The defining characteristic of a foodie is that he or she loves learning about, experiencing, and creating food. One way foodies can expand their knowledge is by watching lectures. The following 50 lectures share information about food itself, the history of food, people who have created spectacular food, the sustainable food movement, links between health and nutrition, special food diets, and food safety.
Food, Glorious Food
The following lectures all share the celebration of food through their various topics ranging from Chinese food in America to the history of food in America to the artistic endeavors of celebrated chef Ferran Adria.
- Peter Reinhart on bread. The baking master, Peter Reinhart, lectures on one of America’s favorite food staples–bread–and how to make a healthy version.
- Jennifer 8. Lee hunts for General Tso. Jennifer 8. Lee explores Chinese food in America and the creation of a unique cuisine.
- Malcolm Gladwell on spaghetti sauce. Gladwell talks about happiness and uses the pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce as a metaphor.
- Benjamin Wallace on the price of happiness. Wallace talks about expensive foods and wine and whether or not they bring happiness.
- Craig Claiborne and the Invention of Food Journalism. Watch this panel discuss the life and works of Craig Claiborne, the father of food journalism.
- A Short History of the American Stomach. Fred Kaufman takes viewers on a fun-filled journey through the world of foodies and their fascination with food.
- Alice Waters and Chez Panisse. Tom McNamee talks about Alice Waters, her restaurant Chez Panisse, and the amazing impact she has had on American food.
- Betty Fussell – Beef: American as Apple Pie. Betty Fussell traveled around America talking with people from the beef industry to discover the history and passion for beef in America.
- Food Writing Forum: Eat, Memory. Famous foodies who contributed to the book Eat, Memory read passages that touch on their food-inspired memories.
- Julia Child: Culinary Revolutionary. Follow along with this panel discussion that focuses on the life and works of Julia Child.
- Ferran Adria: A Day at elBulli. The Spanish restaurant, elBulli, offers perhaps one of the most sought-after seats in the house. Discover a bit of the magic behind the food created by food artist Ferran Adria in this video.
- James Beard: The Quintessential American Epicure. This panel speaks on the life and impact of James Beard on American cuisine.
- An Edible History of Humanity: Tom Standage. Learn about the history of food as it has shaped humanity from early agriculture in China to the current role of food.
Sustainability
Learn all about sustainability, eating locally, and the slow food movement with these lectures.
- Mark Bittman on what’s wrong with what we eat. Mark Bittman, New York Times food writer talks about how Americans eat and what’s wrong with it in this entertaining, yet incredibly informative lecture.
- In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto – A Lecture by Michael Pollan. Michael Pollan talks about the focus of his book, In Defense of Food, including where our food comes from and how it gets to us.
- Michael Pollen gives a plant’s-eye view. In this TED talk given by Michael Pollan, he asks the audience to see the world from a plant’s perspective.
- Dan Barber’s foie gras parable. Learn about a farm in Spain that humanely raises geese to produce some of the most delicious foie gras that is also sustainability produced.
- Ann Cooper talks school lunches. As the Director of Nutrition Services at Berkeley schools, Cooper discusses how and why she serves local, sustainable, and organic food to students.
- Slow Food Nation: Re-Localizing Food. Explore the idea of building a local food system with this panel discussion featuring four leaders in the local food movement.
- Cary Fowler: One seed at a time, protecting the future of food. Learn about a massive seed bank buried deep in a frozen mountain in Norway that serves as a protective storage site for the future by guarding against agriculture extinction.
- Louise Fresco on feeding the whole world. Listen to this lecture to understand how mass-produced bread can help feed the world while still leaving room for traditional hand-baked breads.
- Building a Slow Food Nation (1 of 2). Watch the first part of this conversation between such heavy-hitters as Wendall Berry, Michael Pollan, and Carlo Petrini who discuss the philosophy of Slow Food.
- Building a Slow Food Nation (2 of 2). This video is the continuation of the conversation on Slow Food.
- Greg Page on Global Food and Agriculture Markets. Greg Page, President and CEO of Cargill, discusses global food, agriculture markets, and energy.
