Activity, Nutrition, Cuisine, and Culture in Greece and Italy

The Mediterranean lifestyle includes a dietary pattern and way of living unique to countries near the Mediterranean Sea and is associated with good health and prevention of chronic disease. Countries central to a Mediterranean lifestyle and pattern of eating include Greece and Italy. Furthermore, Greece and Italy are rich with history, cuisine, agriculture, a diversity of physical features and terrains (e.g., coastal landforms, beaches, and mountains with stunning views), and opportunities for outdoor physical activity. These varieties create a unique setting for student learning and experience in physical activity, nutrition, cuisine, and culture. Therefore, the overall purpose of this study abroad program is to experience, compare, and contrast the activity/lifestyle, nutrition, cuisine, food environments, and cultures in rural and urban settings throughout Greece and Italy.

This program includes visits to the following places: Greece (Athens and Naxos) and Italy (Bari, Matera, multiple towns along the Amalfi Coast region, Alpi Apuane Mountains (Pruno), Cinque Terre, Parma, Padova, and Venice - including Burano). This unique program includes a combination of: 1) physical activities (hiking, walking), 2) discussions of nutrition and human health (e.g., Mediterranean lifestyle, physical activity biology, “Blue Zones,” the relationship between social interaction and health, human research studies in activity and nutrition, society and food, nutrient properties of Mediterranean foods, chronic disease, etc.), 3) local cuisine, 4) visits to food production sites, and 5) guided and self-guided tours to explore local culture. Specifically, this program includes visits to, a lemon grove, dairy farm, chestnut mill, bakery, olive farm, parmesan cheese factory, and balsamic production site, guided tours of several museums, academic lecture at the prestigious University of Padova, and eating and interacting with local residents and restaurant owners (e.g., fish production and preservation demonstration, pizza-making and bread-making and past-making workshops).

IMPORTANT: Please note that this program is fast paced with significant physical activity. This program may be of interest for students in Life Sciences (e.g. Nutrition, Dietetics, Food Science), pre-med or pre-health professions majors, and majors related to travel. All majors may apply.

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