To the Brits - do you think everything here in the US is too sweet?

[homesick_american 1]

The coke / pepsi is also extra sweet to the point where it is horrible. Diet varients taste really artificial and not pleasant so it was good to see something like Coke Zero come out, I got Leigh on to it recently and for a non soda drinker she was impressed. Brits that think the same of the coke /pepsi if you havent tried it, I would recommend it as the nearest thing to UK flavoured soda.

Weird; I find Diet Coke in the US to be less sweet than it was in the UK. I don't think food in the USA is too sweet at all; I think British food is too sweet and American food is too salty.

[Mags 112]

I'd actually gotten to the point of getting exasperated recently just because I'd cook an evening meal and it tastes bloody sweet. So, I've just simply started making stuff from scratch (which is excellent and long overdue). I don't add any salt or any sugar to it and, I'll admit, it is a welcome change.

Hurrah for non-sweet evening meals!

[Lou Lou 1]

I'd actually gotten to the point of getting exasperated recently just because I'd cook an evening meal and it tastes bloody sweet. So, I've just simply started making stuff from scratch (which is excellent and long overdue). I don't add any salt or any sugar to it and, I'll admit, it is a welcome change.

Hurrah for non-sweet evening meals!

Now I'm curious what you were cooking that tasted sweet? I'm nosey and wanna know.

We've never been convenience food freaks and have (on the most part) always cooked from scratch. Some foods need salt, so search out something like Celtic sea salt. It is not refined and has all the goodness in salt that has always been taken out of evil table salt. It is actually good for you in small doses -- the minerals are excellent.

BBQ is a damn fine way to cook from scratch and tastes great with salads. We make our own marinades -- none of that crappy sauce from bottles. We eat from the BBQ nearly every friggin' night in the summer. Saves cleaning the kitchen too.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

The coke / pepsi is also extra sweet to the point where it is horrible. Diet varients taste really artificial and not pleasant so it was good to see something like Coke Zero come out, I got Leigh on to it recently and for a non soda drinker she was impressed. Brits that think the same of the coke /pepsi if you havent tried it, I would recommend it as the nearest thing to UK flavoured soda.

Weird; I find Diet Coke in the US to be less sweet than it was in the UK. I don't think food in the USA is too sweet at all; I think British food is too sweet and American food is too salty.

I think UK colas are WAY sweeter than the US ones - cokes (regular and diet) is definitely sweeter to my taste buds.

I'm not sure I agree about everything in the US being sweeter - certain things are, sure. But Brits love to put sugar on their popcorn and I have had fish and chips that tasted bizarrely sweet. )Plus those ready meals everyone misses from Marks are laden with sugar and calories (unfortunately!)

[Dr_LHA 3]

Weird; I find Diet Coke in the US to be less sweet than it was in the UK.

Agreed, and Diet Pepsi too.

I don't think food in the USA is too sweet at all; I think British food is too sweet and American food is too salty.

Well it depends on what you eat really. Mainly what I find too sweet here is bread.

[homesick_american 1]

The coke / pepsi is also extra sweet to the point where it is horrible. Diet varients taste really artificial and not pleasant so it was good to see something like Coke Zero come out, I got Leigh on to it recently and for a non soda drinker she was impressed. Brits that think the same of the coke /pepsi if you havent tried it, I would recommend it as the nearest thing to UK flavoured soda.

Weird; I find Diet Coke in the US to be less sweet than it was in the UK. I don't think food in the USA is too sweet at all; I think British food is too sweet and American food is too salty.

I think UK colas are WAY sweeter than the US ones - cokes (regular and diet) is definitely sweeter to my taste buds.

I'm not sure I agree about everything in the US being sweeter - certain things are, sure. But Brits love to put sugar on their popcorn and I have had fish and chips that tasted bizarrely sweet. )Plus those ready meals everyone misses from Marks are laden with sugar and calories (unfortunately!)

Thank you....I was beginning to wonder whether my taste buds were schizophrenic.

[homesick_american 1]

Weird; I find Diet Coke in the US to be less sweet than it was in the UK.

Agreed, and Diet Pepsi too.

I don't think food in the USA is too sweet at all; I think British food is too sweet and American food is too salty.

Well it depends on what you eat really. Mainly what I find too sweet here is bread.

I don't eat much bread and what bread I do eat tends to be the chichi expensive gourmet stuff so I haven't noticed a difference in flavor. I'm not one of those no-carbs freaks but things like bread, pasta, etc. upset my stomach so I tend to avoid them. I also mostly avoid food out of jars and cans so I suppose comparisons between processed foods in the US and the UK are lost on me. We cook from fresh in this house but I find restaurant food in the US to be so salty that I sometimes can't finish it. I normally ask for my fries without salt.

[broma25 2]

Weird; I find Diet Coke in the US to be less sweet than it was in the UK.

Agreed, and Diet Pepsi too.

I don't think food in the USA is too sweet at all; I think British food is too sweet and American food is too salty.

