As has been the case since time immemorial, men’s interests here are mostly confined to the meat counter. What the Germans prefer to eat - be it sweet or sour, pasta or potatoes, whether they prefer drinking coffee or tea - depends largely on the historical development of the region in which they live. Only one tenth of a German’s income is spent on food these days. Germans invest almost the same in leisure activities and entertainment. What they eat is, statistically speaking, quite predictable. At the top of the menu there’s meat, sausage and cold cuts, particularly when the men do the shopping. On average they consume twice as much meat as women. But that wasn’t always the case. Historical factors have had a significant impact on the nation’s eating habits throughout the centuries.