Should you totally give up American foods?

I don't even know what a swede is, other than a person from Sweden.

I guess I've got a lot to learn.

I don't even know what a swede is, other than a person from Sweden.

I guess I've got a lot to learn.

I'm pretty sure it is what we call rutabega in the US.  Like a turnip but bigger and a bit sweeter.

I don't even know what a swede is, other than a person from Sweden.

I guess I've got a lot to learn.

yep, in US it's a rutabega
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutabaga

I'm pretty sure it is what we call rutabega in the US.  Like a turnip but bigger and a bit sweeter.

Yep, and very very very hard to cut up.

If we relied on locally grown produce in the UK, we'd be living on swedes 

Not at this time of year! 

Part of the problem with the "foodie" and "eat local" movements is that it's elitist - there are few places in the world where you can get fresh, local produce

I kind of disagree with this. I have access to a lot of fresh, local produce all year round. Granted, in the depths of winter it's pretty unexciting, but there is always access. And it was the same when I lived in Wales and, to a lesser extent, the US. I think a lot of people perhaps don't know where to find it, but it is there.

Yes. I'm finding the British lack of freezer space distressing since much of what little cooking I do is done in advance, to provide an alternative to fast food later in the week when I'm feeling lazy.

Glad I'm not the only one distressed over the sizes of the fridge/freezer in the UK. I also like to prepare things in advance so we aren't tempted to go out during the week when we may have less time to cook. And the sizes of the fridge and the freezer are not conducive to doing this. I couldn't believe that in a very modern kitchen the fridges were basically mini-fridges!

I'm sure this has been talked about before on this site, and is an old complaint, but its hard to believe this is a regular thing. I don't expect a huge side-by-side with water/ice in the door, but I would have thought the taller & narrower loft/apt style fridge/freezers would be more the norm.

I don't expect a huge side-by-side with water/ice in the door

They are available here, though. That's what we have! If you have the room for one (and many people do), it's always an option.

To those who think it is wrong to want things from your home country (or other places you've lived a significant amount of time): http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/07/08/sweet-flavors-of-home-feed-ex-pats-souls/?hpt=ea_t1

They are available here, though. That's what we have! If you have the room for one (and many people do), it's always an option.

My friends have a large 'American-style' refrigerator (no freezer) in their kitchen and they have a chest freezer in their garage.

Right as being English myself and visiting my girlfriend in the states, i have seen the array of foods you have and i was blown away...
Any american that comes over here will be shocked with the foods we have and anything we do have the same has alot less sugar so will probably not taste the same.. but saying that we have amazing butchers and bakers and farm shops for fresh produce and our supermarkets that stock most of the stuff you need
now there are specialist websites for american food the uk as i know there is an english food site for the states

so you can either see what foods you can make replacements or spend money online buying american food your choice

They are available here, though. That's what we have! If you have the room for one (and many people do), it's always an option.

We have one, too.  Oh my.  I didn't realise just how much I missed a big ole fridge until we moved into this house. 

Glad I'm not the only one distressed over the sizes of the fridge/freezer in the UK. I also like to prepare things in advance so we aren't tempted to go out during the week when we may have less time to cook. And the sizes of the fridge and the freezer are not conducive to doing this. I couldn't believe that in a very modern kitchen the fridges were basically mini-fridges!

I'm sure this has been talked about before on this site, and is an old complaint, but its hard to believe this is a regular thing. I don't expect a huge side-by-side with water/ice in the door, but I would have thought the taller & narrower loft/apt style fridge/freezers would be more the norm.

I refused to be in a house with a mini-fridge. Ive never lived anywhere that has one.
When I remodeled my kitchen we bought this bad boy Holds enough food for about a months worth of shopping. Freezer is immense. Even has storage in the door for things like pizzas, peas, etc. It would have fit in our old kitchen or top of the cellar stairs, as its only slightly fatter and taller than the standard UK sized fridge/freezer

I hate the side by sides (tacky!) so what we bought was best for us. I took out the wine rack as we hardly drink, so gave more room for larger items to be stored on shelves.

To those who think it is wrong to want things from your home country (or other places you've lived a significant amount of time): http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/07/08/sweet-flavors-of-home-feed-ex-pats-souls/?hpt=ea_t1

Thanks for the link!

We had a full size fridge in the UK (not big by US standards but bigger than the under-the-counter jobs) and an upright freezer in the basement. Unfortunately when the fridge broke down, DH didn't bother to replace it until I finally nagged him into getting one of the mini-models at least. He hasn't used the freezer in ages -- unplugged it.
In the London flat there was a mini-fridge that stood on an Ikea drawer unit so at least you didn't break your back trying to see what was in there! There was also an upright freezer.

(though I think I did once say Boo Berry cereal was gross

I remember that.  As soon as I read your comment, I thought, 'Well, they do taste like what I'd imagine blueberry cardboard to taste like', but at that moment I would have given anything for them. I feel it is all about emotional ties to certain foods because of childhood or happy memories. I can't remember the last time I actually ate them, and we just came back from three weeks in the States and I didn't even think of them while we were there, much less have any. 

When we move to another country, we don't automatically give up every part of our pasts that made us who we are, and we don't give up all the foods, clothing styles, etc that we like. For those of us who moved here because of marriage, it would be a bit odd to completely change who we are, how we eat and how we think and have the person who fell in love with us wonder who this new person was. I agree that most of us have embraced the food options here and no one exclusively eats import priced American foods. It just happens from time to time, no matter how happy we are with our new country, we just need our ties to home and family. I'm an American living in England, and while I find myself adapting more and more by the day, I see no reason to give up all things American or lose myself as a person in the process. I choose to evolve as a person, not become someone I am not. I'd rather be thought of as quirky and genuine than as a fake just to seem like I am like everyone else.