Well it depends on what you eat really. Mainly what I find too sweet here is bread.

I don't eat much bread and what bread I do eat tends to be the chichi expensive gourmet stuff so I haven't noticed a difference in flavor. I'm not one of those no-carbs freaks but things like bread, pasta, etc. upset my stomach so I tend to avoid them. I also mostly avoid food out of jars and cans so I suppose comparisons between processed foods in the US and the UK are lost on me. We cook from fresh in this house but I find restaurant food in the US to be so salty that I sometimes can't finish it. I normally ask for my fries without salt.

You mean you never brought vinegar with you from the UK to put on your chips (fries) along with the salt???

[homesick_american 1]

You mean you never brought vinegar with you from the UK to put on your chips (fries) along with the salt???

I don't like vinegar on my chips.

[Dr_LHA 3]

I don't eat much bread and what bread I do eat tends to be the chichi expensive gourmet stuff so I haven't noticed a difference in flavor. I'm not one of those no-carbs freaks but things like bread, pasta, etc. upset my stomach so I tend to avoid them. I also mostly avoid food out of jars and cans so I suppose comparisons between processed foods in the US and the UK are lost on me. We cook from fresh in this house but I find restaurant food in the US to be so salty that I sometimes can't finish it.

Well La Di Da!

[homesick_american 1]

I don't eat much bread and what bread I do eat tends to be the chichi expensive gourmet stuff so I haven't noticed a difference in flavor. I'm not one of those no-carbs freaks but things like bread, pasta, etc. upset my stomach so I tend to avoid them. I also mostly avoid food out of jars and cans so I suppose comparisons between processed foods in the US and the UK are lost on me. We cook from fresh in this house but I find restaurant food in the US to be so salty that I sometimes can't finish it.

Well La Di Da!

It's not like that; the very fresh stuff is much less likely to upset my stomach.

[Mags 112]

I'd actually gotten to the point of getting exasperated recently just because I'd cook an evening meal and it tastes bloody sweet. So, I've just simply started making stuff from scratch (which is excellent and long overdue). I don't add any salt or any sugar to it and, I'll admit, it is a welcome change.

Hurrah for non-sweet evening meals!

Now I'm curious what you were cooking that tasted sweet? I'm nosey and wanna know.

We've never been convenience food freaks and have (on the most part) always cooked from scratch. Some foods need salt, so search out something like Celtic sea salt. It is not refined and has all the goodness in salt that has always been taken out of evil table salt. It is actually good for you in small doses -- the minerals are excellent.

BBQ is a damn fine way to cook from scratch and tastes great with salads. We make our own marinades -- none of that crappy sauce from bottles. We eat from the BBQ nearly every friggin' night in the summer. Saves cleaning the kitchen too.

I've never the eaten ready meals that often so it wasn't them. It would be things like spaghetti sauce (the ones with the lowest sodium content and no HFCS) and sauces in general. Some sauces I find hard to recreate in the home, but I did make a damn fine spaghetti sauce of my own the other night that hubby loved.

However, now I'm going to raid my cookery books and actually USE them.

With the salt I just can't add it to anything; even the tiniest smidgen tastes WAY too much, mainly because I have NEVER added it to anything I have ever cooked - even when the ingredients of recipe calls for it. The exception is home made bread; simply because yeast needs it to activate.

Edit: The only things I do that are never sweet are stir frys. Luvverly!

Edited July 19, 2007 by mags

[Lou Lou 1]

I've never the eaten ready meals that often so it wasn't them. It would be things like spaghetti sauce (the ones with the lowest sodium content and no HFCS) and sauces in general. Some sauces I find hard to recreate in the home, but I did make a damn fine spaghetti sauce of my own the other night that hubby loved.

Ahh that makes sense. I always found those kind of things way too sweet in the UK too. Ragu and all that kinda stuff. Disgusting! I make those kind of things in batches and then freeze them cos they do need to be cooked for ages to taste any good.

What I would give to nip into Camisas on Old Compton St. right now and pick up some olive ciabatta, fresh ricotta ravioli, rocket, mozzarella pepper salad, and their tomato sauce. Sigh....heaven.

[Mags 112]

I've never the eaten ready meals that often so it wasn't them. It would be things like spaghetti sauce (the ones with the lowest sodium content and no HFCS) and sauces in general. Some sauces I find hard to recreate in the home, but I did make a damn fine spaghetti sauce of my own the other night that hubby loved.

Ahh that makes sense. I always found those kind of things way too sweet in the UK too. Ragu and all that kinda stuff. Disgusting! I make those kind of things in batches and then freeze them cos they do need to be cooked for ages to taste any good.

Yup, I tend to start them in the morning and let them simmer all day. My Mum used to make the best curry sauces and spaghetti sauces.

[Lou Lou 1]

Yup, I tend to start them in the morning and let them simmer all day. My Mum used to make the best curry sauces and spaghetti sauces.

Hmm..I think I'm gonna have to make a curry for tonight after all this chat.