Nutritional Counseling & Education NUTR 4327

Course description:

This course aims at introducing students to the theories and skills necessary to design and implement nutrition education programs. It shows how nutrition education can facilitate dietary changes in a group of people. It introduces students to nutrition education basics, definition, history, aims field and challenges.
The course introduces students to the science of nutrition, its application in health education process. The students will learn about nutrition education definition, rationale, impact, role of health educator and nutrition services, and nutritional population problems. Specific educational needs of patients' population with specific health conditions will be emphasized. Also it discusses nutrition education methods, approaches in nutrition counseling and nutrition education challenges.

Course Aims:

  • Identify basic elements of communication to influence behavior.
  • Describe nutrition education and health education processes.
  • Compare between the role of a health educator and nutrition education specialist.
  • Identify the behavioral theories, and how it's important to build theoretical educational program.
  • Explain how a health educator can help a client with nutritional problems related to certain health conditions.
  • List steps a client can take to implement nutrition education.
  • List all nutrition educational needs of different patients populations.
  • List the need, rationale and the meaning for nutrition education.
  • Describe nutrition education and health education processes.
  • Explain theories of nutrition education.

Course outcomes:

After completing this course, the student should be able to:
  • Develop communication skills; identify personal habits and choices that promote well - being.
  • Demonstrate Motivational skills with clients.
  • List how a nutrition educator can help a client with nutritional problems related to certain health conditions.
  • List steps a client can take to implement nutrition education.
  • Demonstrate 3 teaching methods nutrition educators can use to help clients learn better.
  • Write nutritional educational plan.
  • Conduct an effective patient education session on at least one nutritional problem.