Marketing and that they grew up with it? I don't know. My perception is that foods that are viewed as quintessentially American are almost all unhealthy. Burger

Marketing and that they grew up with it? I don't know. My perception is that foods that are viewed as quintessentially American are almost all unhealthy. Burgers and fries, steak, bbq, fried stuff, mac and cheese, and hot dogs are the first to come to mind. It's what people grow up with and it's glorified in media for being "American" despite any health concerns. After all, most people like fried foods and meat and things that are, strictly speaking, unhealthy. But historically they've been rarer. Meat is still kind of a luxury in rural China, for example.