26 May 2007

Convenience Shopping

Canned food came into its own in the 1920's. People shunned fresh fruits and vegetables in favor of this new improved, modern method of eating. Only poor people ate fresh food. This was also the time when baby formula became an attractive option over breastfeeding for new mothers.

Everyone was excited about the great new scientific innovations that made food preparation so much easier and gave them the chance to eat foods previously unavailable to the average person, like canned pineapple and vegetables in the dead of winter. Convenience foods like Campbells soup also made their way to the shelves of the newly developed supermarkets. Shopping became quicker and easier when a housewife took a shopping cart down the aisles of Piggly Wiggly or the A&P, could take her purchases off the shelves without needing the assistance of a store clerk and buy prepackaged, brand-name foods of consistanct quality rather than running the risk of buying substandard items from unscrupulous store owners.

These exciting new inventions gave the housewife more free time. It was the beginning of a brand new middle class culture. Rather than slaving away for 18 hours a day just to keep her family fed and clothed, the woman of the '20's had the time and ability to join her friends for a game of majong or to go golfing or play a game of tennis. It was the beginning of a whole new way of life for the average woman.

This has nothing to do with the rest of my post, but I found this little gem tonight and just had to share: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJC21zzkwoE