- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- recipes today articles
- recipes today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Amish Food
Simple, Delicious Pleasures the Amish Way
By Tamar Krantman Weiss
Life can sometimes move at such a fast pace that one does not even notice the days going by. Endless carpools, homework and fast-food dinners may leave any parent hopelessly sighing. Gone are the days when life was uncomplicated. And yet, for some, simplicity is the only way of life they will ever know, and all they ever want to.
Not as remote and far off as one may think, are regions where horse and buggy take the place of the minivan, where the working of the land is the most valuable lesson a child may study at home, and where the closest thing to McDonald's is a farmer's market.
The Amish community has a tradition and religion which dictates life in its simplest form, from a general lack of electricity to self-sufficiently feeding, clothing and sheltering themselves. While famous for shunning modern conveniences, and their plain and modest mode of dress (hence the nickname "the plain people"), the Amish are also known for their beautiful crafts and homegrown, homemade foods.
"The Amish way of eating and serving food is beautiful and copious," says Ruth Adams Bronz, cookbook author, past restaurant owner and food historian. An every day breakfast may include bacon, fresh pork, pancakes, waffles and various pies. The style of Amish food is based on the Germanic and Swiss background of the Amish people.
As farmers, they traditionally grow what they eat and eat what they grow, canning and drying a great deal of their food for the winter months. "The Amish farmers are very successful farmers; and they do this all without the use of chemicals and pesticides," says Brozn. Many of the Amish food products, such as jams, baked goods, pickled and dried meats and produce, can be purchased in the surrounding farmer's markets and food stands.