People who come to the United States for the first time think that fast-food defines American food. However, fast-food is only part of American food culture.
Although fast-food restaurants are common, fast-food does not make up most of what Americans usually eat. Many Americans cook food at home. Sometimes that means just heating up processed food in a microwave, but some people still cook from scratch, using multiple ingredients and whole foods. Some Americans follow the idea of the five basic food groups: protein, such as meat, legumes, and nuts; dairy (ex., milk, eggs and cheese); grains (ex., rice and wheat); fruits; and vegetables. Health professionals and the government recommend that everyone eat food from each food group every day.
