Living In USA

Generally speaking, American food is considered rather bland by those accustomed to hot or spicy cuisines. Salads are very popular and are served all year round. Many people in this country have become weight and calorie conscious and are trying to keep down their weight. This is evident in menus offering low calorie (or in many cases, low carbohydrate) or "weight watchers" meals. Grocery stores now offer a huge array of low-fat, "light," no-fat, or "low-carb" foods, from ice cream to soup to snack foods. "Diet" drinks (meaning without sugar but full of artificial sweeteners) such as ginger ale or cola are also popular. If you do not want low-calorie items, read the labels carefully to avoid disappointing choices.

Waiters in restaurants tend to assume that everyone drinks coffee, especially at breakfast and after dinner, but you do not have to do so! Some people drink coffee (regular or decaffeinated) or tea with their meal; others drink wine or just water. When dining out, you can ask for tea, milk, soda, beer, wine, or water if you prefer these to coffee. Restaurants cannot serve beer, wine, or liquor unless they are licensed to do so. Normally, when eating in a home, it is considered polite to drink whatever is being served and not to ask for something different — unless the host gives you a choice or unless you prefer water.

The main course in American meals is usually meat, fowl, or fish, but rarely is more than one of these served at the same meal (except that sea - food can be used as an appetizer — shrimp cocktail, steamed clams, pickled herring, or smoked oysters, for example).

Most Americans eat quickly during the day — that is, breakfast and lunch — unless it is a social, business, or family occasion. Racing through daytime meals is part of the fast pace described earlier. Lunch breaks at work are limited to a half hour or an hour. There is also another reason for eating fast — others in public eating places are waiting for you to finish so they too can be served and get back to work on time. Each one hurries to make room for the next person. The evening meal, however, is usually leisurely and a family time — unless, of course, there are children (especially teenagers) involved in sports or other late-afternoon activities.

There is a real difference in leisure and timing here between a meal that is "social," meaning shared and enjoyed, and one that is "just a meal."