This course provides an introductory overview of the interdisciplinary and dynamic field of food studies. We will learn about the production and procurement of food, as well as its place in history, health, and the sciences. We will also examine ethical, cultural, and spiritual meanings of food.
Blog Posts
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Riffing on Pepper and Continuing the Conversation on Food Justice
by John Daugherty I just finished reading Pepper Travers’ excellent blog entitled “Unpacking Racism in Ethical Eating”. In it she refers to the same articles that prompted my post. Pepper begins her blog by saying that food ethics is a much more complex theme than she had previously expected; but she did a great job…
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Unpacking Racism in Ethical Eating
Food Ethics In our last two classes of the semester, we discussed the topic of food ethics. This proved to be a much more complex theme to tackle than I had previously expected. I can start by introducing one question we discussed in class, “What does a welcoming food environment look like?” Some examples that…
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The Business of Food: Independent Restaurants and Institutional Dining Operations in Carlisle, PA
Environment of the Food Industry According to the 2025 Independent Restaurant Industry Report, independent restaurants exist in a dynamic environment that is shaped by shifting customer expectations, and economic pressures (James Beard Foundation & Deloitte, 2025). This is also applicable for institutional dining operations. The economy of the United States has proven unpredictable (National…
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The Gut-Brain Axis
This week we examined the complex communication system between the gut and brain, otherwise known as the Gut-Brain Axis. The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional network that allows the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract to exchange signals through neural, hormonal, and immune pathways. The gut is a diverse microbiome that contains 168 neurons…
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Health, Wellness, and Nutrition
Nutrition: From the Individual to the Whole Picture This week, our class explored food studies through the lens of nutrition and health. Discussing popular and oftentimes controversial topics like global diet recommendations and intuitive eating, we learned about how what we eat connects to our wellbeing not only individuals but as a species. Our class…
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Waste in the Food System
The Food Waste Problem The Food and Agriculture Organization defines food waste as “the decrease in the quality or quantity of food resulting from decisions and actions by retailers, food service providers, and consumers.” In the United States – as well as globally – we waste approximately 30-40% of our food (Canon, 2023). This…
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The Evolution of Food Culture, Traditions, and Foodways
Are you the consumer who has saved endless recipes on social media, and wishes to prepare and taste all of them, just to end up with convenience foods? Because I certainly am. Life has seemed to accelerate for years and foodways have become increasingly impactful with the rise of social media and the information which…
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Project SHARE and the Scope of Food Insecurity
Over the years, food insecurity has been redefined to more completely describe its affected populations. Presently, food insecurity is described “as a lack of access to the kinds and amounts of food necessary for each member of a household to lead an active, healthy lifestyle…” (Smith et. al 2023). Over the past decades, the definition…
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Food Systems and Models of Food Production
You’ve probably heard the term food system before. Perhaps you have thought of your local grocery store, and maybe you’ve considered the farmers and retailers whose work resulted in the food on your plate. The reality, however, goes far beyond a grocery, farm, and processing facility. A food system consists of the complex network of…
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A visit to the Dickinson College Farm
A visit to the Dickinson College farm On a visit to the Dickinson Farm you can see extensive farm fields, abundant veggies, crates of harvested produce, or even the happy cows grazing in their pasture but until you start to understand the processes of the productive organic farm, you won’t fully appreciate the farm for…
