How long could you go without food from home?

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Columbine

That's why 'American' food is much harder to define. It's an indistinct creature with a polygamous background, much more so than Japan, where there are things that are distinctly Japanese. Dried bonito. Miso.

I have answered the question, but if you mean, how long could I go if I purposefully selected food stuffs solely on the grounds of they are not something I can eat in England, despite availability or social normality, possibly only a fortnight. It depends on a lot of factors.

But still, that's kind of ridiculous; and the point of why probably so many people are saying they could go some considerable time. The fact that ingredients are available, and that western ways of eating are incorporated into Japanese food anyway, makes the question moot. What happens is that people living abroad balance their eating probably in favour of 'japanese food' but with 'western' treats now and then to take the edge off. They might not revert back to a western diet, but it's mad to say that they would have to cut it out completely when there are chocolate bars and sandwiches hanging around and are a perfectly normal part of food in Japan. And carrots and chicken are carrots and chicken regardless of where you are and what you do to them.

I think provided you are happy and enjoy being adventurous with food, then there is no reason why you can't go a long time before you really start to crave home foods. That's how it is for me, anyway.

I do agree though, that people who think they could go years are probably kidding themselves. I'd say 6 months would be more realistic and actually somewhat impressive.

^^; sorry to pull things apart so much MMM, I know you only meant this to be straight-forward. Your question has certainly raised some interesting points!

Again. Wow. The simplest of questions becomes a quagmire of minuscule interpretations.

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by MMM

Again. Wow. The simplest of questions becomes a quagmire of minuscule interpretations.

And a fair answer and point becomes the object of snerk? Now this thread really is pointless. Shall I capitulate and just vomit up what seems like all you want to hear, seeing as discussing the question does nothing but annoy you?

O, I'm jolly sorry old bean, I dare say if deprived of the sup and brine of merrie olde england, I shouldn't last a bally week on all this foreign tush. The lack of custard upsets the British constitution, don'tcha know; makes us weep nostalgically for suet pudding and a good Eaton mess.

In fact, I must now go and wedge my head in the old gravy pan as the idea of a country absent of such wonders is giving me the vapors.

Swounds!

[MMM]

Originally Posted by Columbine

And a fair answer and point becomes the object of snerk? Now this thread really is pointless. Shall I capitulate and just vomit up what seems like all you want to hear, seeing as discussing the question does nothing but annoy you?

O, I'm jolly sorry old bean, I dare say if deprived of the sup and brine of merrie olde england, I shouldn't last a bally week on all this foreign tush. The lack of custard upsets the British constitution, don'tcha know; makes us weep nostalgically for suet pudding and a good Eaton mess.

In fact, I must now go and wedge my head in the old gravy pan as the idea of a country absent of such wonders is giving me the vapors.

Swounds!

My intention was not to stir controversy, but to stir the thought of how long one could go without the must fundamental staple of one' culture...its food.

My feeling is that people that don't know any better think they can accept foreign cuisine without much thought, while those that have lived in a foreign culture understand that regardless of where you come from, the tastes from home will become a security blanket of sorts, no matter who you are.

[JasonTakeshi]

I could not last longer than 1 month without mama dishes.

[crazyviking]

I have gone a year with out eating my stable food and it is so hard when you are craving your favorite food. I have been bouncing around the world. I live in Norway for a while and they mostly eat a lot of bread. eating bread all the time is super hard to get use to it. right now I'm in Greenland and all the food is from the sea. like whale meat and other random wildlife.
I miss being my country Canada and all the good food that i always eat at home. If i had a choice maybe a week but i don't have a choice.

[SSJup81]

Originally Posted by MMM

I find it very interesting that more than 50% of JF thinks they could go for years without eating food from their own culture.

Well, in my case, I think it'd be easy since the stuff I eat at home, would be easily accessible there ingredient wise. For the most part, my diet is a bit more balanced than it used to be. I also grill a lot of fish (good for the Omega 3 stuff) and chicken (pretty lean) and veggies (I know Japan has this ) on my indoor grill. So that's why I feel I could do fine there. The preparation might be different, but I'm sure I'll do fine since all the stuff I mentioned is accessible.

I think the main things I'd "miss" or crave at some point or another is chili with a lot of cheese (I have my own way of making it, and usually prepare it vegetarian style [if for my family] or meaty style [for my friends]), eggs & cheese, and my pasta salad (since I doubt I'd find the ingredients I use in it there).

[edelweiss]

I could probably only last a week by your definition of Japanese food (ie, not what Japanese eat normally day to day in modern life but what would be considered traditional non-western fare). If I lived in Tokyo, even with the huge variety of foods and highest Zagat rated restaurants I still can never find cheese. Not French cheeses, those are easy to find, but a big bite of good Chedder cheese. Or a fat slice of Jack. After a week I need to find some.

I know it's OT but it does make me wonder, where do croquettes and tempura fall in this definition? It is said Portuguese brought them over in the 16th century. How long before an adopted food becomes a cultural food?

[rebam]

i could probably go for years. I personally love Japanese food

[isisbathory]

For me that would be fine, don't eat that much of burgers or pasta, so that would be fine...and I think that japanese is quite healthy, so that would be ok

[Columbine]

Originally Posted by MMM

My feeling is that people that don't know any better think they can accept foreign cuisine without much thought, while those that have lived in a foreign culture understand that regardless of where you come from, the tastes from home will become a security blanket of sorts, no matter who you are.

Then we're pretty much in agreement, although I do think that it then depends on how much you -need- the security blanket of home foods because of other things going on.

Originally Posted by edelweiss

I know it's OT but it does make me wonder, where do croquettes and tempura fall in this definition? It is said Portuguese brought them over in the 16th century. How long before an adopted food becomes a cultural food?

Good question; maybe it depends less on time and more on how popular or cultured the adopted food becomes. Good tempura is something of a celebration food; a good croquette is still only a croquette. Also, probably by how much the form is adapted from the original. Tempura probably started life as a simple cheap fried dish along the lines of whitebait, but it's now something highly adapted; croquettes pretty much resemble croquettes elsewhere.