Polish Food and Culture

This Polish family consists of 5 people: 2 grandparents, 2 parents, and a daughter.  They also happen to have a dog and cat, which explains the dog food present in the picture.  The amount of food they ate in one week totaled up to 582 Zlotys, or a bit over $150. 

They have a varied diet, but they tend to eat more of potatoes, meats, and fruits than anything else.  They eat 11 pounds of potatoes each week, split between mature and new potatoes.  Along with potatoes are other starches, like various breads and rice.  Their main starch, however appears to be potatoes.  They use an insane amount of sour cream each week.  Consuming more than a quart, this dairy product appears to be a staple condiment, possibly in association with some homemade pierogies.  They also drink a lot of milk and eat a wide variety of cheeses.  For meats, they tend to gravitate toward the store-brand Auchan variety.  They eat a considerable amount of meat, and also a bit of fish to go with it.

They eat a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as a handful of nuts.  For condiments, there is an astounding amount of sauerkraut in their diet, almost 4 and a half pounds worth.  They tend to stay healthy and restrict their sweets.  Although, since they have a 13 year-old daughter, it is nearly impossible to resist chocolate or fast food.  They drink mostly water and tea, typical of any European family.

Most of their food is fresh, like fruits, vegetables, and potatoes.  However, they consume a ton of meat, which is processed for convenient cooking.  They tend to cook the large majority of their food.  The rest is either eaten as-is or warmed up.  Their diet is high in protein and vitamins, and the absurd amount of sauerkraut adds a ton of fiber.  Overall, their food consists of mostly natural ingredients and less of the fatty, greasy foods of the United States.