it with ground File'. Brown rice, never the white rice.

I love Chicken. Fried chicken, grilled chicken, chicken tikka masala, chicken vindaloo, barbequed chicken, chicken cacciatore, chicken curry.

I never make scrambled eggs without Tabasco stirred into the eggs prior to cooking. If I am around people who fear Tabasco, I put it in when they are not looking and tell them nothing. Then they wonder why the eggs taste so good...

Dead Cow. Gotta have that red meat! Steaks seared rare, burgers, ribs, meatballs, all that heathy stuff!

Red beans and rice, but it has gotta be spicy. I make it with white pepper, black pepper, and cayenne pepper in equal parts.

You busted me on the macaroni and cheese. Check this out: Take the Kraft blue box Macaroni and Cheese and instead of using margarine, use butter. Instead of 2% milk, use ultra heavy whipping cream with a fat content of at least 36%. Makes for some FINE macaroni and cheese.


I hope I didn't damage your stereotype too badly...

Answer 7

Sugar,

That is a very good question, and I don't know the answer. I guess most white american's have lost their culture just as everyone else has.

Regardless, I'm going to Justabaddogk9's house for dinner!

Answer 8

They eat very well actually. It depends some of them love to microwave but my moms boss cooks some French Onion soup her husband can really cook good. It depends many white Americans have various European backgrounds, you'll be surprise how well they cook and eat.

Answer 9

Most people associate white america with middle america, and basic blue collar families. Things like hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, good old plaid table cloth kid's birthday at a park kind of food.

Answer 10

1st thought is:

There are no "white americans." We all have some sort of European ethnic background be it German, Italian, Polish, Irish, Yugoslavian, whatever.

2nd thought:

If you want to assign "American food" I believe you would be talking about: burgers, hot dogs, grilled anything, American style pizza, chicken of almost any sort, things like that.