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In 2010 Dr Jane Kerstetter (University of Connecticut) taught at Palazzo Rucellai for the first time. That teaching experience changed her entire view of food and nutrition, and led to a commitment to sharing Tuscan cuisine with American students. As is well known, the Tuscan diet is one of the healthiest in the world.  In order to better understand this tradition, Jane teamed up with our food expert Prof. Peter Fischer to create the “Mediterranean Diet and Tuscan Cuisine” Program. Fifteen American undergraduates majoring in nutrition or dietetics participated in the six-week 2012 summer program. Classroom lectures were integrated with hands-on experiences in the preparation, tasting, and serving of local foods.  Students also learned about the importance of food in Italian culture from a historical and anthropological perspective. And living in Florence for six weeks proved the perfect teaching laboratory! Since most of the nutrition program students will be entering a food-related career, it is our goal that they incorporate their Italian experience into their personal lives and professional practice.