The food here in Sweden is actually quite different than in America
It is hard to imagine a southern girl from Georgia just packing up and moving away from farms, fields, tractors, open roads, and hot summers to a wet, snowy, cold, and mountainous new world… But, I did it.
The food here in Sweden is actually quite different than in America and trying to translate stuff can get rather frustrating. It drives you crazier than a bag of hair for sure. So when it comes to cooking, here are a few things I learned that may help you in the future, if you decide to pack up and move to Europe as well.
The first thing I learned is that, just because it is an American named brand item, doesn’t mean it’s actually American, came from America, or anything too close to the American product. For example: Diet Coke, Pepsi, and Sprite in Sweden do NOT taste like our delicious American sodas. In fact they taste rather fresher. It’s an odd way of saying it but, regarding the food restrictions in Sweden, they are indeed much stricter on food laws, regulations, and safety measures than America is. So if I had to choose between American or European sodas, you bet I would rather have this fresher tasting carbonated beverage any day of the week.
Secondly, everyone thinks Americans only eat deep fried items filled with butter and too many calories. Let me set the record straight, I have been everywhere from the UK to Sweden to France. EVERYONE loves butter and NO ONE has room to talk about deep fried foods or calories. One of the first questions I get asked is if I have diabetes and my heart issues because of the food I ate in America growing up. I then look at them while they’re eating a whole pizza by themselves covered in a buttery mayonnaise sauce called ‘bearnaise sauce’ and wonder if they're serious or just pulling my leg. All in all, ALL countries are equally bad at any kind of eating healthy or healthy food. Food should be looked at as fuel and not a punishment or way to restrain or not restrain oneself.
Third and finally, American products for the kitchen are super hard to come by. For example, my KitchenAid I use so much, the extra parts cost me more money than in America and if it is a limited time thing, it is definitely a limited time thing. Also, Amazon is no help at all and shipping will cost about as much as a kidney. So if you move to a new country, you better learn their products and ways or you might be up crap creek without a paddle. If you want a good product in Sweden like our KitchenAid appliances, I recommend Electrolux. It's just as good and at a better price. Another great thing to know is they call appliances white wares. I do not know why, but, if you are looking for a stove and you say I need some white wares then they will help you alot faster than someone who says I need an oven.
Lastly, the best advice I can give you is to just try everything. You never know what you’ll learn or see. What tastes like what or what actually works. It’s all just one big experience and youneed to jump in feet first and really get a sense of culture shock to experience it.
