I am a senior at Boston University studying Human Physiology in Sargent College. This past summer I was given the opportunity to study abroad in Padua, Italy to study the Mediterranean Diet. I love food and travel, so this program was the perfect combination and opportunity to explore my interests and passions. My instructor, Professor Quatramoni, did an absolutely fantastic job of teaching the class and organizing class trips so that all of the students had a completely immersive experience. All of the students stayed with host families where home cooked meals and family recipes were shared. My family had two kids my age making it easy to connect with them right away, as they were very interested in exchanging stories about American and Italian culture. This environment of experiential learning also extended into the classroom where the class took trips to the market to sample and learn about different cheeses, heard from local health professionals, and took trips to other nearby cities like Verona to learn about the cheese-making process. Even though I was unable to eat the “traditional” pizza and pasta we all love and know as Italian cuisine in the US, there was no shortage of tasty food for me to try that was Gluten Free! My blog is full proof that eating GF in Italy is possible and accessible as well as delicious!
