"After the bleak years of World War II, the United States had both a population surge and an enormous economic expansion, creating a new middle class that would have cultural repercussions for years to come."
"For people who lived through these hard times, meat came to symbolize prosperity and security. So it's no wonder that when the war stopped and people began having kids, families went a little crazy on the meats."
"Serving generous portions of beloved Boomer dishes like beef stroganoff and meatloaf was one way for parents to express financial success and stability after years of being deprived."
"As families began to leave the cities in droves and move out to their suburban cookie cutter cul-de-sacs, this idealized version of the 'All-American Family Dinner' centered around a hefty piece of protein."
Baby Boomers emerged from a post-World War II era marked by economic expansion and a new middle class. Meat, once a luxury during the Great Depression and WWII, became a symbol of prosperity. Families indulged in generous portions of meat dishes like beef stroganoff and meatloaf to showcase financial success. As suburban living became popular, the ideal family dinner featured a large protein portion, influenced by advertising and government guidelines, solidifying meat's place in American culture.
Read at Tasting Table
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]