Poppy Cannon significantly contributed to the promotion of convenience food in several ways:
Advocacy for Packaged Foods: Cannon was active post-World War II, a time when American consumption of manufactured goods was expanding. She was a strong advocate for packaged foods, which were becoming increasingly popular due to their ease of use and the convenience they offered to homemakers 1.
Glamorizing Convenience Food: She believed in the magic of convenience food to create quick, glamorous meals with no fuss, using ingredients like cream of celery soup and canned goods 2.
Modernizing Food Preparation: Within her books and syndicated food columns, Cannon positioned the use of newly available processed foods as uniquely modern, which helped to shift perceptions about convenience foods from being low brow to being a标志 of modern living 4.
Embracing Processed Foods: Cannon embraced the use of processed foods, which were often criticized by others, and she held her own in a cut-throat industry, showing her commitment to convenience foods 3.
Influence on Food Media: Her influence extended to food media, as Household magazine proclaimed that canned fruit could add "salad glamour for summer," a concept Cannon eagerly embraced 6.
Authoring Cookbooks: Cannon authored several 1950s cookbooks that promoted the use of convenience foods, making them an integral part of home cooking 5.
In summary, Poppy Cannon played a pivotal role in normalizing and popularizing convenience foods by advocating for their use, glamorizing their preparation, and positioning them as a modern and efficient alternative in the kitchen. Her work helped to shape the way Americans thought about and used convenience foods, leaving a lasting impact on food culture.