School lunch in cafeteria of Armstrong Technical High School in Washington, D. C., 1942

From Medieval Bread to School Lunches: Government Regulation of Food

Should government regulate the food industry? How do these regulations impact our individual food choices? These essential questions help students connect their individual experiences and opinions of school lunches to issues behind government regulation today and in past civilizations. Food has always been connected to politics. Rulers and leaders from ancient, medieval, and early modern cultures … Continue reading From Medieval Bread to School Lunches: Government Regulation of Food

These cookie recipes from a 1915 community cookbook call for butter, but many cooks may have substituted margarine, shortening, or even lard.

Cookies and how government regulation affects daily life

Cookies can illustrate the relationship between food and politics in the classroom. A good cookie must have fat – but should the cook use oleo/margarine or butter? Butter, the fat from milk, has been used in baking for centuries. On the other hand, margarine was just invented about 150 years ago and was one of … Continue reading Cookies and how government regulation affects daily life