Our Big Refrigerators and What is in Them.
Hey, ever wonder what Americans keep in their great big refrigerators. I recently remodeled my kitchen and I had a huge problem trying to find a refrigerator to fit my space. Counters are usually 24 inches deep and the refrigerators were 30 inches deep at least.I noticed that European refrigerators fit under a counter and ours are all at least 6 feet tall. The refrigerators have been big and are getting bigger as families get smaller. People are living closer to stores than ever. It makes no sense. Makes no sense.
What is in the refrigerator? Maybe a lot of carbonated beverages or beer and wine. Many people are getting separate wine coolers too. We have milk and now there are many kinds of that. My grandson came home with almond milk because “they say” it is good. “I said” we have almonds and that is all the milk has. It is about time to throw away the almond milk, he isn’t drinking it. They love to sell water. That is a fact and the refrigerators have a lot of water. Plain water and flavored water and almonds with water added and called milk. Americans like things cold so they think everything should be in the fridge.
Americans have an obesity problem. I am not sure what is in the refrigerators, but I have one and mine is full. I keep a lot of fresh stuff, and I keep dried fruits and unts and other things for baking. I also keep several kinds of mustard, pickles, vinegars, and various sauces. I need to throw away a lot of this. I am starting to realize I need fewer of these things and I don’t have to try all that is out there.
Processed food may be a lot of the problem. Most families got basics, flours, meat and produce, and now there is an endless array of food available.I am making a big effort to gives up most all of the processed food. I go shopping now and I realize that I don’t need to go down most of the aisles. I have a list and I just don’t look for new and exotic items.Americans have no real tradition so we try whatever is put in those huge, huge super markets. We are constantly looking for the new and different and bigger is usually better with us.
Americans are obese and unhealthy and getting worse every day. A lot of the problems are in those big refrigerators and all those cabinets that no one had 70 or 80 years ago.
As I wrote this blog, I realized that I need to change my whole attitude about seeking change and all things new and different and try to stick with a few simple and healthy foods. Variety is the spice of life, but there is a limit to how much change and variety we need. We CANNOT bring home or eat all foods that are now available. We have to make some choices., some better choices.
I wrote this blog because there were no new ones to read. I do that a lot. Eating and drinking is a huge health problem here.
We tried the almond milk here, as well. As it turned out, I was the only one who used it, and found it better on cereal than actually drinking. Enjoyable post!
Thank you cat. If you are lactose intolerant, you may need a milk substitute for your cereal, but most of us don’t need rice, soy or almond drink. It was illegal to call them milk a short time ago.
Having a stuffed refrigerator and also being a third generation American, I can only speak for myself however possibly is also somewhat representative. I love cooking. I shop with a list, and cook for my family. I enjoy feeding my family. They work very hard for everything they have, and cooking for them is possibly a small tribute of affection and gratitude for their blessings in my life. None of them are obese or take advantage of my generosity. Cooking is my hobby. I dont golf, have a boat, travel as often as I would like, or knit. It isn’t about being bigger or grossly oversized…its about creating a life, and choosing to invest in what you enjoy. Priorities.
Catalpa. You have a good way of doing things. I used to cook like that but I got out of the habit. You are 3rd generation, give yourself a few more generations and the old ways will be forgotten.
I too like you catalpa have a stuffed refrigerator. It is filled with a little bit of everything. I love to cook but hate to grocery shop. Family stops by often and if there is nothing cooking in the kitchen, they know there is something to be found in the fridge. Nothing goes to waste, leftovers are sometimes better the second go around. We also have a separate freezer because we buy in bulk to save money and reduce trips to the store.
suzan, If I am in your area, I will stop by. I love to visit people like you. I am sure that is what keeps the family coming.
