foodreview volume 23 issue 1 38 f ood helps to define the culture and identity of many nations diets have been shaped over hundreds or even thousands years by local climate plants animals available in particular countries regions world french mexican italian chinese foods evolved indepen dently are easily identified their unique characteristics since united states is relatively young comprised almost entirely immigrants american food genre comparably nondescript outside fast soft drinks might best characterize us diet however diversity that characterizes our population also reflected consump tion patterns which both dynamic time heteroge neous across consumption within vary part because ancestral land settlement for example south ern has heavily influenced african traditions southwest often a strong flair certain parts northeast upper midwest draw on eastern european income an important factor determining types consumed