Custom Diets
From the kosher Jewish diet to vegan to raw foods, these lectures take a look at custom diets.
- Kosher Hollywood: Jews, Food and Film. This lecture is from a class at UC, Davis looking at Jews and film. The students noticed that food was central in most of the films, so an exploration of the role of food in Jewish culture was born.
- Dr. Craig Sommers’ Lecture Video Part 2: Protein. Dr. Craig Sommers talks about getting protein in your diet when going to a raw diet.
- Why I go Raw Vegan. The first week of each month Leah goes raw vegan to detox, manage her weight, to alleviate menstrual cycle symptoms, and to challenge herself.
- Beyond Chemicals – David Wolfe. David Wolfe is an expert on nutrition and eating raw. Watch this video to learn why eating raw is great for your body.
- Video Interview on Raw Foods, Social Support, and More. Steve Pavlina talks about the challenges he expected to face when trying to eat a raw diet and some the solutions he discovered.
Nutrition and Health
Learn about the link between nutrition and health with these lectures.
- Dean Ornish on healing. Dean Ornish details how healthy eating affects your mood and overall health, including how lifestyle changes can also reverse some health problems.
- Food For Thought with Mark Kurlansky. Kurlansky explores eating styles in a younger America and what we can learn from that way of eating today.
- Marion Nestle: What to Eat. This professor of Nutrition at NYU discusses the US food system as well as what and how to eat, complete with supermarket strategies.
- The End of Overeating: Dr. David A. Kessler. Dr. Kessler describes how American people have been encouraged to overeat by those in the food industry and what we can do about it.
- A Return to Healing: Len Saputo & Byron Belitsos. Saputo & Belitsos discuss the healing properties of real food, as opposed to processed food, and its impact on health care.
- Top 10 Worst Foods – Nutrition by Natalie. Learn the ten worst foods you can eat and why they are so bad for you.
- NUTRITION ADVICE: Top Antioxidant Foods. Now discover 20 foods high in antioxidants that you should incorporate into your diet.
- Whole Grains: What the heck are they anyway?. Get the sexy scoop on whole grains from the Kitchen Vixen in this video.
- Registered Dietician teaches how to read the Nutrition Facts Label. Learn how to make smart choices when you are grocery shopping with the information Teresa Terlikoski shares.
- RD: Your Link to Nutrition and Health. If you have ever wondered what a Registered Dietician does or how they can help you make smart food choices, then watch this lecture.
- How to Have a Healthy Diet with a Busy Schedule : How to Develop a Healthy Eating Plan. While it’s common to feel rushed and overscheduled in life, learn how to make a healthy eating plan despite your busy schedule.
- MyPyramid Menu Planner, Dr. Brian Wansink (USDA). This physician shares information on healthy food choices and ways to plan a healthy menu.
- Controlling Type 2 Diabetes with Diet. This video will help you learn how to change your diet to control and even improve your Type 2 diabetes.
- Is Your Food Making You Sick?. Learn about diet and food sensitivities so you can identify and avert any potential food problems.
- Truth About Ketchup, Nutrition by Natalie, Worst Foods Ever. Discover the fascinating history as well as surprising facts about this popular condiment.
- Dean Ornish on the world’s killer diet. Ornish talks about the link between cardiovascular disease and the poor American diet as well as how the American diet is spreading around the world to make traditionally more healthy countries sick.
Food Safety
Food safety has been in the news frequently over the past few years. Learn about issues surrounding food safety and how to keep yourself healthy.
- Food Safety. This video will help you learn how to shop smart so you are purchasing food that is not going to make you or your family sick.
- Katie Couric’s Notebook: Food Safety (CBS News). Katie Couric talks about the safety of food in America in this lecture.
- Jerry Brunetti "Food as Medicine" – Low fat is not Good Fat. Jerry Brunetti describes how to eat for life in this discussion of cholesterol and fats in food.
- Food hygiene. Keeping your kitchen clean and safe will protect yourself and your family from dangerous food-borne illnesses.
- Foodborne Illness (Part 1). Learn about foodborne illness, find out what types of illnesses you can get from food, and discover how to prevent these illnesses.
