The Peanut Butter Stigma

It's so awkward when people ask me what typical American foods are because... well... I don't think we have any. I always respond by going over my daily foods:

• Cheerios for breakfast
• PB&J, pretzels, an apple for lunch

Italians: Wait. Pause. Did you just say peanut butter?

Me: Yes.

Italians: Everyday?

Me: YES.

Italians believe peanut butter is, like, the worst thing you can put into your body. Yes, peanut butter is calorie dense, but one tablespoon goes a long way. You can eat it with carrots, put it in a sandwich, put it in candy, eat it alone. Anything you want! It's your peanut butter. It's a free country. Might I add it's also a source of protein.

Ugh. I love it. I will stand by peanut butter until my dying day. Anyway. Moving on. Americans aren't great at coming up with world famous foods. We take from other cultures: pizza and pasta from Italy, burritos and tacos from Mexico, sushi from Japan. Are hamburgers even ours? I don't know. Wisconsin makes pretty good cheese and California produces some wine. What else... the Philly cheesesteak? Does that count?

There isn't a good response to the question: what are typical American foods? I think my best bet is to just smile and say "the best food in the world is in Italy." People will eat that up, right?