Between 2013 and 2015, artist Lois Bielefeld set out to photograph the “typical American meal” in a series called Weeknight Dinners. The scenes are as mundane as they are interesting. One image captures a couple eating on the floor of their living room. In another, a teenager places her phone between herself and a bowl of something orange. There’s a family barbecue, a TV dinner eaten alone, a paper plate with pizza slices, and—of course—a Tupperware meal.
Consumed as a series, Weeknight Dinner paints a colorful portrait of 21st century American cuisine. One that’s focused largely on convenience rather than health. The food industry has kept these two factors at odds for decades. But now, a new crop of wellness-enthused consumers are demanding ease and nutrition in one bite. As a result, the portrait of American cuisine is getting revamped.
