NUTR 3620 - Cultural Aspects of Food

Every day, people throughout the world must procure, select, prepare and consume food to sustain life. The manner in which they do this reflects complex interrelationships and interactions among the individuals, their culture and the world in which they live. These activities related to food are called food ways. Food preferences, a part of food ways, are largely subject to cultural forces. Cultural causes may determine food combinations eaten and may result from environmental conditions, social determinants, personal factors and situational factors. A biocultural perspective will be used to integrate culture and nutritional considerations. This course will introduce students to an international frame of references so that they may think critically about food preferences from a long-standing approach or traditional approach, as well as, newly emerging issues. This course will focus on international issues including the causes and effects of famine, the exploitation and decline of world fisheries, global marketing of food products and climatic and economic parameters of food production world wide. These contemporary issues will be related to historical approaches in order to facilitate a more complete understanding of international food and nutrition phenomena. The course will include hands-on kitchen laboratories, including tasting different dishes, food preparation of cultural specialties and exploring the relationship between food, history, culture and traditions.