Learning Objectives

Students will:

1. Recognize the relationship between a healthful or unhealthful diet throughout the lifespan and the prevention and treatment of specific chronic diseases and premature death;
2. Identify valid and reliable sources of health information and evaluate research studies to apply concepts to one's own life and/or career [Information Literacy];
3. Apply knowledge of the chemical composition of and metabolic functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water to the functions of the human body's basic functions while in good health and while under stress of chronic illness [Scientific Literacy];
4. Examine the social and psychological variables that influence and are impacted by dietary intake, as well as ways personal food choices and food production affect human health and the environment; and
5. Accurately record one's own dietary intake in a nutrient analysis program to assess nutritional status and make suggestions for improvement based on course content. [Critical Thinking]

After successful completion of this course, the student should be able to understand and apply the following concepts of nutrition:

1. Explain criteria used to determine nutritional status.

2. Identify nutritional components of food.

3. Discuss factors that influence food habits.

4. Classify nutritional groups.

5. Identify functions of the digestive system.

6. Discuss food metabolism.

7. Identify sources of nutrients in food, including vitamins and minerals.

8. Relate nutritional needs to stages of life cycle.

9. Relate nutritional needs to alterations in health state.

10. Analyze diet in terms of metabolic needs.

11. Integrate information from sources, including electronic and print resources, community resources, and personally collected data, to answer questions in the diet analysis project.

12. Communicate scientific ideas, procedures, results, and conclusions using appropriate units, language, and formats.

13. Correlate the research project in nutrition to scientific knowledge and principles and to other fields of endeavor in context.