IntroductionThe identity of the American people has been a very well-discussed topic over the past few centuries. What makes Americans a unique people and culture has been widely questioned and pursued well into modern times. Food has been used time and time again to tell us why we are the way we are, why we act in certain ways, and why we hold certain values. Historians, especially those who focus on food, like to refer to French gastronomist Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin's statement: "Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you what you are." Seeking reasons to explain American culture, as well as being used to explain other cultures, this quote has been used to demonstrate that there is a direct connection to food that has meanings beyond simple physical sustenance. Using foodways to explain our nation's history is truly an important step in examining how we, as a nation, have been and who we are now. Using food as a way to navigate identities goes a long way in approaching the study of American history and culture. anthropology. Food touches every aspect of human life and therefore provides a great deal of information about the identity of the population. Expresses personality; membership in a group, race and ethnicity (or non-membership); religious and political aspirations. All of these factors combine to provide meaning and cultural identity within our country, albeit with differences observed in the vast geographic contexts that span a large country like America. Food therefore has a great impact and indicator of various aspects of human experience internally. a given culture. However, the way food is provided and changes over time allow for the argument that food is not always… middle of the paper… as if prepared by women. Over time, this gender-based segregation may decline even further. Conclusion Food encompasses every day of human life. It fuels our bodies and makes a statement about how we see ourselves and the world around us. It has also become more unified across the world and in America, and there is less shock in eating what was once considered strange and ethnic. The way American history has unfolded has homogenized many foods creating a unique cuisine that only America can truly claim. The diverse ethnic, religious and political groups have made America a truly distinctive place to come and experience food. Although food cannot tell us everything about us due to several factors that have changed the food landscape, it has still given our country an extraordinary identity all its own..