Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

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Tish Davidson, A.M.

North African dietseeAfrican diet

Northern European diet
Definition
The countries of northern Europe include the
United Kingdom of Great Britain (England, Scotland,
Wales, Northern Ireland), the Republic of Ireland
(now a sovereign country), and France. (Although
southern France is generally considered to be part of
southern Europe, it will be included in this discussion.)
These countries are all part of the European Union.
England and France have a very diverse population
due to the large number of immigrants from former
colonies and current dependent territories. Catholi-
cism and Protestantism are the dominant religions.

Description
Eating Habits and Meal Patterns
The northern European diet generally consists of
a large serving of meat, poultry, or fish, accompanied
by small side dishes of vegetables and starch. The
traditional diet is high in protein, primarily from
meat and dairy products. The diet tends to be low in
whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Immigrants from
this region of the world brought this eating pattern to
North America and it still influences the ‘‘meat and
potatoes’’ American meal. The influence of each coun-
try’s food habits on each other is also extensive.

England
English cuisine was primarily shaped during the
Victorian era. The diet relies heavily on meats, dairy
products, wheat, and root vegetables. The English are
famous for their flower gardens, but they are also
known for their kitchen gardens, which yield an abun-
dance of herbs and vegetables. Breakfast is very hearty
and generally consists of bacon, eggs, grilled tomato,
and fried bread. Kippers (smoked herring) are also
popular at breakfast. Many Britons still partake in
afternoon tea, which consists of tiny sandwiches (no
crust) filled with cucumber or watercress, scones or
crumpets with jam or clotted cream, cakes or tarts,

and a pot of hot tea. Tea shops abound in England,

Wales, and Scotland, and Britons drink about four

cups of tea a day. Coffee is also very popular with

the younger generation.

The pub (short for ‘‘public house’’) is a central

part of life and culture in the United Kingdom (Britain

has over 61,000 pubs). British pubs are very cozy and

homey, and they are famous for their beers, which are

very strong. Pubs also serve food. The most common

British pub meal is the ‘‘ploughman’s lunch,’’ named

for traditional farmworkers. It consists of a large

chunk of cheese, a hunk of homemade bread, pickled

onion, and ale. Other popular menu items are shep-

herd’s pie, Cornish pastry, Stargazy pie, and Lanca-

shire hot pot. Britain’s most famous dish is fish and

chips, traditionally made with cod or pollack. There

are some 8,500 fish-and-chip shops across the United

Kingdom—they outnumber McDonald’s eight to one.

Traditional dishes of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland

and France

Dish Main ingredients Country

Cornish pastry Steak, potatoes, turnips, England

onions

Fish and chips Cod or pollack, potatoes England

Ploughman’s lunch Cheese, bread, pickled onions, England

and ale

Shepard’s pie Meat, potatoes, vegetables England

Stargazy pie Fish England

Steak and kidney pie Beef steak, lamb’s kidneys England

Bangers and mash Sausage, mashed potatoes Scotland

Haggis Sheep’s offal Scotland

Faggots Pig liver Wales

Glamorgan sausage Cheese, bread crumbs, onions, Wales

eggs (meatless)

Poacher’s pie Venison, wild boar, rabbit, Wales

pheasant, smoked bacon,

mushrooms

Welsh rarebit (or rabbit) Melted cheese Wales

Welsh salt duck Duck, salt Wales

Colcannon Mashed potatoes, onions, Ireland

cabbage

Corned beef and cabbage Corned beef, cabbage, carrots, Ireland

onions

Bouillabaisse Fish stock, fish, shellfish France

Chocolate mousse Chocolate, eggs, cream France

Foie gras Goose or duck liver France

Quiche Lorraine Egg, bacon, cheese, pie crust France

Ratatouille Eggplant, zucchini, onions, France

tomatoes

Salade Niçoise Tuna, green beans, hard-boiled France

eggs, olives

(Illustration by GGS Information Services/Thomson Gale.)

Northern European diet