The American Dream

I caught some story somewhere about the growing waistlines of Americans. It was the author's theory that Americans have no food culture and are therefore searching for a food identity, and apparently eating our way to that identify.

I think this is bumbkis. Every region in America has a food culture and identity. It may only be 200 years old, but its there. New England has lobster and a whole range of clam chowders. New York has deli's, hot dog carts, and pizza. Maryland eats crabcakes. The southern states have barbecue and sweet tea. It's chili's in the Southwest, avocado sushi in California, jello and funeral potatoes in Utah.

What America has is a fantasy about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, and accumulating stuff--a big house, a fast car, an airplane, jewelry, staff...
Food is the literal manifestation of the consumeristic gluttony. Supersized fries are a metaphor for the American Dream.