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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

#11

Post by dylandrop »

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…

>Before this, the majority of Americans ate more modest, often meatless breakfasts that might include fruit, a grain porridge (oat, wheat or corn meals) or a roll, and usually a cup of coffee.

Pretty hard to argue that bacon is really as healthy as oatmeal & fruit.

Just for reference, fried eggs have a crapload of cholesterol (http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=fried+egg) and bacon is pretty fattening and in general, not too great on cholesterol either (http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2+strips+of+bacon). And this doesn't even include all of the oil these things are fried in.

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

#12

Post by [deleted] »

ajlburke wrote: post #9
ronilan wrote: post #5

Somewhat OT but there is this old story - a startup is just like bacon and eggs. In a startup, all employees are contributors while the founders are commited. Same as in bacon and eggs. The chickens are contributors but the pigs are commited. And the outcome? If you want the biggest share you need to be a pig. And you can only do that if you are not a chicken.

Yeah but what happens to the pigs in the end? Chickens are still around afterwards to lay more eggs.

[deleted]

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

#14

Post by Anechoic »

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…

Can anyone recall any others?

Diamonds, and the various "Hallmark" holidays come to mind.

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

#15

Post by beachstartup »

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?

> I don't understand how anyone likes the stuff.

i can see how someone wouldn't want to eat bacon (for a variety of reasons, health, veganism, sodium intake, religion.... lots of things), but i can't see how they "don't understand" how anyone likes bacon.

it's primarily fat and salt. how is this a huge mystery to you? you REALLY don't undersatnd how a fatty, salty pork product is popular?

_REALLY_?

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

#16

Post by nobodysfool »

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?

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

#17

Post by Fuzzwah »

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

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

#18

Post by rdl »

It's interesting that the traditional NASA launch morning breakfast is steak and eggs -- apparently protein/fat foods don't cause gas or other GI upset in space, unlike breads, etc. http://www.who2.com/blog/2009/07/t-minus-2-days-and-counting... (although this seems to be less the case now)

(Which is why "steak and eggs at [the place astronauts go before launch]" is the ideal answer to "what do you want your last meal on Earth to be".)

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

#19

Post by tptacek »

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.

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

#20

Post by nightski »

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?

I'd guess sugar and high GI foods are more responsible for this than bacon. For example I'd imagine sugar coated cereals are likely more to blame than bacon.
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