Things to Write About: Recession Wiggles

Probably one of the weirder recession food articles I’ve read: the return of the economy and money friendly Jello on Salon.com.

No agar agar? Is that too big of a request on behalf of vegan and vegetarians? Jello is cheap and agar agar is expensive. Understandable. I enjoy the nostalgic association of jello and Bill Cosby, not to mention the practically calorie-less wiggle of coagulated animal bones and collagen.

One thing that the Salon article really hit on, is that Jello is very iconic because it’s such a reflection of suburban life. Jello makes me think of horrendous fruit salads made by the church ladies, and the time in elementary school when I was so determined to make rainbow jello but it ended up looking brownish and fecal looking. I also think of Edward Scissorhands, Cold War era wives, and my suburban childhood.

I do have good jello memories though: those commercials in the 90’s where Bill sings jello songs with the kids eating cool jello shapes. I remember thinking that it heart shaped Jello was tres chic and that it was probably Barbie’s favorite low calorie food. It’s fun, it’s pretty, and it’s colorful. Just not edible for me.

There really wasn’t a point to this post. I wanted to reflect on Jello.