Gabriela Alonso
Middlesex School
Prep for Prep
Corona, New York
Learning from Italy: The Power of Sustainable Food
“Welcome to Italy!” flashed across my phone as I stepped off the plane, leaving behind my comfort zone and stepping into an entirely new world. For many, Italy brings to mind pasta, gelato, and picture-perfect Instagram posts captioned “Ciao.” But for me, Italy came to mean something much deeper: growth and community.
These words took root in my mind after meeting Julia, an instructor at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo. On our first day, she asked each of us to choose a card with an image. I picked one that showed fruits and vegetables surrounding a calculator—an image that immediately made me think about food accessibility.
The card reminded me of home, where inflation after the pandemic made fresh produce harder to afford, and organic food often costs even more. In low-income communities, these barriers push families toward cheap fast food, creating long-term health consequences. When I shared this perspective, Julia listened closely, her eyes widening as my peers nodded in agreement. In that moment, I realized how deeply food systems—local and global—shape our lives, and I knew I needed to bring change back home.
Traveling outside the United States for the first time opened my eyes to the connection between sustainability and health. In Italy, plastic use is restricted, waste is carefully sorted, and families often grow their own produce or buy directly from local farmers. Back home, I’m left questioning whether fruits and vegetables at the grocery store have been chemically treated or shipped across oceans. Thanks to Julia’s guidance, my family now shops differently—seeking seasonal produce, asking about farming practices, and supporting local growers whenever possible.
What struck me most was how everyday choices can reshape entire communities. At the university dining hall, waste was separated into five categories—plastic, glass, paper, compost, and general trash. Returning to New York, I noticed my building had five bins as well—but mostly duplicates of plastic and trash. Inspired by Italy, I asked my landlord to add compost and glass bins instead. Within a week, the change spread not only through my building but into neighboring ones, proving that small shifts can create ripple effects.
Spending five weeks in Italy showed me how culture, sustainability, and community are interconnected. It also gave me a vision of what my own community could become: a place where healthy, sustainably sourced food is accessible, and where waste is treated as a shared responsibility. Traveling abroad was a privilege, but it came with a responsibility—to bring back knowledge, spark conversations, and inspire action.
Change begins with small steps. And in a city as vast as New York, even small steps can multiply into a powerful movement. My experience in Italy affirmed my commitment to helping create a healthier, more sustainable future—not just for myself, but for the community I call home.
