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How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

americantable.org

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Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#31

Post by grecy »

Fuzzwah wrote: post #17

One of the most disappointing things I ran into when I moved from Australia to the US was American bacon. Oh how I miss Australian bacon: http://3hourspast.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/picture-28.png Because to me, American bacon is just the crappy bit which is attached to the awesome bit. http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/bacon.jpg

I'm in the same boat.

Keep your eyes out for "Canadian bacon". It's not identical to Aussie bacon, but it's pretty damn close, and lots of supermarkets in the US carry it (being that it's foreign, and-all)

Don't get me started on what I would do for a good meat pie, sausage roll, or fish and chips. I haven't been home in 7.5 years...

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#32

Post by Sargos »

Fuzzwah wrote: post #17

One of the most disappointing things I ran into when I moved from Australia to the US was American bacon. Oh how I miss Australian bacon: http://3hourspast.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/picture-28.png Because to me, American bacon is just the crappy bit which is attached to the awesome bit. http://www.foodsubs.com/Photos/bacon.jpg

That looks more like ham. Bacon is good because it's thin and (sometimes crispy) with lots of amazing fatty pieces.

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#33

Post by jlgreco »

tptacek wrote: post #19
binarymax wrote: post #13

Bacon is one of the few things that I refuse to eat. I don't understand how anyone likes the stuff. It makes me wonder, if the all-American breakfast was a bowl of fruit and a glass of milk, would there have been an obesity epidemic?

Yes. People who eat bacon and eggs for breakfast are probably demographically favored not to be obese, because they by implication have access to a grocery store and time to prepare their own food.

Also, this might just be me stereotyping the obese, but waking up early and having a full breakfast is not something I have typically associated with obesity. I associate that more with people who's jobs involve waking up absurdly early and manual labor (probably the only time in my life when I was regularly eating breakfast is when I was working on farms. You need that extra energy to get to lunch) or with people who have the means and time to make breakfast. Waking up at 9am and eating a box of chocolate-frosted sugar bombs, or perhaps eggs and bacon for dinner? Now we're talking.

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#34

Post by fintler »

nobodysfool wrote: post #16
fintler wrote: post #7

This appears to be a sample of one of their newspaper announcements from 1922 (today was the first time I noticed that Google has replaced the ritual of asking a librarian for microfiche rolls). http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2293&dat=19220917&id=X... It's interesting that there's a small part at the end where it mentions that a heavy lunch is best, but most of the article is about a heavy breakfast. It seems…

I tried to find more information about this "pie zone" but was unable. Were pies assigned to zones at that time? Just what was going on with pie in the 1920's that they had to have their own zone?

I really have no idea, but here's my current guess.

From the page at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melton_Mowbray_pork_pie#Melton...

Protection was granted on 4 April 2008, with the result that only pies made within a designated zone around Melton, and using the traditional recipe including uncured pork, are allowed to carry the Melton Mowbray name on their packaging

So, it appears that a "pie zone" may be a "Protected designation of origin".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_designation_of_origi...

However, applying this to the context of the article barely makes sense. Perhaps the 1920s "pie zone" is what eventually evolved into the 2008 law?

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#35

Post by jonnathanson »

gxs wrote: post #6

I can't remember off the top of my head, but it's amazing how many of our american "traditions" are a result of marketing. While there is nothing inherently bad about this, it definitely gives me a sense that something is not authentic when I come to learn it was the result of a marketing campaign. This bacon and eggs breakfast is just one example. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is another. Can anyone recall any othe…

Ex) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deoderant

Ex) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Listerine

Ex) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallmark

Ex) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ploughman%27s_lunch (UK example)

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#36

Post by mathattack »

mef wrote: post #10
mathattack wrote: post #4

Believe it or not, though, bacon’s association with the American breakfast is barely a century old I'm not sure why this would be hard to believe at all. In the 1920s, Bernays was approached by the Beech-Nut Packing Company – producers of everything from pork products to the nostalgic Beech-Nut bubble gum. Beech-Nut wanted to increase consumer demand for bacon. Bernays turned to his agency’s internal doctor and asked…

Citation for the protein assertion?

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/many-benefits-breakfast

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-lots-protein-mornin...

http://greatist.com/health/high-protein-breakfast-benefits

None of this says eat bacon and eggs every day, but it is pro-protein. Sometimes I'll cook peas with eggs, or have high protein yogurt (Siggi's or Chobani) or turkey bacon rather than picking up the fat in regular bacon.

Of course if my midsection would allow it, I'd have a pound of the good bacon every morning!

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#37

Post by crazygringo »

binarymax wrote: post #13

Bacon is one of the few things that I refuse to eat. I don't understand how anyone likes the stuff. It makes me wonder, if the all-American breakfast was a bowl of fruit and a glass of milk, would there have been an obesity epidemic?

Are you American?

In many parts of the world, "bacon" is almost entirely fat, sold at room temperature, and kind of gross. I've met a lot of non-Americans that were totally grossed out by bacon in their home country (with good reason), until they ate properly fried bacon, with good meat content, in the US. Every single one became an instant convert. :)

However, there are certainly plenty of people who think it's too heavy for breakfast, at least most days.

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#38

Post by bishun »

eggoa wrote: post #8

This is hardly the most sinister of Edward Bernays' campaigns. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torches_of_Freedom

For those inclined to investigate the affects of psychology [theory] on modern society, and how it has been adapted both commercially and by government, I suggest checking out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Century_of_the_Self

Edward Louis Bernays was related to Sigmund Freud. This relationship and more is expounded upon in the above documentary, which is definitely worth watching (imho).

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#39

Post by bluedino »

binarymax wrote: post #13

Bacon is one of the few things that I refuse to eat. I don't understand how anyone likes the stuff. It makes me wonder, if the all-American breakfast was a bowl of fruit and a glass of milk, would there have been an obesity epidemic?

The glass of milk goes with the bacon and eggs - but fruit really wasn't something most Americans had in the 1800's. Access to a cow, pig, and chicken were common though.

What's the reason beef became so popular over lamb/goat/deer? Americans seem to stick to beef/chicken/pork when it comes to meats.

Re: How ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Became the American Breakfast

#40

Post by philbarr »

gxs wrote: post #6

I can't remember off the top of my head, but it's amazing how many of our american "traditions" are a result of marketing. While there is nothing inherently bad about this, it definitely gives me a sense that something is not authentic when I come to learn it was the result of a marketing campaign. This bacon and eggs breakfast is just one example. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is another. Can anyone recall any othe…

I was going to say Santa and Coca Cola, but then googled to see if I was wrong and found this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7152054.stm
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