You are what you ate: food lessons from the past (360G-Wellcome-092293_Z_10_Z)

How did food affect our ancestors? How can we learn from the past to improve our health? This project encourages discussion of modern nutrition in the Yorkshire region by presenting archaeological, visual and textual evidence from the medieval and early-modern periods (12th-17th centuries) to initiate debate and reflection on eating behaviours. Through innovative schools and youth activities, exhibitions, festival attendance, cooking demonstrations, and bone workshops this project explores the concept of a balanced diet in history, encouraging participants to engage with issues that affect their health in the 21st century: obesity, alcohol consumption, dental care, nutritional disorders, growth, famine, the impact of food processing and preservation techniques on diet, the significance of climate change and eating in season, the cost of food, the influence of social status, feasting and fasting, the appearance of food and the concept of taste. The project brings biomedical science, bioarchaeology and medical history to a new audience, working with schools, festivals and museums within the region of Yorkshire and engaging with as much of the local community as possible, especially children, ?hard-to-reach? youth groups and members of different religions and cultures. It encourages discussion of the global context of eating (learning about foods from the New World and past European famines widens awareness of current crises). The project pioneers a new model of public engagement, and will lead to further partnerships between the Universities of Leeds and Bradford and local communities through links with Wakefield Council.