The History of American Food Podcast By Margaret Hardin cover art

The History of American Food

The History of American Food

By: Margaret Hardin
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Starting with the first English settlements in the 17th Century, this podcasts traces how we went from barrels of salted meat & peas to Korean bbq tacos and the largest grocery store selections ever seen anywhere in the world. We'll go everywhere - and it is full of surprises.

Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood@gmail.com
Internets: @THoAFoodCopyright Margaret Hardin Art Food & Wine Social Sciences World
Episodes
  • 164 Feeding an Army: A History with a Lot of Holes - On Purpose

    164 Feeding an Army: A History with a Lot of Holes - On Purpose
    Apr 1 2026
    This week we get to look back at more of why War is Awful - and it's not JUST becasue of the food. We also talk about why war food was predictably awful for everyone everywhere for approximately 5000 years.

    Biology - and mainly the stupid microfauna of the Earth.

    Understanding what war food was before the Civil War helps inform how such crazy supply errors and choices were made during the Civil War - and you can start to see how this is going to change war planning - and food system planning going forward.

    Also also - here's where you can view
    The National Parks: America's Best Idea

    Love your Library! Watch it on Kanopy
    (free with your Library Card)
    If your Library doesn't have Kanopy -
    PBS - With Subscription

    Other Options:
    Amazon - alas with an ad-on
    You Tube - but for a price

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • 163 The First Canned Food War

    163 The First Canned Food War
    Mar 25 2026
    This week canned food is the main character. And it has the power to change the world, becaseu just like barrels of salted meat and ships biscuit - it's going to change how the fighting man (and the women along side) are fed.

    Wild to think that Civil War logistical problems were key to sweetened condensed milk becoming part of the whole world.

    Oh - and if you don't know what Vienetta was - or just want to relive the splendor, check this out.
    Vienetta Advertisement

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
    Show more Show less
    24 mins
  • 162 The Army Says Eat Your Vegetables

    162 The Army Says Eat Your Vegetables
    Mar 18 2026
    Sure people complain about mashed potatoes made from potato flakes now - but dehydrated vegetables in their first iteration were far, far worse.

    In fact some of the first mass quantities of dried vegetables prepared using forced hot air drying - and hydraulic pressing for more compact storage were produced for the civil war. And boy were they nasty. All the same - they were still better than what happed to you if you didn't eat any vegetables at all.
    (And no - at this point there were no vitmin or fiber supplaments - you had to get it from the source)

    Music Credit: Fingerlympics by Doctor Turtle
    Show Notes: https://thehistoryofamericanfood.blogspot.com/
    Email: TheHistoryofAmericanFood at gmail dot com
    Threads: @THoAFood
    Instagram: @THoAFood
    & some other socials... @THoAFood
    Show more Show less
    22 mins
All stars
Most relevant
Rabbit holes I never knew existed have been opened up for me. Greedily consuming this starting at the beginning. 💖

Love the attention to detail

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As a chef and history buff, I love this podcast. It is informative and very enjoyable to listen to.

Entertaining and well researched

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The information is interesting - I’ll hang around. Delivery... it’s early days. But I want to hear the whole story.

Getting Started

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bringing history to life with wit and sometimes science! best listened to from the begining.

fun and quirky

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