The United States is often referred to as a melting pot because it is made up of people from different cultures. Individuals may differ in skin color, ethnicity, and beliefs, but we are united by various factors, including food. With immigrants coming to the United States from all over the world, Americans are exposed to new cuisines. As these cuisines spread across the country and become increasingly popular, Americans develop a strong affection for them, which affects the growth of the economy. For example, the growing number of Asian immigrants exposes more Americans to various Asian cuisines and causes the number of Asian restaurants "[mushrooms] and the variety of cuisines [to multiply]" (Yang 169). The proliferation of ethnic restaurants has boosted the economy, and Chinese restaurants alone generate “$17 billion in annual sales” (Yang 170). But the introduction of new cultures and cuisines transforms the unhealthy American way of life into a nutritious one. As countries around the world have healthier staple foods and rely on "grains, vegetables and fruits rather than meat and dairy", they have seen declining rates of health impacts such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, all of which are prevalent in America. (Yang 170). When more Americans do