This summer I had the privilege of traveling to Italy with several other dietetic students in her dietetic program director, Carmen, to study the slow food movement, the seven species, and the Mediterranean diet.

• Slow food movement began in Italy in 1989 to counter the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they ate in where it came from.
• The seven species are the seven foods – wheat, barley, grapes, fig, pomegranate, olives, and honey – listed in the Bible in Deuteronomy 8:8. These foods are significant and Italy’s history and are integral to their culture still today.
• The diets of the people of the Mediterranean are found to be higher in fiber, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acid’s, vitamin C, and vitamin E. This diet has implications of better heart health and a lower risk for cancer.

Our study of these topics took us throughout northern Italy. We searched fresh markets, shops, menus, and even art for evidence of the seven species and foods of the Mediterranean diet. Some highlights of the trip included several cheese, wine, olive oil, and prosciutto tastings as well as pasta making and cheese making demonstrations.

In Piedmont, we visited the family farm where they made world famous cheese from milk from the cows and goats they raised. At their family owned and operated restaurant we ate a nine course meal experiencing  firsthand the amazing farm to table products.

In Florence ,we saw incredible cathedrals, art, and architecture. We visited the leaning Tower of Pisa at sunset. At the University of Bologna, we saw the dissection table on which anatomy was first taught as a class.

After the ten-day main trip, students had the opportunity to stay an additional three days. We participated in a “Chef in Italy” cooking competition where we made foods popular in Southern Italy. We visited the Parthenon, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, and the Roman Forum. We visited Vatican City, saw the Sistine Chapel, and were able to see the Pope give his weekly blessing in Saint Peter’s Square.

This just begins to scratch the surface of the amazing experiences of the trip! As fellow students, we encourage others to take any and every opportunity to travel, whether it is with dietetics department or on your own. You will come back a different person with unforgettable memories.

Blog Post by: Kristen Crumpacker and Tessa Robinett