ABSTRACT
Americans perceive the apple to be an extremely healthful food primarily because it is considered to have an abundance of many vitamins and minerals. Ice cream has been referred to by food historians as a symbol of America. Ice cream was considered more healthful than most of the other high-fat foods examined by M. E. Oakes and C. S. Slotterback and considered more healthful than its nutrient description because it is often assumed to possess high levels of at least several vitamins and minerals. According to Oakes and Slotterback the name “potato” was considered the least healthful of all the fruits and vegetables examined. Many nutritional authorities as well as lay Americans consider the potato to be inferior to other vegetables in terms of vitamin and mineral content. Potatoes became a staple American food in the nineteenth century they were seldom mentioned in accounts of pre American-revolution fare.
