Food: Biology of Nutrition and Genetics (day)

This class will explore the role of foods in our life and our society. Foods have a wide range of definitions and meanings across cultures. What is the relationship of food with our health? What do “healthy food” mean to the individual and to the community the individual is from? How do foods nourish us and sustain our metabolism and body functions? Given the environmental challenges and increasing global population, do we have sufficient resources and equitable distribution to ensure food security globally? We will study human biology in our study of food. We will examine current organic farming movement and genetic modification technique in food production, through close reading, viewing, research and discussions in order to answer some of the questions. We will seek common grounds, from local to global, in our exploration of food and food practices. This course will guide us to examine another aspect of local and global reality and to envision the future.

This class will provide foundational information for students who have career interest in education, consulting, human services and health policy and equity.