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

[lizaanne 0]

Try italian bread, I'm not all that keen on the regular bread over here, do miss a nice loaf of bread from Hovis, but anyways, try Italian bread from supermarkets or an italian bakery if you can find one, I think it's the closet to what the bread is like back in england, tastes much better than the regular bread over here.

That's exactly what I've been buying him! Kroger brand Italian bread - you can't get any more bland than that! Well, maybe Simon's OWN homemade bread.

~Liza

[Leney 0]

I'm not a Brit by birth (by proxy maybe hehe), but after living in the uk, the short answer is - yes - everything seems to be way too sweet in the states and maybe I'm a freak, but potatos even seem sugary.

I have to laugh because in the UK, I could eat what I want (even go to the chippy once a week), and generally lose weight, but here I have to really really watch what I eat. It's insane

I find the "light" wheat breads are much less sweet (and fewer calories ) When my hubby has been here, he prefers Italian bread, or gets a crusty loaf baked at the shop.

[britty 1]

they should just call the bread here "cake" and be done with it. I think desserts are no more sweeter than in the UK but certainly other foods are. I cant eat the bread here at all unless Im having toast with marmalade. I really miss the big blue warburtons loaf. Luckily my family bring over tons of it when they come over.

[Britchick 0]

The bread is way too sweet..and the choccy is just soooooooooo not right !!!

[Dr_LHA 3]

I have to laugh because in the UK, I could eat what I want (even go to the chippy once a week), and generally lose weight, but here I have to really really watch what I eat. It's insane

Its because of the damn High Fructose Corn Syrup in everything, rather than using sugar like they do in the UK. Its way sweeter than sugar and it also turns off the part of your brain that tells you its full. Sadly its used in everything here, so its hard to avoid.

I can't actually take the stuff in high quantities (HFCS), as it gives me stomach pains. If I drink a non-diet soda in this country, I'm literally doubled over in pain 30 mins later, and yet in the UK I have no problem. In fact I tend to drink a lot of Coke in the UK, because I love it but can't drink it over here. I have to stick to diet sodas.

[Uzume 0]

I have to laugh because in the UK, I could eat what I want (even go to the chippy once a week), and generally lose weight, but here I have to really really watch what I eat. It's insane

Its because of the damn High Fructose Corn Syrup in everything, rather than using sugar like they do in the UK. Its way sweeter than sugar and it also turns off the part of your brain that tells you its full. Sadly its used in everything here, so its hard to avoid.

I can't actually take the stuff in high quantities (HFCS), as it gives me stomach pains. If I drink a non-diet soda in this country, I'm literally doubled over in pain 30 mins later, and yet in the UK I have no problem. In fact I tend to drink a lot of Coke in the UK, because I love it but can't drink it over here. I have to stick to diet sodas.

It also raises your insulin levels to ridiculous levels and increases the risk of diabetes...... but hey, that's not a fun subject!!

I'm not in the USA yet but my fiance has told me about the corn syrup. Also, he thinks I will find food too salty over there as I don't have much salt in my food here.

It will be interesting though, I'm looking forward to trying some new things.

When I first saw this thread heading, I thought it was "too sweet" like "way cool man" !! *LOL* Then it was about sugar, which made me laugh.

[featherB 1]

Having been here 5 weeks now, I am being driven just slightly crazy (again) by the HCFS in EVERYTHING. I expect SOME foods to be loaded up with unnecessary #######, but when I have a mental idea of what will and won't be packed full of sweeteners etc, only to find that over here, even the savoury stuff is full of it.... arrrrgggghhh!! The other night I discovered that HCFS was the main ingredient in some blue cheese dip we were eating, and when my husband opened some hummus yesterday and took it upon himself to tear off the ENTIRE label (which must have taken some doing) from the tub... well, I bet I'm right in thinking that was to prevent me taking a look at the ingredients and going 'gaaaaahhh!!!' about the fact that HCFS was featured among them. Poor guy, he's sick of me pointing it out, but... I'm just stunned at how the bloody stuff is in absolutely everything. Instead of knowing roughly what (and how much) I can eat if I want to stay at the same weight and not accidentally end up ingesting waaaay more calories than I'm used to, I have to attempt to remember that everysinglebloodything is packed full of totally unnecessary syrupy stuff! Mmmm, agricultural bi-product, yummmmy!

As for the bread... I've taken to eating bagels instead of even bothering with bread, as bagels at least toast properly! I'm going to get a bread maker sooner or later though, I think... having almost fainted at the sight of loaves of bread selling for between $4 and $6 in local shops (um, hello?!) I think I've finally cottoned on that decent bread is most definitely a luxury item here!!

God, I sound so moany... you'd never guess that I actually LOVE most of the food here, would you?

