Emelyn Rude

The Coronavirus Baking Boom's Flour Shortage Isn't the First

As the government urged Americans to cut back on wheat consumption, bakers came up with creative solutions

By Emelyn Rude May 13, 2020

Americans Eat More Than a Billion Chicken Wings on Super Bowl Weekend. There's a Surprising Past Behind That Number

Flash back to any point in American history prior to the 1970s and you would have had to have paid many Americans to put this part of the chicken in their mouths

By Emelyn Rude January 31, 2019

The Backlash Against Plastic Straws Is Spreading. Here’s How They Got So Popular in the First Place

How did plastic straws—now being phased out by Starbucks—become so ubiquitous as to represent the whole problem with single-use plastics?

By Emelyn Rude July 12, 2018

The Surprising Link Between World War II and Frozen Orange Juice

Scientists had long tried to find a way to freeze O.J. without losing the flavor, and it was a wartime demand that finally led to a solution

By Emelyn Rude August 31, 2017

Americans Are Totally Obsessed With Avocados Thanks to This Man

June is California avocado month

By Emelyn Rude June 27, 2017

The Very Short History of Food Stamp Fraud in America

A look at the real history of food stamps in American reveals why cases of fraud in the program have declined

By Emelyn Rude March 30, 2017

The History That Explains Those ‘Visions of Sugarplums’

In many cases, there were no actual plums involved

By Emelyn Rude December 21, 2016

Astronauts Have Been Celebrating Thanksgiving in Space Since 1973. Here's How

Thanksgiving in space has been a tradition since 1973

By Emelyn Rude November 22, 2016

The Scariest Part of Halloween May Have Always Been the Candy

The health hazards of sugar have been known by scientists for a lot longer than you may think

By Emelyn Rude October 27, 2016

An Abbreviated History of School Lunch in America

Around the beginning of the 20th century, experts recognized that feeding students could be a crucial part of education reform

By Emelyn Rude September 19, 2016

The 'Beefsteak Election': When Meat Changed the Course of American Politics

In 1946, during the midterm elections, Americans could seem to talk of nothing but red meat—and those conversations changed American history

By Emelyn Rude August 30, 2016

Secrets of the Chicken Nugget: A Surprising History

Read an excerpt from the new book Tastes Like Chicken: A History of America’s Favorite Bird

By Emelyn Rude August 2, 2016

Celebrating the 4th of July With the Founding Foodies

Culinary historians and diehard Fourth of July fans alike have long wondered what exactly was on the menu at America’s first birthday party

By Emelyn Rude June 30, 2016

Like a Rolling Store: These Mobile Shops Changed Rural American Life

The rolling store—an institution that was what it sounded like—was essential to the survival of many rural Americans

By Emelyn Rude May 24, 2016

What Take-Out Food Can Teach You About American History

Everything I need to know about America I learned from Seamless

By Emelyn Rude April 14, 2016

This Contest Was the Original 'The Biggest Loser'

Americans have been obsessed with competitive weight loss since at least the 1930s

By Emelyn Rude February 22, 2016

A Very Brief History of Chinese Food in America

The food eaten at Lunar New Year festivities in the U.S. has come a long way in the last 150 years

By Emelyn Rude February 8, 2016

When New Year's Eve was Overshadowed by April 4

The countdown in Finland in 1932 took place a few months late

By Emelyn Rude December 31, 2015

How Eggnog (Almost) Changed the World

The Christmas drink set off a veritable riot

By Emelyn Rude December 24, 2015

Emelyn Rude

The Coronavirus Baking Boom's Flour Shortage Isn't the First

As the government urged Americans to cut back on wheat consumption, bakers came up with creative solutions

Americans Eat More Than a Billion Chicken Wings on Super Bowl Weekend. There's a Surprising Past Behind That Number

Flash back to any point in American history prior to the 1970s and you would have had to have paid many Americans to put this part of the chicken in their mouths

The Backlash Against Plastic Straws Is Spreading. Here’s How They Got So Popular in the First Place

How did plastic straws—now being phased out by Starbucks—become so ubiquitous as to represent the whole problem with single-use plastics?

The Surprising Link Between World War II and Frozen Orange Juice

Scientists had long tried to find a way to freeze O.J. without losing the flavor, and it was a wartime demand that finally led to a solution

Americans Are Totally Obsessed With Avocados Thanks to This Man

June is California avocado month

The Very Short History of Food Stamp Fraud in America

A look at the real history of food stamps in American reveals why cases of fraud in the program have declined

The History That Explains Those ‘Visions of Sugarplums’

In many cases, there were no actual plums involved

Astronauts Have Been Celebrating Thanksgiving in Space Since 1973. Here's How

Thanksgiving in space has been a tradition since 1973

The Scariest Part of Halloween May Have Always Been the Candy

The health hazards of sugar have been known by scientists for a lot longer than you may think

An Abbreviated History of School Lunch in America

Around the beginning of the 20th century, experts recognized that feeding students could be a crucial part of education reform

The 'Beefsteak Election': When Meat Changed the Course of American Politics

In 1946, during the midterm elections, Americans could seem to talk of nothing but red meat—and those conversations changed American history

Secrets of the Chicken Nugget: A Surprising History

Read an excerpt from the new book Tastes Like Chicken: A History of America’s Favorite Bird

Celebrating the 4th of July With the Founding Foodies

Culinary historians and diehard Fourth of July fans alike have long wondered what exactly was on the menu at America’s first birthday party

Like a Rolling Store: These Mobile Shops Changed Rural American Life

The rolling store—an institution that was what it sounded like—was essential to the survival of many rural Americans

What Take-Out Food Can Teach You About American History

Everything I need to know about America I learned from Seamless

This Contest Was the Original 'The Biggest Loser'

Americans have been obsessed with competitive weight loss since at least the 1930s

A Very Brief History of Chinese Food in America

The food eaten at Lunar New Year festivities in the U.S. has come a long way in the last 150 years

When New Year's Eve was Overshadowed by April 4

The countdown in Finland in 1932 took place a few months late

How Eggnog (Almost) Changed the World

The Christmas drink set off a veritable riot

The Worst That Can Happen When Egg Prices Get Too High

Think paying a lot for an omelet is bad? That's nothing on the Farallon Egg Wars

Why Are Jelly Doughnuts Eaten During Hanukkah?

It's not just a matter of celebrating with foods cooked in oil

Why We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving

The bird has long been the holiday's star

How the Great Sandwich War of 1958 Changed the Way We Eat

Celebrate National Sandwich Day with a seminal moment in sandwich history