Secret Ingredient: How the Esoteric Shaped American Food

What comes to mind when you think about American food? Maybe hot dogs at a summer barbecue, or a slice of New York-style pizza. But have you ever considered how religion, spiritual movements, and even cults have shaped the food we find on our tables across the United States? In her book, "Holy Food: How Cults, Communes, and Religious Movements Influenced What We Eat and American History," Christina Ward delves into this surprising history. She recently joined 'Things Visible and Invisible' to unravel the story of how food and beliefs are intertwined in the American experience. Let’s take a journey through this unique history and see what it reveals about who we are, what we eat, and what we believe.

The American Melting Pot: Where Faith, Food, and Freedom Meet

Unlike many European countries with state religions and regulated expressions of belief, the United States was founded on radical ideas of freedom—especially the freedom to believe and speak. The First Amendment, guaranteeing religious freedom, meant new religious ideas could flourish. Those early colonists often came to escape religious persecution, bringing over not only their beliefs but also their eating habits.

Without a state church—or even a national cuisine—American food culture became just as diverse and experimental as its spiritual landscape. Early on, religious communities like the Amish, Hutterites, and Shakers established unique, close-knit societies where shared meals and dietary restrictions symbolized trust and identity. Later, homegrown religious groups or "new religious movements" sprouted, often blending faith, philosophy, and food in creative and sometimes surprising ways.

How Faith Found Its Way to the Dinner Table

If you think about it, food is much more than sustenance—it's a statement of trust, hospitality, and belonging. Across the world and throughout history, religious rules about what to eat and when to eat it have helped define identity, mark important rituals, and even preserve health. In the United States, where there’s no single national food, groups often crafted their own dietary rules as a way of setting themselves apart—both spiritually and socially.

Take the Church of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) as an example. Born on American soil, their early dietary practices were inspired by the belief that they descended from the lost tribes of Israel. This led to vegetarianism and kosher-style eating at times. More enduring, perhaps, was their commitment to preserving food. Driven west by persecution, they developed innovative ways to can, dry, and store food—practices that influenced modern American food security. Even today, Mormon food traditions reflect this resourcefulness: think "funeral potatoes"—hearty, comforting dishes made from preserved ingredients.

Religious Movements and the Birth of Food Brands

You might be surprised to learn that some of America’s most familiar food brands have religious roots. The Quakers, for example, built a reputation for integrity and quality, leading to the iconic Quaker Oats brand. Meanwhile, the Seventh-day Adventists—deeply concerned with bodily purity and simple living—gave rise to bland yet wholesome staples like Graham crackers and cornflakes. The Adventists’ belief that the body is a temple led them to promote near-vegan diets, influencing the broader American health food movement.

These communities didn’t just make rules—they started companies, opened bakeries, and distributed their foods far and wide. Their products were simultaneously nourishment, teaching tools, and vehicles for spreading their values. What started as internal traditions became America’s food mainstream.

Immigration, Fusion, and the Blurring of Boundaries

American cities, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries, welcomed waves of immigrants bringing a patchwork of faiths and foodways. Jewish immigrants introduced bagels, kugel, and deli culture, weaving them into the fabric of New York and beyond. Sometimes, these foods met initial suspicion or prejudice, but tastes eventually won over. Even McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish is a result of Catholic and Jewish fasting traditions—the dish was created by a franchise owner in a heavily Catholic area to keep sales going during Lent.

Meanwhile, spiritual and religious groups from Asia arrived with their own traditions. The Hare Krishnas, for example, introduced Americans to vegetarian Indian food—and high standards of kitchen hygiene, rooted in the belief that food offered to God should be pure. As these cuisines gained traction, they helped introduce mainstream America to ideas like vegetarianism and communal eating.

The Countercultural Explosion: Food Meets Spiritual Search

The 1960s and 70s saw an explosion of alternative religious movements, many of which questioned not only mainstream beliefs but also mainstream diets. The counterculture embraced everything from yoga to communal farming to "back-to-the-land" living. Groups like The Farm commune in Tennessee promoted self-sufficiency, organic gardening, and plant-based foods, partly inspired by Eastern spirituality and a desire for purity. These experiments weren’t just about diet—they were about finding a new way to live that harmonized the body, mind, and soul.

Tensions Between Body and Spirit: An Age-Old Question

Ward points out something philosophers have pondered for centuries: a tension exists between enjoying food and controlling it, celebrating the body and transcending it. In many religions, gluttony is considered a sin. Fasting marks times of atonement; feasting marks times of gratitude. American religious movements, from Puritans to present-day spiritual seekers, have been wrestling with these questions, cycling through times of indulgence and restraint.

The Enduring Influence: More Than Just a Meal

What does all this mean for modern America? For one, it suggests that the food on our table carries stories far richer and stranger than we might imagine—from religious mandates for cleanliness (kosher, halal) that improved public health, to creative responses to new lands and new freedoms.

It also means that the next time you sit down to a meal—whether it’s Indian curry, a bagel and schmear, or a bowl of cornflakes—you’re probably eating something with a spiritual backstory. Our food is a reflection not just of personal taste or calorie count, but of centuries of belief, debate, and the never-ending dance between body and soul.

Conclusion: Savoring the Spiritual in Everyday Meals

America’s food is, in a very real sense, holy food. It’s the result of centuries of searching, blending, and reinventing. The next time you taste something new or savor an old favorite, consider the layers of history and belief that brought it to your table. In a country with no official cuisine or religion, we have the freedom to mix, match, and make meaning with every bite. Savor it—because in America, even a simple meal can be an act of faith.