Whenever people ask me what I think of America I always answer with ‘different’. Not better or worse, just different. I mean there are obviously pros and cons to any culture change, in some ways Ireland is really similar to America, in other ways, not so much.
The food is one difference you can’t get away from. The sheer quantity of food is crazy. The concept of all-you-can-eat is quite literally a foreign notion at home. I think I’ve been to one before I came here- and it was in a Chinese restaurant - and we didn’t quite get the concept of it so we left. I think I have found one of the main reasons for the obesity crisis in America anyway… As an aspiring PE teacher, I can’t understand how you are expected to combat this in one or two classes a week? And what about drinks? Unlimited soda is not just common, it’s expected here, which is crazy to those of us who grew up in a country with the idea that you buy one drink, and then if you want more you buy another (so basically you make do with one). There is a ridiculous amount of choice too when it comes to your favourite choice of liquid calories. In Ireland we typically have Fanta orange, coke, sprite, lemonade and maybe cidona (kind of like fizzy apple cider) as our choice of sodas, with as many non-carbonated options. Here you have the pick of every flavour you could ever want (and some you’d never want- root beer anyone?).
I wouldn’t be a health freak by any stretch of the imagination, but I try to be as good as I can with a few slip ups here and there. However I find it so difficult to be healthy here. Even when I try to buy healthy snacks they are either really expensive or full of sugar/ salt/ chemicals. I couldn’t believe that a regular size bag of peanuts is like $10 here! That’s crazy expensive, no wonder students put on the ‘freshman 15’ in college. The stats speak for themselves; the people at higher risk for obesity are from lower income families because good, organic and healthy food is so expensive compared to a 5-pound bag of candy for less than $5! At home there is a big push for organic and traceable foods at affordable prices. People have become very aware and savvy when it comes to nutritional content in foods, and there is a lot of organic food companies popping up and doing really well. America is way ahead of Ireland in many ways but this is one area where they need to step up ASAP before the obesity crisis becomes an epidemic!
The food is one difference you can’t get away from. The sheer quantity of food is crazy. The concept of all-you-can-eat is quite literally a foreign notion at home. I think I’ve been to one before I came here- and it was in a Chinese restaurant - and we didn’t quite get the concept of it so we left. I think I have found one of the main reasons for the obesity crisis in America anyway… As an aspiring PE teacher, I can’t understand how you are expected to combat this in one or two classes a week? And what about drinks? Unlimited soda is not just common, it’s expected here, which is crazy to those of us who grew up in a country with the idea that you buy one drink, and then if you want more you buy another (so basically you make do with one). There is a ridiculous amount of choice too when it comes to your favourite choice of liquid calories. In Ireland we typically have Fanta orange, coke, sprite, lemonade and maybe cidona (kind of like fizzy apple cider) as our choice of sodas, with as many non-carbonated options. Here you have the pick of every flavour you could ever want (and some you’d never want- root beer anyone?).
I wouldn’t be a health freak by any stretch of the imagination, but I try to be as good as I can with a few slip ups here and there. However I find it so difficult to be healthy here. Even when I try to buy healthy snacks they are either really expensive or full of sugar/ salt/ chemicals. I couldn’t believe that a regular size bag of peanuts is like $10 here! That’s crazy expensive, no wonder students put on the ‘freshman 15’ in college. The stats speak for themselves; the people at higher risk for obesity are from lower income families because good, organic and healthy food is so expensive compared to a 5-pound bag of candy for less than $5! At home there is a big push for organic and traceable foods at affordable prices. People have become very aware and savvy when it comes to nutritional content in foods, and there is a lot of organic food companies popping up and doing really well. America is way ahead of Ireland in many ways but this is one area where they need to step up ASAP before the obesity crisis becomes an epidemic!
Grainne, welcome to America! A country where people get incredibly distraught if a restaurant does not offer free refills. I know it's sad an embarrassing! I apologize on their behalf, and I think it is wonderful that you brought the topic of differences in food to your blog. It's hard as an American to tell another American that there obsession with pop, soda, or whatever its called is absolutely insane! Thank you for sharing the posts of your experiences in America and have fun in New York City! I'm jealous:)
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