The Mediterranean Diet: Culture, Health, and Nutrition

Catalog description

Explore culture through foods and foodways of the Mediterranean Diet. Through didactic and experiential activities, this course examines food patterns of the Mediterranean areas using a multidimensional approach, including its historical roots, cultural significance, dietary patterns, nutrient profile, and associated health outcomes by exploring the most iconic foods of Italy and the wider Mediterranean. The course will explore their origins, methods of production, nutritional values, and impact on health and the environment. A key focus will be the contrast between Italian and American eating habits, highlighting how these cultural differences may influence public health in both countries. Core Mediterranean staples across different cultures will be examined in depth, covering their manufacturing processes, nutritional makeup, consumption trends, and potential health implications.