Myth and Folklore of Food as Superstition

Food myths surround those areas of our lives that tend to worry us—gender and sex; body image; health and food safety; childbirth, pregnancy, nursing, and proper care of the young; and social stereotyping of ethnicity, region, and social class.

Although American culture does not have gendered food taboos per se, there are certain expectations for what constitutes a manly meal and what is dainty enough for a lady. Men eat beef, preferably in the form of large slabs of steak still dripping with blood, although men do eat beef in the form of meat loaf, sloppy joes, or hamburgers. Men also can prove their manhood by eating hot peppers, downing large quantities of beer, and sticking to stick-to-the-ribs foods like baked or fried potatoes, beans, eggs, biscuits, and sauces, such as gravy, ketchup, or hot sauce. In the 1960s and 1970s the saying “real men don’t eat quiche” summed up gender expectations: men ate hearty, plain foods that were straightforward and loaded with protein and carbohydrates. Their cooking was limited to the outdoor grill or to large public gatherings. Though these beliefs persist, modern men can delve into exotic and gourmet cooking, and the well-rounded man is expected to know his way around the kitchen. Meanwhile, females have always been associated with smaller portions and lighter foods, such as salads and soups, and with cooking that emphasizes family, home, and nutrition as well as a prescribed artistic style in arranging and presenting food.