The course is an introduction to nutrition guidelines and topics. The course will introduce what macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, water, fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are and how they work in the body to both promote health or hinder health. Each week will go more in detail about nutrients, food processing practices, food labeling practices, portion sizes, guidelines, and more! The class will explain why nutrients are important for health and how they can be both helpful and harmful according to USDA guidelines. The class is interactive lecture and discussion style meeting in which students will have the opportunity to ask questions and explore nutrition to understand how and why food choices are important. This class does not require the learner to have any previous knowledge of nutrition. 

Class schedule: 

Week 1: Macronutrients (Carbs, proteins, fats, water)
Discussion: Please share with the class something you learned or were surprised by about this weeks topic. Explain how you can apply what you’ve learned this week to your dietary habits. 
Quiz

Week 2: Micronutrients (Vitamins and Minerals)
Micronutrient mini project: Pick a micronutrient to present on including type of nutrient, effects on the body, and common food sources. 
Quiz

Week 3: Food Labeling (front of package labels, GMO labels, Organic Labels, etc)
Homework: Examine a packaged food product to share with the class.  
Quiz

Week 4: Food Processing (processed vs. ultra-processed - when is it helpful and when is it harmful)
Discussion: pick a food processing method and argue for or against the consumption of products processed in that way. 
Quiz

Week 5: Portion Sizes 
Game - guess the proper portion sizes of food posted by the instructor. 
Quiz

Week 6: MyPlate
Mini Project - create a balanced meal 
Quiz

Week 7: Colorful Foods (why the colors matter)
Mini project - pick an antioxidant or phytonutrient and explain what it does for the body and what foods you may find it in. 
Quiz

Week 8: Food Allergies and Intolerances
Discussion: Have you ever (or do you currently) suffer from (or know someone who suffers from) a food allergy or intolerance. How does that affect your (or their) life? 
Quiz

Class interaction and Homework:
Each week a video and a PowerPoint will be posted for students to watch/review. The end of each lecture will have quiz questions for students to answer (students will send me their responses). Each week there will be a discussion type question or a homework assignment relating to the topic that allows for the student to reflect upon the content and/or pose questions relating to the content. Students can respond to each other’s discussions and assignments throughout the week to engage in conversations with each other and myself to further develop an understanding of the content. 

Basic descriptions of the assignments and discussions are listed above in the weekly schedule however more detailed instructions will be provided weekly to ensure the students understand the assignment and the content. Assignments and discussions are intended to further student understanding of the content and/or allow the student to ask questions to further their knowledge.