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Together with NP 110 and NP 310, this course establishes a comprehensive evidence-based conceptual model for understanding Nutritional Psychology
Imagine this: You’re not hungry, but you find yourself reaching into the fridge. A stressful day, a memory, a habit, a moment of emotional fatigue—and suddenly, the snack feels inevitable. You’re not just responding to hunger; you’re responding to a complex network of cues wired deep into your brain.
What drives our eating behavior beyond hunger?
NP 320 helps decode that moment, not with blame, but with insight. In doing so, NP 320 invites you to rethink what it means to “choose” food. It reveals how our eating habits often reflect the brain’s adaptations to modern environments, where stress, reward cues, and emotional patterns silently shape our decisions and food-related actions.
By tracing eating behavior through neural pathways, hormonal feedback, emotional regulation, and gut-brain communication, the course equips you to see food choices not as isolated decisions but as outcomes of integrated brain-body processes.
Understanding how nutrition influences the brain, and how the brain, in turn, shapes eating behavior, is the focus of this course. Through this lens, food becomes more than fuel—it becomes a modifiable input into the brain’s regulatory systems, opening new pathways for insight, intervention, and change.
NP 320 examines the neurobiological foundations of eating behavior through a deeply integrative, science-based lens, offering a comprehensive investigation into what, why, and how we eat. Moving beyond simple hunger-satiety models to examine how interconnected systems, such as reward processing, memory, interoception, stress reactivity, executive function, and gut-brain signaling, shape eating behavior at both conscious and unconscious levels. Learners develop a deep understanding of:
This course is fully online, self-paced, and text-based, with figures/diagrams, powerpoint presentations, and short animated videos. This course has a syllabus, four modules, quizzes, one final exam, and a course evaluation. The pace with which you complete this course will depend on your personal reading, comprehension, and learning style (see Course flyer: APA, NBCC, CDR version, CAMFT version).
Once enrolled, Learners have full online access to this course for 4 months (120 days). This course is fully self-contained, and no additional materials are needed for its completion. This course and evaluation must be completed to receive course credit and an NP 110 Certificate of completion. No partial credit is given. This course is not downloadable. However, for each module, Learners may download a Module Download Kit containing all of the terms & definitions, figures, lightbulb moments (short evidence-based factoids), and APA-formatted references.
Upon completing this course, learners will begin to understand, from an evidence-based perspective, how MGBA interconnects with the DMHR within nutritional psychology. Upon successfully completing this course, learners will be equipped to enroll in NP 120 Part II to explore the evidence-based MGBA-DMHR conceptual model presented in NP 120 Part II. This knowledge is foundational for understanding the role of diet and nutrients in all aspects of psychological, cognitive, and behavioral functioning and mental health. Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
This course builds upon the nutritional psychology foundation established in NP 110, including all the terms, language, concepts, and methods in nutritional psychology. While NP 110 is not a prerequisite for this course, having taken it will give you familiarity with the structure and terminology we’ll cover in this course.
CNP is approved to sponsor Continuing Education (CE) for professionals through the following organizations:
CNP maintains responsibility for this program and its content. CNP, the organization offering this course, is committed to ethical standards, resolving conflicts of interest in its programs, and ensuring unbiased, evidence-based education. Registering for NP 110 indicates that you have read and agreed to CNP’s Course Policy.
CNP is committed to identifying and resolving potential conflicts of interest in planning, promoting, delivering, and evaluating its continuing education curriculum and programs. As an APA-approved continuing education sponsor, and consistent with concepts outlined in the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, no individual involved in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of CNP continuing education has any personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests that could reasonably be expected to impair his, her, or their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.
NP 150 Part I provides X CE for Psychologists, RDs, DTRs, LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs, and X CE for National Certified Counselors (NCCs). For NCCs, the National Board of Certified Counselors excludes learner time spent on syllabi, quizzes, and the course final. Please contact the NBCC should you have questions.
There are no prerequisites to take NP 150 Part I, the fourth of five courses in the Introductory Certificate in Nutritional Psychology (NP 100 Series). However, taking this course before enrolling in NP 150 Part II is recommended. Those wanting to obtain the introductory certificate in NP should take all five courses in the following sequence: NP 110, NP 120 Part I, NP 120 Part II, NP 150 Part I, and Part II.
This course presents evidence, knowledge, and conceptual learning (psychonutritional education) on how MGBA (and diet) influence all aspects of the diet-mental health relationship within nutritional psychology. This course is not designed to provide diagnosis, nutritional, or therapeutic intervention outside of one’s existing professional scope of practice. This course does not provide the following:
This course provides the following:
A: Yes, this course is taught fully online through the CNP educational platform and can be completed at your own pace. Note: once enrolled, each course has a time limit to complete (usually several months and in NP 150 Part I case -- four months).
A: Yes, NP 150 has open enrollment, and you can begin any time.
A: NP 150 Part I is estimated to take 34.5 hours to complete, depending on your learning style and previous experience in nutrition and psychology and whether you've taken NP 110. If this information is new to you, or you are a deep learner, it may take more time to complete.
