Topic

History of nutrition

Research on the history of nutrition and diet, carried out at the Masaryk Institute and the Archives of the CAS, helps to understand the dynamics of cultural and social changes in society and its individual layers. We concentrate in particular on the area of Central Europe, with an emphasis on the so-called South German gastronomic circle, of which the Czech lands were a part, and on the period from the 18th to the 20th century. Historical research covers all parts of the food chain, from the influence of agricultural production and the food industry, through distribution and the actual preparation and consumption of food. Attention is also focused on analysing the changes in discourse on nutrition and diet as well as exploring its cultural and historical connotations. The research seeks to place the whole issue in a broader context, with particular emphasis on the history of scientific inquiry into nutrition, on the issue of institutions in the field of nutritional sciences, and on the topic of rational nutrition as a way of practically applying scientific knowledge to the transformation of the everyday lives of the broadest segments of the population.