[Mags 112]

Having been here 5 weeks now, I am being driven just slightly crazy (again) by the HCFS in EVERYTHING. I expect SOME foods to be loaded up with unnecessary #######, but when I have a mental idea of what will and won't be packed full of sweeteners etc, only to find that over here, even the savoury stuff is full of it.... arrrrgggghhh!! The other night I discovered that HCFS was the main ingredient in some blue cheese dip we were eating, and when my husband opened some hummus yesterday and took it upon himself to tear off the ENTIRE label (which must have taken some doing) from the tub... well, I bet I'm right in thinking that was to prevent me taking a look at the ingredients and going 'gaaaaahhh!!!' about the fact that HCFS was featured among them. Poor guy, he's sick of me pointing it out, but... I'm just stunned at how the bloody stuff is in absolutely everything. Instead of knowing roughly what (and how much) I can eat if I want to stay at the same weight and not accidentally end up ingesting waaaay more calories than I'm used to, I have to attempt to remember that everysinglebloodything is packed full of totally unnecessary syrupy stuff! Mmmm, agricultural bi-product, yummmmy!

As for the bread... I've taken to eating bagels instead of even bothering with bread, as bagels at least toast properly! I'm going to get a bread maker sooner or later though, I think... having almost fainted at the sight of loaves of bread selling for between $4 and $6 in local shops (um, hello?!) I think I've finally cottoned on that decent bread is most definitely a luxury item here!!

God, I sound so moany... you'd never guess that I actually LOVE most of the food here, would you?

Looks like you got a spoonful of Mags in your tea this morning.

[homesick_american 1]

Simon is constantly crabbing about everything being too sweet! The bread, the beans, the pastry, you name it, and he thinks it's too sweet.

Is it just him, or do others feel this way too? I don't notice it, but then again, I've always been here. Eating up the sweet life I guess! ----sorry, that was bad, I know.

~Liza

I've lived in the UK for six years and have only visited the USA twice, so I feel I've experienced American food as a foreigner does. Every meal I ate in the USA in 2004 and 2005 made me sick. I didn't think the food was sweet, though. If anything it was too salty. Food in the UK is too sweet.

[no name 1]

Mags-

On your advice (or talking about it at least) I got Heinz organic ketchup. No HFCS & it's yum!

[homesick_american 1]

Mags-

On your advice (or talking about it at least) I got Heinz organic ketchup. No HFCS & it's yum!

That's good to know...I hate HFCS, it always had a sort of chemical-y aftertaste to me.

It's starting to pop up more frequently here in the UK, unfortunately. I hope that the interest in maize as a biofuel keeps corn prices high enough to discourage European manufacturers from switching to HFCS, and there are some manufacturers in the USA who are seriously considering switching back to cane sugar. Can't happen fast enough IMHO.

[Mags 112]

Yup, I have an avid dislike of HFCS, it is in everything and is the bane of my existence. As a rule, Organic stuff tends to be HFCS free (like the Ketchup D mentioned) and, although it is pricer, I'd rather have these items instead.

The other day hubby and I were food shopping and I wanted to get some kidney beans. Just plain kidney beans in a can. I stood there in the aisle reading the ingredients....HFCS!! In the fluid that the kidney beans are in. I mean...#######? WHY? I did manage to find ONE other brand that didn't have it in, just old plain water, so bought a few of those.

Still shocks me, really does with the sheer amount of stuff it is in. Needless items, things that don't need to be sweetened.

*tuts in her British manner*

Edited June 5, 2007 by mags

[featherB 1]

Yup, I have an avid dislike of HFCS, it is in everything and is the bane of my existence. As a rule, Organic stuff tends to be HFCS free (like the Ketchup D mentioned) and, although it is pricer, I'd rather have these items instead.

The other day hubby and I were food shopping and I wanted to get some kidney beans. Just plain kidney beans in a can. I stood there in the aisle reading the ingredients....HFCS!! In the fluid that the kidney beans are in. I mean...#######? WHY? I did manage to find ONE other brand that didn't have it in, just old plain water, so bought a few of those.

Still shocks me, really does with the sheer amount of stuff it is in. Needless items, things that don't need to be sweetened.

*tuts in her British manner*

I ate a gherkin out of a jar lurking in the fridge door the other day. Then promptly gagged. Then had a look at the jar, and found out what the chief component of the alleged 'vinegar' in which the things were supposedly 'pickled' was...

Sigh.

[Krikit 1,165]

Food products are disgustingly sweet here. I've also had some terrible allergic reactions to all the added chemicals. Now I travel miles and miles to find foods without additives; I read every item on the "ingredients" lists; and I'm very wary when eating out. I was in NC at my in-laws this weekend and felt really badly about telling my MIL that I would pass on eating some of her food. Luckily, my husband was able to explain how scary it was to witness an allergic reaction and how careful we had to be so I hope it didn't offend her too much. Perhaps if you've grown up here and have been exposed to it it isn't as bad.

[Cassie 8]

I'm Canadian, and I find things crazy sweet here. And I hate HFCS, because I can't drink Ocean Spray juice cocktails or eat all sorts of products. fortunately I found a yogurt that is all natural without HFCS, and not sweetened with another fake substitute.