Description

In Medieval Europe, vegetables were considered peasant food and raw greens were thought to cause flatulence or plague. When the Spanish returned from their conquests in the New World with tomatoes and potatoes, Europeans feared tomatoes were poisonous and deigned potatoes fit only for livestock or the desperately poor. In modern times, Western World foodies have realized the importance of plant foods in a healthy diet. In this lecture, we discuss the history of the vegetables, fruits, and grains people cultivated and ate from pre-history, and in the ancient civilizations from Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, the New World, and Asia, to today. We’ll also explore what “Superfoods” are really “super,” and how to shop for what’s healthy to eat!