Benvenuti in Sicilia! This 3-week course will explore the history of food on the island of Sicily from the Neolithic to the present through the lens of the Mediterranean diet. Students will study ancient and modern agricultural practices, the influence of global trade and cross-cultural exposure on food production across time, dietary patterns among modern Sicilians, and health outcomes associated with the Mediterranean Diet. The cohort will visit historic agricultural and archaeological sites, tour ancient and contemporary farming areas, eat street food in open-air markets, explore museum collections related to food production and diet, learn from Italian public health experts and historians, and cook traditional Sicilian dishes together. Students will gain a rich understanding of both the ancient origins and contemporary implications of this dietary pattern. This course is open to all students to create an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment inclusive of all backgrounds and degrees of study.
From Prehistory to Present - Mediterranean Diet
Department of Nutritional Sciences May Term in Italy
This 3-week course explores the history of food on the island of Sicily from the Neolithic to the present through the lens of the Mediterranean Diet.