American food habits can be a bit confusing if you did not grow up with them. From giant portion sizes to putting ice in every drink, some of these customs leave visitors totally baffled. What seems normal in the U.S. can feel completely over-the-top to people from other countries. You might not even notice these quirks until someone points them out. Take a look and see how many of these habits you recognize, or maybe even do yourself.
Super Size Us
Did you know that most foreign travelers who explore America tend to experience a culture shock over portions? It's true. A small food portion in the United States is often a typical adult-sized portion abroad.
Those massive half-gallon soda cups you see are almost entirely local to the United States. Who would have guessed?
Ranch Dressing
Ask some Americans, and they'll tell you Ranch dressing isn't just a salad dressing. It's a way of life. You can dip wings, corn chips, potato chips, vegetables, and almost any other food.
Europe doesn't take to Ranch dressing that way. It's a strictly US thing. The European version of Doritos Cool Ranch is often marketed as "Cool American" instead.
Walk N' Eat
Shocking as it may be to hear, grabbing a snack on the go is not a universal norm. In many parts of the world, eating while taking a walk is seen as either rude or just plain strange.
After all, why wouldn't you want to sit down and enjoy your meal? In the United States, it's often a matter of saving time. Elsewhere, food is more about the experience.
So Much Sugar
Are you a fan of sweets? If you are, you might be American at heart. America has a sugary addiction. Sugar (and high fructose corn syrup) is everywhere here, even in places it shouldn't be, such as canned vegetables and ketchup!
Many foreigners find American food to taste sickly sweet. It's because they aren't used to that level of sugar in their meals.
Americanized Foreign Fare
Whenever a nation's cuisine goes abroad, it will change. This seems to be doubly true in America. For example, "Philly rolls" involve using cream cheese in a sushi roll. Stateside, it's a common menu item. In Japan, that's unheard of.
Oh, and please, don't ever tell a Mexican that Taco Bell is supposed to be Mexican cuisine. It has little to do with real Mexican food.
Ketchup Only?
Ketchup is about as all-American as you can get. It's a no-brainer on fries in almost every country. However, it's not the only condiment people reach for abroad, and this is doubly true when it comes to fries.
In many parts of the world, mayo, aioli, and other sauces are even more popular than ketchup. Some countries, like Romania, have a spicy ketchup sauce that has yet to reach the States.
Putting Ice in Everything
One thing that always surprises visitors to the U.S. is how much Americans love ice. No matter the weather, drinks are often served filled to the brim with ice cubes. Water, soda, and even juice all come chilled, sometimes to the point where there is more ice than liquid. For many foreigners, it feels unnecessary or even unpleasant, especially when the drink gets watered down. But for Americans, a cold drink just does not feel complete without it.
Eating in the Car
Eating in the car is a completely normal part of life for many Americans. With busy schedules and long commutes, grabbing a drive-thru meal and eating it behind the wheel has become second nature. Some cars even come with cup holders and trays designed for this exact purpose. For visitors, though, the idea of eating on the go like this can seem rushed or even a bit messy. In the U.S., convenience often wins over formality.
Real Cheese?
While foreigners adore many foods in America, processed cheese is not one of them. Most Europeans will not bother trying it. In fact, it's one of the few foods that gives American cuisine a bad rep.
Simply put, they don't see it as real cheese. The same can be said of spray cheese. (Can you really blame them, though?)
Nutty For Peanut Butter
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are (surprisingly) an almost exclusively American treat. In fact, peanut butter is an almost exclusive ingredient in American diets.
Foreigners are often shocked at peanut butter's popularity, even if peanuts are a staple in their own fare.
All You Can Eat
Fun fact: All-you-can-eat buffet restaurants actually got their start in Las Vegas, making them an American invention. (Well, this is true with modern buffets, anyway.)
Most parts of the world are totally flabbergasted at the concept of a restaurant where you can eat as much as you want for a single flat rate price. It just doesn't work with their culture.
Refrigerated Eggs
Everyone in America puts their eggs in the fridge. This is because they will go bad if you don't. The rest of the world tends to keep their eggs at room temperature and they are perfectly fine. Why? Because the USDA requires all eggs to be washed, which actually removes the egg's protective coating and makes them more susceptible to salmonella. The washed eggs need to be refrigerated to stay fresh. This is not the norm in the rest of the world!
This article was first published at Spatula Desserts.
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