You Are What You Ate

About the project

You Are What You Ate is an innovative new project run by historians, scientists, historical re-enactors and archaeologists. We want to bring up-to-date research on food science, nutrition, medical history and archaeology to a wider audience. Our aim is to encourage public debate and personal reflection on modern eating habits through exploration of the dietary choices of the past.

Over the next three years, look out for us at festivals and street markets, schools, museums and castles in the area of West Yorkshire. We are working in close association with Wakefield Council to provide a wide range of activities such as schools and youth activities, exhibitions, talks, festival attendance, adult workshops and bone workshops.

The project is funded by a Wellcome Trust Society Award. These prestigious awards are granted by the Wellcome Trust to encourage public engagement with medical science. The Wellcome Trust is a global medical research charity based in the UK that aims ‘to achieve extraordinary improvements in human and animal health’.

Project team:
Fiona Blair, 'You are what you ate' project administrator, University of Leeds
Jo Buckberry, archaeologist and biological anthropologist, University of Bradford
Maya Harrison, Senior Cultural Development Officer, Wakefield Museum, Wakefield Council
Iona McCleery, historian & 'You are what you ate' project co-ordinator, University of Leeds
Vicky Shearman, Senior Cultural Development Officer, Clarke Hall Educational Museum, Wakefield Council
Gary Williamson, food scientist, University of Leeds

Project contributors:
Alex Bamji, historian, University of Leeds
Sally-ann Burley, You are what you ate schools interpreter
Janet Cade, nutritional epidemiologist, University of Leeds
Kev Cale, archaeologist, Director of Community Archaeology Ltd
Richard Fitch, archaeologist and cook, Tudor Kitchens, Hampton Court Palace
Dawn Hadley, archaeologist, University of Sheffield
Jonathan Gibson, Learning Support Services, Wakefield Council
Axel Műller, Director of the International Medieval Congress, Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds
Alan Ogden, biological anthropologist and dentist, University of Bradford
Walter van Opstal, historian, independent scholar, York
Annabelle Patchett, school nutritionist, Switzerland
Dave Weldrake, KS1 schools facilitator
Rachel Wilcox, Public Health Commissioning Manager (Healthy Choices), NHS Wakefield
Caroline Yeldham, historian and cook, independent scholar, Stevenage

For more information about the project, please contact us at youarewhatyouate@leeds.ac.uk