The History of American Food

Science - it is back! America has long had a thing about thinking about food as components rather than ingredients. So to help you navigate through what some of these parts are - I'll be doing some science at you. This week - Protein! Links: Velella Photo - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.817196/full The Dinosaur Neil Episode of The Tick - https://youtu.be/bY5pWlU3Mr8?si=Kx-Yh8DNAxQIxqRK Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

I'll just grab a glass of milk... When did that become a thing? Becasue - it is a VERY American thing. RIght up there with cold cereal for breakfast. Turns out - it became possible at the end of the 19th century. But all the moving parts that had to come together to make it happen are kindof increadible. So come with me on the journey to find out just how a glass of milk at home became possible Bridgerton Clip with Anachronistic Milk Drinking: https://youtu.be/AwdTS5uY1KA?si=h4Ywxe8B0thq1Ea- Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

This week we bust open the most United States of America food of all. Cold Cereal My research has lead me to this - Cold Cereal is the first thing that can be claimed as the first Original Food of the USA. Pumpkin Pie... maybe? Bacon Cheese Burger - I'll consider it. Fried Chicken sandwich - my favorite contender.... but late. Let's talk about how the conditions of colonial America lead to Tony the Tiger and Frosted Flakes. But we aren't there yet. Instead it is bad... but fast cereal. To know how bad - check out my new Substack! The First Cold Cereal Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

An important element essential to modern American food didn't happen until the end of the 19th century. But as with so many of the other elements that are underpinnings of American food - it is not a food at all. Instead it is paper made of trees rather than paper made of cloth that has reached the end of it's life. And once wood pulp paper becomes part of the scene - how food is transported, labeled and sold will never be the same. Think about a world before you put could wrap meat in Butcher's Paper, before crackers came in boxes - it looks almost unrecognizable. But come along for the debut of cheap-er paper in American food - and how this changes everything. Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

Hang in there... and I'll be back. Hopefully - some interesting posts on the Socials Media Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

This week we go back in time to learn about how we got paper. It's been with us for a long time, but until the end of the 19th century it was mostly old clothes. To find out what paper used to be and how we got to paper from trees - tune in. Also - as promised... Du Bois self tour: https://www.duboisnhs.org/great-barrington-walking-tour/ Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

Wanna see bears? goto Explore.org See how many Alaskan canneries there where? Or see more about the Diamond NN Cannery? Follow the links And then listen in to the rise of canned fish in the late 19th century. Instant protein you can take with you anywhere. The cottage cheese of the 19th century - but no refrigeration needed. But - being able to can every last oyster and slamon we could get our hands on had a cost - as well as a payoff. @THoAFood

Today's corn episode I am reminded that my intial question of do I include corn in my logo or not? I made the correct decision. Corn is there - but it's invisible - it helped feed the beef. Because this is the episode where corn changes from an obvious food to one that can be present anywhere. With the advent of industrial milled corn starch we have entered the age when corn is as much chemical ingredient as it is food. So iron your pinafore with starch and sit down to a miander through the past and late 1800's presence of corn in the American Food system. Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

Sugar can reasonably be called "The White Stuff" It makes us happy - and yet people are willing to abuse it, and commit crimes to make it happen. The late 19th century is when America goes from eating a similar amount of sugar as the rest of the up and coming mechanical world - to becoming the greediest of all. The combination of extending sugar plantations out into Cuba, Puerto Rico and now Hawai'i along with the rise of maufactured foods - expecially sweet treats is going to place America at the front of the Suger Consumer Pack. And we'll stay there. To get into the nitty gritty of Sugar vs. The World - Check out Sidney Mintz Sweetness and Power To dig deep into what American Corruption looked like at the start of the 20th Century check out The Teapot Dome Scandal by Laton McCartney Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

This week is the start of a few shows on the bad mic. And it is all my fault. But "A" mic is still better than no show at all. Let’s talk salt in late 19th century America. It used to be all about food but isn’t any longer. Listen along as we look out how the Industrial Revolution - especially around food - runs on salt. And how the living away from the farm and shopping in the stores needs salt to happen at all. Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

This week I talk to Designers, Authors and Storytellers Paul van Ravestein and Monique Mulder about their book The Pickled CIty Availible in Bookstores now! We dive into the history, culture and importance of place of pickles. I also learn a few things about why pickles are that way. So listen in to this extra long bonus episode on Pickles, Salt and History Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

