In one of his books (I believe it's Collapse though possibly Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond comments on how introduction of novel foodstuffs, in particul

In one of his books (I believe it's Collapse though possibly Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond comments on how introduction of novel foodstuffs, in particular the potato or sweet potato, by Europeans, greatly changed military capabilities and hence power relations amongst indigenous Pacific islanders. Particularly in New Zealand if memory serves. I'd had to be careful in noting that these were foods introduced by Europeans, but not European foods of themselves, in that potatoes (both varieties) are native to the Americas.