‘Mormon Land’: Funeral potatoes, green Jell-O, the Word of Wisdom — they’re all on the menu in this podcast about food and faith
A Walmart ad for Augason Farms dehydrated funeral potatoes showed up on social media recently, confusing many people who don't live in Utah.
It’s Thanksgiving week, and Americans’ thoughts — and stomachs — turn inevitably to food.
What better time, then, to explore whether Latter-day Saints have any special connection to food or, at least, certain foods? After all, we’ve all heard about funeral potatoes and green Jell-O. But the faith also has a health code that counsels members on what they should and should not eat or drink. What role does it play?
Here to discuss this topic is Christy Spackman, who holds a doctorate in food studies and teaches at Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society.
Listen here:
sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.
Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.
You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.