How did America become the land of Meat & Potatoes I don't have all the answers yet - but I think I've found the well spring of the "& potatoes" portion. I'm about to sneak up on the big answer to the meat. But in the meantime, we look at whether you can have factory culture at the same time you pushing out a wild frontier - and what the potato has to do with it. Side quests - the origin on the French Fry, the Potato Chip and Breakfast Hash - not to mention why didn't America get the potato blight. (short answer... actually, we did) Tune in for lots of Potato News Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

Po-tay-toes Where are they from? Why do we call them Irish? Are they poisonous? And what was the blight? I answer all these questions and more - as well as providing you with a link to a really cool paper published about the origins of potatoes 9 Million Year Ago! Cell September 2025 Full Text Article on the Origin of Potatoes Cell Press Release on Potato Origins (less technical) Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

Iron is back and it has a bunch of new tricks up it sleeves. Sure we still cook on it - but it's doing lots of other new things it has never done before. And that is going to change the way we eat - because what food we get, and how much we have to work to prepare it, and how fast we - and the food can travel is going to upset everything. So much of how long we think things should take is about to change in a big way. Hop on - don't miss the train. Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

Let's Go Season 6 (last season was way more dreary than I had thought) All I can say is Ice Cream for Everyone - and let's road trip... Rail Trip? The end of the 19th Century is exciting, colorful and yeah full of mistakes. But we are Doing Things, Building Things and Going Places. Let's Go. Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

The LAST Civil War Episode becasue I'm writing this - and have decided that is ENOUGH Civil War. And, yes I'm not happy about writing about war while there is a "we are pretending it's not a war" going on. My poor brain has said enough. That said - it's an interesting topic. And despite how dire it is - things are actually better now than they used to be. Eat your veggies, brush your teeth, wash your hands. The American Battle Field Trust article on Andersonville: Hell Hath a New Name Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

Every seasone needs a salt episode! And here it is. It's mainly about why the South was without salt - and how that meant they couldn't keep food around. That is - if they had been making enough. Which they were not. This is also the last time I will blather on about the difference in railroad plans and how it helped back the Confeds into a corner they built themselves. Don't invest in your people and pay attention to technology and you will be left behind. Especially if you are attempting to run your little corner of the world. It happened before, It's happening now - and it will happen again. Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

How long has America been dealing with Opiod Epidemics? If you said - since the 1860's you get a piece of Hardtack! Yes - just as war came up with more destructive weapons, the medical profession came up with the hypodermic syringe. While the ability to inject and extract things with this tool have been largely amazing, it also brought in the addictive rush of injected drugs. And one of the first injected drugs was opium. Even crazier than that was the fact the the US Government contracted with Chinese Immigrant farmers in Mexico to grow a large part of the supply of opium used in the war. America has always used drugs to make America go - has depended on the sale of drugs - nicotine and cafffeine for starters - to make American farmig profitable. Come find out about America's strange relationship with drugs - and how much we seem to not want to talk about it. Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

Yeah yeah - why a Thanksgiving Episode in April? Is this worse than Christmas in July? No, really, it makes sense. Especially becasue during the Civil War, when everything was an Agrairain Society, Thanksgiving planning was on the mind in April (well prboobly earlier) But follow along as to why Thanksgivng really came to National Attention during the Civil War either as something to get behind - or something to hate. And - look you have to start raising your Turkey in the Spring if you want one in Novenber (April is actually probobly too late - maybe?) Anyway - Here's the Link to Lincoln's Address. Johnson had to submit it b/c well, you know... Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood

In the Last Big War we threw in America we still had "Camp Followers" to do the laundry, the nursing and a good amount of the cooking (not to mention helping with loading guns). And George Washington hated having these women around so much that Army practice - and new war philosophies got rid of most of them. But then, the American Civil War started producing injured guys in the 1000's. Suddenly having women around to do nursing and laundry was important. And they had to call the women back. To be fair - they did it more officially this time. To find out who these women were - and what they fed you - listen in. Also - Spoiler: Still better to be an officer. Books Referenced: A Mother's Work: Mary Ann Bickerdyke by Mary Vangorder The Big Burn by Timothy Egan Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle Substack: https://thoafood.substack.com/ Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com Threads: @THoAFood Instagram: @THoAFood Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/ & some other socials... @THoAFood