American Identity and Food: Blessing or Curse Is American Identity and Food a Blessing or a Curse? Do you know what's in your food before it goes into your child's mouth? Do you know what GMOs are? Today, there are many ways to get something to eat from fast food, food trucks, and even restaurants. People are finding new ways to eat healthier, be more conscious of what they eat, and make lifestyle changes when it comes to eating. In mainstream culture, celebrities like Beyoncé, Prince and Ariana Grande have glorified this new diet, creating a trend behind the movement. Vegetarians and vegans are the characteristics best associated with the divine food ideology of treating animals with respect. In the same way, the origin of our food is formed. There are families who prepare home-cooked meals when time permits. In some cultures, home-cooked meals are a must, no matter what, they all end up at the table at a certain time. With the foods that are put on the table, tradition takes over and is certain to be the identity of our culture. Soul food is the tradition in African American families, Mexican foods are the tradition in a Latino family, and Chinese foods are the tradition in Chinese families, etc. Because there are so many fast food joints, food trucks and restaurants are available to get something quick and quiet. There are now healthier places to eat like the salad bar, vegan restaurants and juice bars. More and more families are choosing to become vegetarian or vegan to improve their lifestyle, but public health institutions often find themselves at odds with vegan parents due to the lack of milk and dairy products in their young children. Huber and living with an autistic child, I had to make some of my own changes. I started my own tradition starting with my family, because he was a picky eater. For example, he didn't eat red meat. If someone had given it to him, his stomach would explode, he would feel severe pain, and he would be constipated. After several times this happened to him, I took him to the doctor, she informed me that he couldn't eat certain types of food because he was autistic. Some children with autism eat the same foods every day and you can't change them. They would have a tantrum or get sick. Case in point for my child Abija, when it came to red meats and on some days or when I cooked certain types of foods he wouldn't eat chicken, I found myself cooking more and more fish and turkey minced or no meat at all. He was craving junk food, and I had to put an end to it immediately by making him a treat. Among picky eaters, Julia Alvarez finally managed to break free from monitored eating at college. Julia Alvarez said, “Students were required to participate in the meal plan unless they had special dietary needs. A group of my friends applied to cook their own macrobiotic meals in a university kitchen, and I joined them. I soon discovered that vegetarianism was a godsend for picky eaters” (p..