Who Eats What, Where, When, and Why?

In each culture, certain foods are deemed acceptable and unacceptable. Some foods are looked upon as healthful or luxurious while others are seen as unhealthy or repulsive. Take the United States for example. Certain meats like dog, turtle, and frog are regarded as unacceptable by many American people. In other cultures, however, these meats are not only acceptable, but also regarded as delicacies. What a person eats is also determined by political, social, religious, economic, and environmental aspects of his life. Foods fluctuate between acceptable and unacceptable depending on region, culture, and time period.

During different time periods, different food trends arise which sway people to eat one way over another. For example, in the 1940's Americans made due with less - rationing and substituting certain foods for others was popular. In the 1960's, however, the idea of vegitarianism became popular and backyard barbeques were a norm.

Farms and agriculture are directly connected to this principle because they aim to supply what is in demand and what is in demand is determined by these societal characteristics.

Today, Americans seem to obsess over health. With dieting competitions on their TV's, slim-down competitions at their gyms, and organic, whole-grain, enhanced-nutrient foods in their refrigerators, Americans are encouraged to eat healthier than ever, which is a beneficial trend for today's farmers.

http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Diab-Em/Eating-Habits.html
http://www.foodtimeline.org/fooddecades.html