thank you for sharing; this was eye-opening. food is something everyone can relate to in some way or another. makes me think of a Maya Angelou quote that I've always loved:
"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends."

i love this photo series -there was something like it in a Danish newspaper some years ago. Its fantastic on so many levels -both fun, the clichés and tremendous differences

I wholeheartedly agree, you guys. Great comments, and I would have loved to read that Danish newspaper, Mette! :)

wow, that is so interesting! my husband (who's English) and I were in hysterics over the American food choices...and all the alcohol the Germans had--4 bottles of wine and 20 beers--sounds like our house! ;) i'm going to check out the book.

Wow...what an interesting series. Really does make you think...

what a coincidence - i stumbled upon this time story too and am doing a post on it this week. really eye opening.

hey erin.. i have been around.. just busy with work and such... i have not taken a peek at this link yet but i am so excited to read!! thanks so much.. wonderful find! you make my busy day a little easier! thanks!

Thank you for this - it's really interesting.

ooo, love this.
- Jessie -

That was super interesting, I notice how only the American families had the majority of processed/packaged foods. All the the other families had their week comprised of produce, meats and grains (and coke!).

I know, right, Meg? Isn't that totally interesting?

How interesting! And rather reminiscent of the Pink & Blue series: http://forme-foryou.com/2008/03/pink-blue.html

I just bought this book over the weekend, what a coincidence to see it here! Isn't is an amazing concept? I can't stop thinking about it either. The authors have two other amazing previous books, Material World and Women in the Material World, which are worth owning too.

eek! how crazy!!! :)

wow. VERY cool!
my photo would include much more junk food then i would admit otherwise :)

I love this project...and it's so timely with all the talk recently of the food crisis we are in.

Exactly, Nidhi! :)

I loved when I first saw this in the magazine. Truly fascinating!

Anne

I believe the photos were chosen specifically to present various countries in a biased light. I live in Japan (and am American) and can say that the Japanese family and American one are not representative of "average" by a long shot. It's interesting, but I hope the book strongly points out that you cannot generalize the eating habits of a nation based on what one family does.

My family never ate as much fast food as shown in the American family's picture nor do I know Japanese families who would include watermelon and musk melon as part of their regular diet as they aren't available year-round and are very pricey. Also, the Japanese family say that, among their favorites, are "cake" and "potato chips" yet there is no cake in the picture and only one bag of seaweed flavored chips being held by the woman on the far left (and it is obscured by her arms except for the Japanese writing as if to "hide" the junk food aspects of the Japanese family's eating).

I have to wonder how the other country's families were chosen or their shots staged to present a certain look. I did notice the fruit and vegetable placement is different in different shots (the American's is hidden, others are front and center).

EXCELLENT point, Shari! The placement is inconsistent and you raise a great discussion!!!

Thanks for challenging the rest of us to look a bit closer!!! :)

thank you for sharing; this was eye-opening. food is something everyone can relate to in some way or another. makes me think of a Maya Angelou quote that I've always loved:
"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends."

i love this photo series -there was something like it in a Danish newspaper some years ago. Its fantastic on so many levels -both fun, the clichés and tremendous differences

I wholeheartedly agree, you guys. Great comments, and I would have loved to read that Danish newspaper, Mette! :)

wow, that is so interesting! my husband (who's English) and I were in hysterics over the American food choices...and all the alcohol the Germans had--4 bottles of wine and 20 beers--sounds like our house! ;) i'm going to check out the book.

Wow...what an interesting series. Really does make you think...

what a coincidence - i stumbled upon this time story too and am doing a post on it this week. really eye opening.

hey erin.. i have been around.. just busy with work and such... i have not taken a peek at this link yet but i am so excited to read!! thanks so much.. wonderful find! you make my busy day a little easier! thanks!

Thank you for this - it's really interesting.

ooo, love this.
- Jessie -

That was super interesting, I notice how only the American families had the majority of processed/packaged foods. All the the other families had their week comprised of produce, meats and grains (and coke!).

I know, right, Meg? Isn't that totally interesting?

How interesting! And rather reminiscent of the Pink & Blue series: http://forme-foryou.com/2008/03/pink-blue.html

I just bought this book over the weekend, what a coincidence to see it here! Isn't is an amazing concept? I can't stop thinking about it either. The authors have two other amazing previous books, Material World and Women in the Material World, which are worth owning too.

eek! how crazy!!! :)

wow. VERY cool!
my photo would include much more junk food then i would admit otherwise :)

I love this project...and it's so timely with all the talk recently of the food crisis we are in.

Exactly, Nidhi! :)

I loved when I first saw this in the magazine. Truly fascinating!

Anne

I believe the photos were chosen specifically to present various countries in a biased light. I live in Japan (and am American) and can say that the Japanese family and American one are not representative of "average" by a long shot. It's interesting, but I hope the book strongly points out that you cannot generalize the eating habits of a nation based on what one family does.

My family never ate as much fast food as shown in the American family's picture nor do I know Japanese families who would include watermelon and musk melon as part of their regular diet as they aren't available year-round and are very pricey. Also, the Japanese family say that, among their favorites, are "cake" and "potato chips" yet there is no cake in the picture and only one bag of seaweed flavored chips being held by the woman on the far left (and it is obscured by her arms except for the Japanese writing as if to "hide" the junk food aspects of the Japanese family's eating).

I have to wonder how the other country's families were chosen or their shots staged to present a certain look. I did notice the fruit and vegetable placement is different in different shots (the American's is hidden, others are front and center).

EXCELLENT point, Shari! The placement is inconsistent and you raise a great discussion!!!

Thanks for challenging the rest of us to look a bit closer!!! :)