Endangered Food

We walk into a grocery store and perceive a large variety of food choices. At the same time, we are told western diets are unhealthy and “homogenous.” What does this “homogeneity” refer to? And, does it apply to those of us who strive to consume “balanced” diets? In this course, we will explore the contrast between modern dietary homogeneity and the history and diversity of ancient foods. In addition to reading social science literature and case studies, we will take a practical approach to exploring course themes by meeting with farmers and naturalists aiming to preserve, and return to, diverse and wild food systems. For their final projects, students will undertake a project centering a native foodway.



Alexa Duchesneau is a fifth year Anthropology PhD candidate at Yale University. She studies the nutritional ecology of human and non-human primates./