Food Studies

Develop your “foodie” identity by blogging and vlogging about food. Experience entrepreneurship in action by partnering with local entrepreneurs to explore the farm-to-table process, particularly in terms of sustainability, education, and accessibility. In this course, we’ll explore the growing literature and discourse surrounding local and organic food movements and put this knowledge to action in our blogs, vlogs, and partnerships. We’ll create cookbooks that address a variety of issues surrounding how to produce local food sustainably and provide fair access to “good” food sources for members of the community who, traditionally, do not have such access. Finally, we’ll experience entrepreneurship in action by working with constituents to develop and enact a plan in terms of producing, providing, and educating people about food (e.g. food selection and preparation). After learning about the entrepreneurs’ visions, we will assist the constituents in generating resources for their venture.

Food has been part of the semiotic process of film-making since films began. Both food and film provide information about ourselves and our values. They both communicate information about our political and economic aspirations, ethnic and religious values, and even sexual and philosophical identities. Both enrich our minds with ideas about adventure and bravery, hope and despair, love and romance, and more. This course explores the representations of food in world cinema. We will pay special attention to the social, cultural and historical issues depicted in films from around the world. In addition to analyzing films as pieces of artist cinematic expression, we will also examine the multiple roles that “culinary images’ play in world cinema. We will also pay special attention to how food production and preparation, presentation and consumption can play an important role in film structure, character development and film themes.

Performance Nutrition examines the role of nutrition in physical activity and athletic performance. Topics include bioenergetics, the effect of food on metabolism and how food content and quality impacts performance. Using case study and examination, candidates will exhibit understanding  of the role of nutrition in physical activity.

​​​​​Food is one of the most universally used themes in literary works since ancient times. In this course, students will study the role of food in literature written by “global” authors and ethnic writers. Food is used in literature to present interpretations of culture, history, politics, ethnicity, and gender issues.