The American obsession with food

Food Network Fan · 03-10-2008, 07:41 PM

The American obsession with food

An English professor examines America's 'gut-centricity.'

Top TV celebrity chefs lick their fingers and glance coyly at the cameras even as they tantalize viewers with unattainable meals. The Food Network has 90 million enthusiastic viewers but if you ask Frederick Kaufman, professor of English at New York's City University, the shows are just another example of "gastroporn." MORE HERE

BerryBaby · 03-10-2008, 07:53 PM

Gastroporn?:rolleye:

Wow, that's an interesting new word. I can see where that could describe a few shows, but not all of them.

Ellie Kreiger comes to mind as not being associated with that word.

MayQueen · 03-11-2008, 12:34 AM

Why is he laying this at the feet of Americans? The guy must not travel much.

bakerman · 03-11-2008, 08:35 AM

With Americans its an "obsession" but with the French and Italians it is often refered to as "passion".

What gives?

MAC

BerryBaby · 03-11-2008, 10:09 AM

Maybe because Americans eat more junk food, and the French and Italians have a love affair with good food?

Food Network Fan · 03-11-2008, 10:43 AM

That wouldn't be an unattainable meal though, you can get junk everywhere. But I do think that people have to work so much anymore that they look for things you can just heat up more than they actually cook.

MayQueen · 03-11-2008, 12:20 PM

I don't think most Americans are obsessed with junk food. In fact, if you ask whether anyone eats it, most people are embarrassed to admit they sometimes do. Personally I love Wendy's french fries. I can't eat them right now because of the salt but in about six weeks...maybe seven, I want some. :16:

Chefnot · 03-11-2008, 12:38 PM

Don't worry.....he's a English Professor.

BerryBaby · 03-11-2008, 07:19 PM

Well, maybe not everyone is into junk food. I know I'm not but thought maybe that was what he was referring to.

All the stories I read about the youth of today and being overweight all imply that is because of their poor diet, eating too many calories (junk) and inactivity.

I do think there probably is a big part of the population that consume far too many calories from improper diets.

Food Network Fan · 03-11-2008, 07:28 PM

That's true, if you think back to when nearly everyone cooked with lard most were still pretty thin because they had to work it off. Washing machines, and other gadgets we have now make things much easier. People used to have to do chores like that all day and they worked in their gardens. Even if they worked all day men would come home and work the gardens at night, and we just run to the store. We are spoiled by convenience these days.