This week on A Taste of the Past Linda speaks to Susan Yager, author of "The Hundred Year Diet", an examination of America's obsession with dieting, going back over a hundred years. Susan took a look at "fad" diets from the past and present; everything from an old timey obsession with extreme mastication to the recent Atkins, South Beach, and other diets that briefly made headlines only to fade into obscurity. This episode was sponsored by Edwards of Surry Virginia.

Nawal Nasrallah joins Linda Pelaccio in the studio to celebrate the new edition of her book, Delights from the Garden of Eden. This week on A Taste of the Past, Linda and Nawal delve into the history of Iraqi cuisine and the Sumerian people. Learn about some of the world's oldest recipes written on cuneiform tablets. Learn about the importance of stews in the Iraqi diet! How did traditional, medieval-influenced Iraqi recipes change with the discovery of the New World? Tune into this episode to learn more about cooking techniques for masgouf! Find out how Nawal blends ancient, medieval, and modern recipes in her book! This program has been sponsored by Hearst Ranch. Thanks to SNOWMINE for today's musical interlude.

Credit: Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., Freer Gallery

"I wanted people to see the other side of Iraq- the culture, the food- the bright side! This was my chance." [3:00]

"We had a revolution in our kitchens in the 19th century when the tomato was introduced." [25:40]

-- Nawal Nasrallah on A Taste of the Past

Learn about the history of vegetarianism and veganism with Rynn Berry. Rynn joins Linda Pelaccio in the studio to talk vegetables, raw food, and animal rights. Rynn is a historical adviser to the North American Vegetarian Society and is on the Advisory Board of Earth Save. In his lectures, articles, and books, he has specialized in the study of vegetarianism from an historical perspective. Tune into this episode to hear Rynn and Linda discuss the cultural and religious significance of a plant-based diet. Why has vegetarianism become popular in the past fifty years? Learn about the historical link between vegetarians and abolitionists, and the health considerations of a meat-heavy lifestyle. Listen in to learn about some famous vegetarians throughout history! This program has been brought to you by Whole Foods.

"Vegetarianism often has a religious impetus; it is not entirely a secular movement." [12:25]

"People have been consuming raw food for eons. Cooking food was not financially expedient until recently." [24:50]

-- Rynn Berry on A Taste of the Past