Food for thought

How healthy do you think your diet is? What helps you to eat well, and what stops you doing so? In this module you will learn about nutrition and why it is important for your health and wellbeing. You will be able to self-assess and reflect on your current diet and you will develop the knowledge and skills needed to make healthier food choices. By the end of the module, you will know more about key aspects of nutrition and health and be better equipped to identify and tackle the barriers that prevent you from eating well.

In line with Abertay attributes, this module will support you to develop personal and intellectual skills and recognise how what has been learned can be applied. You will be able to understand how to evaluate information and tackle uncertainty and information gaps with confidence. It will also help you become more self-reflective and understand and embody self-awareness.

By the end of this module the student should be able to:

1. Apply knowledge and understanding to help you make informed food choices to improve overall health and wellbeing.

1 Healthy eating on a budget

This topic will show you that healthy eating doesn't have to be expensive! You will be given basic nutritional knowledge and practical tips to be able to eat a healthy diet on a budget. You will then be able to develop your own healthy eating menu with budget in mind.

2 Prebiotics, probiotics and health

You will learn about the importance of our microbiota on health, and how what we eat can modulate it. You will be provided with cooking tips and will be guided to develop your own fermented foods for better gut health.

3 Fat or sugar, which is worse?

You may have heard that fats are bad for your health, or perhaps you have heard it is all about the sugars? You will learn about the role of both sugars and fats in our diet; what makes them good or bad for health and the science behind it. You will be given the tools to assess your own sugar and fat intake as well as tips to implement the changes you need to eat better.

4 The British diet vs Mediterranean diet

What is a Mediterranean diet and what are its real benefits? Is it just a diet or a pattern? Can we get the same benefits as those living in Mediterranean countries? In this topic, you will explore how feasible it is for those living in Britain to adopt the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, taking into account the seasonality of ingredients as well as sustainability.

5 What drives our food choices?

How healthy do you think your diet is? Do you find it easy to eat well? With this topic you will become more aware of our obesogenic environment, of how the food industry talks to us, and how the media report nutritional claims. You will learn to look more closely and more critically at your environment, so you can make healthier decisions.