Nutrition and Food Sciences: Fundamentals of Nutrition

The study of standard guidelines to select foods that maximize human health and the functions of the essential nutrients needed to sustain human life. Prerequisites: High school chemistry and biology.

Prereq: HS chemistry or biology; Open to Degree and PACE students

NFS 1043: Fundamentals of Nutrition is designed to introduce you to the fascinating world of nutrition! The course will begin by discussing sources of nutrition information and the guidelines one should follow for optimal health. The process of digestion will be introduced, so you’ll learn how we convert food to useful energy. We’ll then discuss the three categories of macronutrients - carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. From the macronutrients we’ll transition to the micronutrients – vitamins and minerals. The final section of the course will help you synthesize what you’ve learned, start to dismantle diet culture, and probably answer some frequently asked questions you’re bound to get when people find out you’re studying nutrition. Once you’ve completed NFS 1043, you’ll have the foundation you need to continue your study of nutrition, interpret the plethora of nutrition-related news in the media, and/or reflect meaningfully on your own relationship with food and how it can optimally fuel you for success!

An example copy of the syllabus can be found here: https://www.uvm.edu/cals/nfs/nfs_courses_descriptions.

Grades will be based on weekly quizzes, activities, and iClicker attendance as well as a final project. The grading scheme is a points-menu, so you can pick assignments you'd like to do, and you accumulate points throughout the semester.