I live by my self, so what is the point of a full stock 3 drawer freezer that sits under the kitchen worktop also a 5foot tall fridge/freezer. Now if I have my both freezers full sitting there for months for me to use to cook and eat , i would never go out, apart for the 6 monthly freezer buy up, no I have several loaves of bread to freeze because I use at least 6 rounds of bread to use and some times some of that goes off, to use a full loaf would go with more penicillin to leave. I have some small cuts of meats and chicken legs and quarters , as in pork, lamb chops, I have frozen vegs various kinds in packets as I may be too lazy to go to shop to buy them, quite a lot of cooked dinners that is far too much to use at once so freeze, fridge with milk I get a quart or litre this will last me at least 8 days, lots of fresh veg because I like to make food as I use it, sometimes I have no choice to throw away as they go off or stale. so you know it is a lot harder to look of yourself i.e cooking for one. can’t never understand why a lot of ppl have massive fridge freezers
and yet when it is chokker full of food why are they still going to supermarkets all the time to buy more. maybe a lot of ppl just like to gorge themselves with food maybe it is a lot of ppl are overweight and forever eating junky food.
Incidentally while I was on my rare evenings last Monday I had to the occasion to need to get milk as a necessary, as I like my milk in my tea, in the time that took me to leave and get back took me 30mins and some kind person/s decide to like my 42in TV and my laptop and my brand new 2 days old Samsung Galaxy mobile not even set it up yet as well as my normal mobile, in and out in a matter of less than my time that took me to buy milk. My door was kicked in and spent to have the joiner for most of the next day to repair it. so you could say that would cost me a very expensive litre of milk for £1.00, expense of the electrical total to replace approx £900.00
As usual the police say that you can say goodbye for those, typical, no help or sympathy not that I want sympathy no here ted here your crime number for insurance. miss my big TV it means I have to sit close to the desktop, surprised that did not go with the other stolen stuff, at least I do have some viewing to see. Never mind that is life, it should be like that.
Teddyted, thank you for you answer. When it is full, why buy more. Someone says they top it off. I and they go up and down the aisles and buy what catches their eye and what they think they MAY want, I did that and now I am trying to do less of it and go with a clearer idea of what I need.
This American lives in a small apartment with a tiny refrigerator containing the limited amount of food I can buy on my meager budget. But I am rich in tradition!
Laurie, I have never seen an American apartmet with a tiny refrigerator. I have only seen Europen kithchens with tiny refrigerators. I have seen tiny refrigerators for offices or bars, or dorms.
I only have a 250 refrigerator, and a small freezer seperate to the frig, also the frig has a freezer compartment as well , quite enough for my needs , I like to shop fortnightly , and top up the freezer then….xx
And this particular American family consisting of hubby and I have no desire to have anything (materialistically) ~ big, i.e. refrigerator/freezer, etc. We do NOT want to keep up with the Jones’.
I go grocery shopping once a week and buy just enough food to last us a week; that way there is no waste. The only thing I may go back to buy is milk.
Check this out:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2920219/How-fat-country-nations-highest-obesity-rates-new-maps-surprise-you.html
Pam, you sound so sensible.I checked out your website.
Check this one out too Rose. (I posted it earlier today.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/25/upshot/americans-are-finally-eating-less.html?_r=0
Americans Are Finally Eating Less – The New York Times
After rising for decades, calorie consumption has declined in recent years as public attitudes have shifted.
I keep getting a blank screen, Laurie. Will check it out later in the day.
LAURIE, Thank you for the website and I am happy to see that there is a change for the better. Still over 1/3 of Americans are obese. The consumption of soda will probably drop since the new proof that it is all bad, diet and sugared. Too much junk food seems to be the problem, and I am buying none of it.
Long way driving for food is the toll you have to pay in the US due to the large size of the country.
Here in Germany nearly everthing is only a stone’s throw away exept the big malls.
vonMichael, I think 80% of people in the USA lve in Cities. Most of us are clustered in cities. I live with large and small groceries within walking distance. We all have cars anyway.
I like European cities and villages.