NUTRITIONAL PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION
Empowering innovative education in mental healthcare
A Nutritional component to Mental Healthcare by 2030
CNP developed the first university-based, accredited curriculum in Nutritional Psychology for JFK University in 2008. This curriculum evolved over 12 years and included a 7-course, online certificate program dedicated to providing mental health professionals, educators, dietitians, health coaches, and interested individuals with formal education in the developing field of Nutritional Psychology. In early 2020, we removed this long-standing program to make way for updated content and methodology, which will be housed through CNP in 2021.
Nutritional Psychology curriculum for university students
This mini-curriculum is for college and university instructors who wish to introduce NP into their curriculum in a brief, modularized manner. Course content and materials are provided for one (or two) 50-minute class sessions. Presentation materials, background research, methodology, discussion points, experiential exercise, and quiz materials are provided.
NP curriculum for mental health professionals
This course introduces mental health professionals to Nutritional Psychology, and presents research informing the field, concepts, and client-oriented psycho-educational tools for understanding the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR).
Nutritional Psychology curriculum for pediatricians
This course introduces pediatricians to a quick method for perceptually and cognitively cuing children throughout the pediatric process to develop kids’ awareness of the being on track to eat their “5 a day”.
Nutritional Psychology culinary course for kids
Course information coming soon
Nutritional Psychology animated curriculum for children
This animated curriculum for kids is designed to help them develop an intrinsic awareness of how what they eat can impact how they feel. The curriculum is designed to be funny while instilling kids with new cognitive and perceptual tools that increases their awareness of eating to support positive mental health.
The process of receiving or giving systematic instruction
The science or study that deals with food and nourishment
The science of mind and behavior
Diet Mental Health Relationship
Connecting what we eat with how we feel
Diet 
Mental 
Health 
Relationship 
Psychosocial
Examining the role that family, culture, community, society, and socioeconomic status play in determining our dietary intake patterns
Psychological
Examining the relationship between our dietary intake patterns and our feelings, moods, and emotions
Behavioral
Developing an awareness of the relatively predictable dietary behaviors we present in response to consuming a western dietary pattern, i.e., ‘cabinet surfing’ at night
Perceptual
Developing awareness of the physical and mental sensations we experience in response to our dietary intake patterns (discomfort, pain, irritation, or peace, energy, and calm)
Cognitive
Using our mental processes (thinking, problem solving, learning, and creativity) to gain insight into how the food we eat is affecting our mental health.
BE A CONTRIBUTOR
Take steps to help us develop our understanding of the relationship between diet and mental health. Together, we can build a new future of mental healthcare to include this important piece of the puzzle.