NUT3310 – Nutrition and Food of Mexico

MTWRF - 3 Credit Hours

Summer 2015

Course Description

This course is about the nutrition of Mexican citizens living in Mexico as well as Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans living in the United States. The course addresses nutritional status, typical foods consumed, food habits and beliefs, cultural and health beliefs related to nutrition, and government programs to improve nutritional status. Students will attend basic cooking classes and nutrition related field trips. This course includes learning and using Spanish vocabulary for foods, eating, cooking, digestion and nutrition related diseases and conditions. Parts of the course are taught in English and parts in Spanish. This course is part of a study abroad program run in conjunction with the Department of Modern Languages.

Course Objectives

1.Describe basic components and cooking methods of Mexican diets

2.Compare and contrast the Mexican diet from various time periods, socioeconomic classes, regions, and immigration status

3.Appraise various Mexican diets for nutritional adequacy and health

4.Compare the nutritional status of Mexicans, Mexican immigrants in the United States, and Mexican Americans

5.Identify and analyze cultural barriers that affect nutrition

6.Propose solutions to cultural barriers that negatively affect nutritional status

7.Analyze causes of nutrition related health problems that are more prevalent in Mexican and Mexican American populations

8.Debate advantages and disadvantages of Mexican and US nutrition and health programs

9.Construct short dialogues in Spanish using nutrition vocabulary

Instructor:Bruce Rengers, PhD, RD

Email:

Office Hours:Before and after class each day

Suggested Readings:

Food Culture in Mexico, Janet Long-Solis & Luis Alberto Vargas.

2005 ISBN 0-33-3241-X

Planet Taco, A Global History of Mexican Food, Jeffery M. Pilcher

2012 ISBN 978-0-19-974006-2

Que Vivan Los Tamales! Food and the Making of Mexican Identity, Jeffery M. Pilcher

1998 ISBN 13: 978-0-8263-1873-2

Course Requirements:

  • Weekly Vocabulary/Grammar Quizzes30%
  • Participation in Conversation (Spanish)20%
  • Participation Cooking Class 15%
  • Assignments 25%
  • Final Exam 10%
  • Class Attendance: Class field trip, excursion and cooking class attendance is required. If you do not attend 90% of the class including field trips, cooking class or other excursions you will lose 1 letter grade, 85% 2 letter grades, 80% 3 letter grades and 75% you will receive a failing grade. You will also lose points for lack of participation so your grade may be dropped even further. Attendance at all scheduled activities is REQUIRED.
  • Class Etiquette: No headphones, cell phones, nor computers may be used in class. Students who sleep or read unrelated material in class will be asked to leave and will be marked as absent.
  • Grades: 100-90% = A

89-80% = B

79-70% = C

69-60% = D

<60% = F

General Assignment Information:
Assignments must be well done as something that would be presented to a supervisor in your career occupation. Points will be added or subtracted based on how well work is completed including its accuracy and presentation. Assignments #2 and #3 below must be typed, double spaced, with good grammar and spelling. The assignments must have a well organized theme and thought pattern.

Assignment #1Student Daily log of new expressions related to nutrition and health, new foods, observations on health beliefs, challenges facing Mexicans that affect nutrition and health (8% of grade)

Assignment #2 3 Page paper on a nutrition program or policy in Mexico contrasted with similar policies and programs in the US (8% of grade)

Assignment #3 3 page paper contrasting the views of a students host family with respect to nutrition and health with their own beliefs on the same topics. (9% of grade)

Assignments must be based on scientific nutrition information. Nutrition is a science. Assignments based on nutrition ‘beliefs’ will lose points and may receive a failing grade.

University Required Information:

Please read and abide by the academic policies located at . These policies will be enforced in this class.

Note especially policies on:

-Class attendance on religious holidays

You must notify Dr. Rengers by email during the first week of class of any religious holidays for which you need accommodation.

-Incompletes

-No Credit/Withdrawal (NC)

-Equal Opportunity and Americans with Disabilities Act

- E-Mail Communication Policy

Dr. Rengers will access his email account at least one time a day, Monday through Wednesday, during the summer. Students should not expect responses on weekends, before 8:00 am or after 5:00 pm, nor immediate responses to an email (less than 24 hours).

Phone Communication: Dr. Rengers and a representative of Sol Education Abroad will carry cell phones at all times so that students may contact us in an emergency. Phone numbers will be given upon arrival in Oaxaca.

MSU DENVER STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:

"As students, faculty, staff and administrators of Metropolitan State University of Denver, it is our responsibility to uphold and maintain an academic environment that furthers scholarly inquiry, creative activity and the application of knowledge. We will not tolerate academic dishonesty. We will demonstrate honesty and integrity in all activities related to our learning and scholarship. We will not plagiarize, fabricate information or data, cheat on tests or exams, steal academic material, or submit work to more than one class without full disclosure."

Daily Schedule: (tentative and subject to change)

This schedule includes classes, field trips and excursions with Spanish class also.

July 4 – Saturday / Arrival and introduction to host family
July 5 – Sunday / 9:00 am Excursion to Monte AlbanSt James Monastery (Cuilapan). Program orientation.
July 6 – Monday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Demographics and health of Mexico / City Tour of Oaxaca & Welcome Event
4:30-6:30
July 7 - Tuesday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Fruits and vegetables/ cooking terms
July 8 - Wednesday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Fruits and vegetables/cooking terms / Puente a la Salud Comunitaria 2:30-5:30
July 9 - Thursday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Dairy and meat / cooking terms / Field trip: Liconsa – Nutrition Center
3:30-6:00
July 10 – Friday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Dairy and meat, Quiz 1 / Cooking Class 4:45-7:15
July 11 - Saturday / Free Day
July 12 - Sunday / 9:00 Tlacolula Market & Teotitlan Artisan Village
July 13 - Monday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
History and importance of corn
July 14 – Tuesday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Cereals and Grains / 4:00-5:30Tour Santo Domingo Church and Museum
July 15 - Wednesday / 9:00-2:00 Cocinas Comunitarias, DIF
July 16 – Thursday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Other foods / Cooking Class 1:30-5:30
July 17 - Friday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Health beliefs in Mexico. Quiz 2 / Leave for Puebla excursion after lunch
July 18 - Saturday / Excursion Puebla: Battle of Puebla, Ex-Convento de Santa Monica, Cathedral, Dinner for food sampling, Calle de Dulces
July 19 - Sunday / Excursion: Cholula
July 20 - Monday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Mexican immigrant paradox and immigrant health in US
July 21 - Tuesday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Body Parts / Field trip: Hospital Visit 1:30-5:30
July 22 – Wednesday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Body Parts / Ethnobotanic Garden Tour after class – Emphasis on food crops including progenitors of current crops
July 23 -Thursday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Health Terms
July 24 – Friday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Mexican Holiday and food traditions. Quiz 3 / Oaxacan Cooking class 1:30-5:30
July 25 - Saturday / 9:00 am Excursion: Hierve el Agua
July 26 - Sunday / Free Day
July 27 - Monday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Nutrition Issues in Mexico / 2:30-5:30 Guelaguetza Dance Festival
July 28 - Tuesday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Pregnancy and related terms / Nutrition field trip Heifer – NGO 1:30-6:30
July 29 – Wednesday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Obesity and diabetes / Molino 6:30 am – 8:00 am
July 30 – Thursday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Heart disease
July 31 – Friday / Grammar class 9:00-11:15 / Conversation/Culture Class 11:45-1:15
Final and evaluation / Zandunga Restaurant for traditional food del Istmo Oaxaca7:30-9:30
August 1 - Saturday / Airport drop-off