Citing the whole course (NP 150): Instructor(s). (Year). Title of course [Type of course]. Name of Platform. URL Example: Behairy, S. F. (2024). Mechanisms in the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR) [Online course]. The Center for Nutritional Psychology. https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/np-150/ Citing a specific module: Instructor(s). (Year). Title of module or chapter. In Title of course [Type of course]. Name of Platform. URL Example: Behairy, S. F. (2024). Biological mechanism in DMHR. In Mechanisms in the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR) [Online course]. The Center for Nutritional Psychology. https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/np-150/ Intext citation: (Behairy, 2024)
A: Yes, a brief description of nutritional psychology is published in: Elsner, F., Matthiessen, L. E., Średnicka-Tober, D., Marx, W., O'Neil, A., Welch, A. A., Hayhoe, R. P., Higgs, S., van Vliet, M., Morphew-Lu, E., Kazimierczak, R., Góralska-Walczak, R., Kopczyńska, K., Steenbuch Krabbe Bruun, T., Rosane, B. P., Gjedsted Bügel, S., & Strassner, C. (2022). Identifying future study designs for mental health and social wellbeing associated with diets of a cohort living in eco-regions: Findings from the INSUM expert workshop. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(1), 669. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010669
"This course will definitely help me in my study and practice. I have an interest for the subject and understood the key role and importance of our dietary patterns and mental health. I now know specifics to integrate in my life and practice, to help clients, patients, students, family and friends. It validates my values and desires to learn and support others with this information, helps me help people to have conscious and awareness of their dietary intake and how much it affects their lives."
Shereen F. Behairy is a dedicated Clinical Pharmacist specializing in Pharmacology and Toxicology. She holds a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology. Her research focuses on the intricate mechanisms by which drugs impact neurochemistry and cognitive function, aiming to advance therapies for mental health disorders.
Shereen’s academic journey includes foundational studies in both nutrition and psychology from Stanford University and Yale University. Her commitment to bridging these disciplines is underscored by her clinical research training at Harvard Medical School, where she refines her skills in advanced research methodologies and clinical study design. As an Associate Member of both the Harvard Medical Alumni Association (HMAA) and the Harvard Alumni Association (HAA), Shereen actively contributes to shaping the future of pharmacological and neuroscientific research, integrating diverse fields of study to uncover innovative approaches that enhance mental health outcomes.
Nabila is a life science researcher with a Master’s degree in Biotechnology. She works as a research intern at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). She is interested in studying the intricate relationship between microbes and the human body and how they impact individual health and well-being. Her research specialization is in Health Microbiology and primarily revolves around E.coli, identifying and documenting the emergence of virulent E.coli genes responsible for Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women. By presenting her groundbreaking research findings, Nabila aims to educate young girls and women on the importance of personal hygiene, the latest antibiotic resistance trends, and the significant influence of microbes on both physiological and psychological states.
Ephi Lu developed and taught the first nutritional psychology course for mental health professionals through JFK University in 2008. She co-founded The Center for Nutritional Psychology (CNP) in 2015 to begin systematically identifying, consolidating, and displaying the world’s evidence base in the diet-mental health relationship. She is committed to fostering the development and inclusion of evidence-based psychonutritional education within the psychological and nutrition sciences.
Ryan Butler is a psychology instructor with experience teaching dozens of developmental and health psychology classes. He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Human Development from Ball State University. As an Education Specialist at CNP, Ryan is leading the expansion of CNP’s professional curriculum for higher education and contributing to the creation of instructional resources and the direction of CNP’s academic programs. His work equips students with an integrative framework for understanding mental wellness, advancing the academic foundation of nutritional psychology, and preparing future professionals to incorporate evidence-based, nutrition-informed approaches into the field of mental healthcare. He maintains a particular interest in the gut–brain axis and is continuing his formal studies in nutrition and functional medicine to further support this work.
This course provides X CE/CPEU for Psychologists, Registered Dietitians (RDs), and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs), and Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEPs), and X CE for National Certified Counselors (NCCs). To receive credit for this course, learners must complete the course in its entirety and the course evaluation.
NP provides university-level, evidence-based Continuing Education (CE) for professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of the relationship between diet and mental health.
By integrating the latest research in nutritional psychology, CNP ensures that its courses are rooted in scientifically validated principles, offering a comprehensive and credible foundation for practice. This commitment to evidence-based education empowers healthcare providers, mental health professionals, nutritionists, and educators to apply cutting-edge insights to their work, bridging the gap between nutrition and psychological well-being.
CNP is approved to sponsor CE for psychologists, mental health professionals, counselors, dietitians, nutritionists, and other professionals whose licensing bodies accept CE from APA, CDR, CAMFT, and NCC. CNP maintains responsibility for this program and its content. If finances are a barrier to accessing our curriculum, see our NP 110 Scholarship Program. Scholarship Program
CNP is approved to sponsor Continuing Education for:
The information in this course is not meant to, nor should it ever be used, to treat, mitigate, or cure psychiatric illness. This information should never be used as a substitute for sound medical advice. This course is educational in nature and is designed to introduce professionals, students, and interested individuals in developing their understanding of the connection between diet and all aspects of psychological functioning and mental health. Best practices for how to integrate this information professionally, ethically, and within the standards of practice will be covered in upcoming courses. While this information can be incorporated into one’s practice within an educational framework, it cannot be used to provide dietary advice, any form of dietary intervention, or to treat any psychological or mental health issues.
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