Gain skills to evaluate nutrition information and apply to your own diet

This course will help you understand the scientific basis of human nutrition, and current nutrition concepts and controversies.

Each week we look at a different theme:

• The makings of a ‘healthy diet’: Which components of your diet can promote wellbeing and reduce the risk of diseases?

• Why do we eat what we eat? What are the ‘drivers’ that influence our food choices?

• Food and disease: Can you really eat your way to health?

• Nutrition fads, myths and the plain truth: Are our genes to be blamed for our current nutritional habits?

What topics will you cover?

By the conclusion of the course, learners will be able to: 1. Identify the principle constituents of food, along with foods and dietary patterns that meet current UK based dietary recommendations and are associated with reduced risk of common chronic diseases. 2. Understand and evaluate nutrition information, advertising, and news in the media. 3. Apply nutrition knowledge to personal food choices and dietary patterns

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Describe components of a healthy diet
Identify principles of healthy eating
Apply principles learned to assess their own dietary intake
Develop an understanding of good examples of evidence based research
Calculate their own Body Mass Index (BMI)
Explore the influences on food choice and eating behaviors
Identify current nutrition controversies
Discuss their own views on food and eating

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in food and wellbeing, and assumes no prior knowledge.

What do people say about this course?

"This course punches above its weight! I've enjoyed it so much. Many thanks and compliments to our wonderful tutors at the University of Aberdeen for an excellent course. You managed to cover a lot of topics of interest regarding nutrition, diet and exercise in a dynamic and vibrant way. I appreciate the research-based information and advice. The resources supplied are generous and comprehensive. "

Helena Tubridy

Who will you learn with?

Alex Mavroeidi and Alex Johnstone

Dr Alexandra Mavroeidi is an expert in exercise, nutrition and bone health.

Dr Alexandra Johnstone leads research on appetite across the lifecourse, with recent emphasis on high protein diets.

Who developed the course?

University of Aberdeen

University of Aberdeen is the 3rd oldest Scottish and 5th oldest UK University. With 14500 students from 120 countries, it is a world leader in medical research, energy, environment, law and business.

Learning on FutureLearn

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Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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