Whilst I agree about poverty, almost anywhere, I also think the nation's relationship and attitude to food is fundamental. In the US, and increasingly here, there is an attraction in fast food. In France, to take the context of this thread, the concept of fast food just isn't viewed the same.
Where we are now, although formerly a UK territory, it is certainly developing towards the American way of being and eating. The takeaway joints, in towns are becoming KFC, McDs etc., and the supermarket hot food takeaway counters, whilst more localised, focus on rice and peas and the other West Indian Classic of macaroni cheese. Although, they call it macaroni pie. But, nonetheless, it's mainly carby stuff. And, of course, the locals have an increased likelihood of developing T2 (which many of them simply cannot afford to have diagnosed or treated, but that's another story altogether).
When we go to a French territory for a few days next week, there is no McDs or any other fast food outlet. The only real cooked takeaway I have seen there is a wonderfully aromatic rotisserie, outside a supermarket, selling chickens from the spit, stuffed with veg and basted in a garlic jus. The wonderful boulangerie has queues almost constantly, with fresh baguettes being produced all day.
When one goes out to eat there, it's an all evening or afternoon experience, with every mouthful to be savoured, rather than rushed to get back to whatever is on TV, or indeed watching TV at the same time.
There have been threads on here in the past talking about eating at the table and so on, and I believe this is such an important thing for us all to do.
Rant over.
