1 The Century Begins: 1900-1909

At the turn of the century, Americans were full of optimism. With advancements in everything from industry to medicine, many looked forward to it as the beginning of an age of enlightenment and hope. Immigrants from Europe began flooding to the United States, with over 13 million arriving between 1900 and 1913. They brought with them the recipes of their home countries, where they often ate simple peasant foods like dumplings and bortsch. Yet, they found their diets shifting in abundant breadbasket of America. Where many Europeans of lower means rarely had access to meat or oils, in their adopted homeland, these immigrants found their diets shifting to include more rich ingredients. 

The United States was establishing itself as a formidable world power and economic leader, and it was about to produce the world’s first billionaire, John D. Rockefeller. Wealthy classes were eating exotic and decadent foods; haute restaurants in New York City even offered dishes made with elk, moose and elephant. Though lower classes ate more moderately, they were also eating more decadently. In addition to the meat and fat mentioned earlier, people of all economic classes were consuming a lot of sugar. By 1909, the average American consumed 65 pounds of sugar annually.