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NUTR 435

NUTR 435: Nutrition Counseling and Education I

Prerequisites: NUTR 303, NUTR 320, NUTR 415

Credit Hours: (3)

Presents current best practice techniques in nutrition counseling and education, including professional issues for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

 

Detailed Description of Course

The purpose of this course is to present current counseling theories, behavior change models and educational techniques used by the nutrition practitioner to effect changes in food behaviors consistent with evidence based nutrition guidlines for prevention or management of disease. Professional issues addressed include Scope of Practice for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession.  

Major topics include:

  • Scope of Practice
  • Code of Ethics
  • Consumer attitudes and food behaviors
  • Nutrition counselor’s attitudes and food behaviors
  • Communication skills
  • Cross cultural issues
  • Interviewing techniques
  • Behavior change models
  • Counseling theories
  • Effective counseling skills
  • Framework and philosophy

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Course instruction strategies may include, but will not be limited to readings, lecture, discussion, case presentations, live and video-recorded demonstrations, guest speakers and supervised nutrition counseling sessions. 

 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Successful completion of this course, will enable the student to:

  • Describe the role of the nutrition practitioner in the counseling process
  • Examine personal attitudes, beliefs and potential biases impacting one’s ability to counsel ethically
  • Review current consumer trends and attitudes impacting food and nutrition related behavior
  • Plan the flow of a nutritional counseling session
  • Develop core communication skills necessary for effective counseling
  • Develop interviewing skills to obtain accurate and useful dietary intake and behavior information
  • Explain various theories and models of counseling and food/nutrition related behavior change
  • Demonstrate evidenced based techniques in nutrition counseling and behavior change
  • Practice the principles of the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics in the counseling setting
  • Select appropriate counseling intervention strategies based on the client’s readiness to change

 

Assessment Measures

Assessment measures may include, but are not limited to exams, assignments and evaluation of nutrition counseling sessions.

 

Other Course Information

This course, in part, fulfills the requirements for the Didactic Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.

 

Review and Approval

October 2004 Updated Anne Alexander, PhD, RD

Revised 3/6/09

March 25, 2012 Revised

April, 2019

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