What did you eat today? What went into that decision? Our sense of self and community is deeply tied to the food we eat. The food available to us is largely determined by the food system in which we live—but most health recommendations focus on individual choices.  

Explore the powerful effect of food on health and well-being through the research of Dr. Nicole Burt, Curator of Human Health & Evolutionary Medicine, who studies two very different modern communities: the beautiful Pacific islands of Vanuatu and our very own Cleveland.  

Tracking dietary change and choice is complicated. Dr. Burt uses a combination of survey data and dietary reconstructions using stable isotope analysis. This combination of methods allows her to understand how people’s dietary practice aligns with their understanding of what they eat and why they eat it.