The (d)evolution of the American Diet

"Uncle Sam says, Garden to Cut Food Costs."
National Archives, Records of the Office of War Information.

Sometimes it can be hard to imagine a time before the one we live in. When it comes to food, it seems hard to remember a time before large chain supermarkets, drive-through fast food, TV dinners and rampant obesity. But a couple of sites have great interactive timelines that remind us that not too long ago we did things differently.

Check 'em out and then leave us a comment. We'd love to hear thoughts on what the future of food could look like especially looking back at what it once was.

NY Times Timeline of a Standard American Diet
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/20110724_SAD_Timeline.html?ref=sunday

The Food Timeline
http://www.foodtimeline.org/


CNN Timeline of Obesity
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/fit.nation/obesity.map/

Washington Post - How we got Here - Obesity Epidemic Timeline
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2008/05/17/GR2008051700257.html

US News and World Report Food Timeline
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/culture/articles/050815/15timeline.htm

Other resources...
Reading Lists and Articles:
Diets and Dieting: A History of Weight Loss in America
Science Reference Section Science, Technology, and Business Division Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/SciRefGuides/dieting.html

Johnson and Wales Library Reading List
http://library.jwu.edu/research/websites/food_america.htm

Leite's Culinaria Website Article
http://leitesculinaria.com/10348/writings-dining-through-the-decades-american-food-history.html

Delish.com History of Fast Food
http://www.delish.com/food-fun/fast-food-history

Events, Videos and Exhibits:
....also an interesting event is going on at the National Archives on the US governments effect on the American Diet in case you are visiting DC between now and January.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/whats-cooking/index.html

Daily Motion Video Interviews with Ann Vileisis about her new book Kitchen Literacy
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xeajnv_history-of-american-food_lifestyle
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgu36c_the-history-of-food-in-america_tech

NYC Museum of Food - How New York Ate 100 Years Ago
http://www.nyfoodmuseum.org/