BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Food has always played in important role in civilization, and a new cookbook by graduate students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health highlights the concept that cooking and eating together boosts human interaction, understanding and social bonding. 

Breaking Bread: A Collection of Local and Global Community Recipes is a production of students in a graduate course on nutrition for mothers and children taught by UAB Professor Frank Franklin, M.D., Ph.D. The 32-recipe, soft-bound book is available by contacting Lisa Lieb at llieb@uab.edu. The cost is $10; proceeds benefit several nonprofit organizations, including Magic City Harvest and AIDS Alabama.

Collectively the cookbook recipes show that different cultures share components of a bean, greens and grain diet. In Japan, for example, the three foods often come together in one meal as steamed rice, processed soybean and vegetables.

"The various combinations of bean and grain are as diverse as the countries they are from and are influenced by the natural resources of the land, the culture and also the contributions of adventurous explorers." writes Lieb, a student and contributing author.

Dishes and menus included in the cookbook represent agriculture and social customs from the following regions, countries and states: Africa, Armenia, Bangladesh, California, Ethiopia, Hungary, India, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Mississippi, Nicaragua, North America, The Philippines and Texas.

About the UAB School of Public Health

The School of Public Health is a community of scholars and professionals working and teaching in varied arenas of public health with the goal of fostering research and best practices crucial to the health of our nation and its people. The school offers more than 20 areas of study and manages dozens of research and community-service centers.