Universal Food?

Hi,

This question was posed to me. I thought some here might want to give this some thought as well. Presently, I don't have an answer so don't expect any ding! ding! ding! You're right! You win the prize!

Are there any foods of the present or of the past eaten by peoples of all cultures of the world? Universal foods, so to say. Or if not that, which foods have likely been eaten by more people than any others?

Have fun!

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote: Or if not that, which foods have likely been eaten by more people than any others?

Based on the "more people" criterion, I'll guess rice. Do I win a prize?

Bread!

Well, for everyone but me, Beer!

Hmm.. how about crepes or filled pastas? You've got dosa, tacos, suzette, blini, pelmeni, ravioli, empanadas, kreplach, wontons, gyoza, mandoo...

I read somewhere that after rice, the largest single source of human nutrition is... mangos. Which if true certainly suggests how atypical Americans are.

1. For food from outside one's home - I'd have to say "Chinese" food. Few places in the world don't have a place advertising "Chinese food" (whether it is or not). Or at least food made with soy sauce.

2. Ketchup. As the whole world's (insert any food here) eating demographic hits puberty and beyond, consumption will only increase...

3. Chocolate. What do you mean it's not food?

4. (slight stretch) Cola drinks.

Of course these may not be nutritional foods, but I know many who would argue that #2 most certainly is.

An argument could be made for spices or herbs.

Wheat and rice are the two major products that come to mind. Which would translate into bread or noodles.

Eggs.

Legumes.

Also, while the use of spices/herbs in general is probably universal -- unless you count country club food -- I think the only individual spice that is universal is salt. But that doesn't really count, to me.

I think the safest answers are:

Rice/lentils/beans
Eggs
Wheat in some form, be it bread, noodles, etc.

One could include "animals" which, at least before the rise of modern religions that promote vegetarianism, and vegetarianism for other reasons in this century, was almost certainly universal.

Certainly 200,000 years ago they were, no?.

Cathy2 wrote:Universal foods, so to say. Or if not that, which foods have likely been eaten by more people than any others?

Mother's milk, obviously.

taro?

Nice one G Wiv. That would most definately be a universal food in my book. Aside from now a days with the bottle mixes, that would have been something everyone would have had and needed.

Soylent Green !

JSM wrote:Soylent Green !

chilled with a few cubes of ice 9

sazerac wrote:2. Ketchup. As the whole world's (insert any food here) eating demographic hits puberty and beyond, consumption will only increase...

You had me then you lost me...but I applaud the sentiment!

Hammond