NUTRITIONAL PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION
Empowering innovative education in mental healthcare
A NUTRITIONAL COMPONENT TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE BY 2030
There is a crucial need to deliver better education to the public and clinicians about the connection between what we eat and how we experience all aspects of psychological health and well-being. We believe that providing university-level continuing education in Nutritional Psychology is crucial to building a nutritional component into mental healthcare by 2030. From 2008 to 2020, CNP provided a Certificate in Nutritional Psychology through John F. Kennedy University that trained a variety of mental healthcare and allied professionals to better understand the connection between what we eat and how we feel.
Today, we are working towards the release of a next-generation certification in Nutritional Psychology — one that is inclusive of the wealth of current research supporting all areas of study included within the study of NP. NP 110: Introduction to Nutritional Psychology Methods, the flagship course in this newly updated curriculum, is informed through the lens of nearly 3,000 research studies informing the evidence-base to support the development of this field of study.
NP 110 lays the foundation for the field of study that conceptualizes all psychological aspects of the Diet-Mental health Relationship (DMHR). This course is designed to meet the rigors of study needed for inclusion within the traditional education system. NP 110 provides 8 continuing education (CE) credits for professionals and supports those whose licensing bodies accept courses approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). We are currently working towards sponsoring CE for registered dietitians and nurses. The next courses included in the certificate in NP are currently under development, with the next course being launched sometime in the Fall of 2021.
Each course is designed for students, professionals, and all other individuals interested in the intersection between the science of nutrition and psychology. Through education, awareness, and advocacy, we can change our mental healthcare systems for the better.
Learn more about NP 110 here.
NP 110: Introduction to Nutritional Psychology Methods
NP 110: Introduction to Nutritional Psychology Methods
NP 110 is the foundational course in the study of nutritional psychology and is a prerequisite for all future NP courses. Provides conceptualization in NP, introduces key terms, language, concepts, and evidence based findings. The six major elements defining the DMHR are explored, including the psychological, cognitive, behavioral, sensory-perceptual, interoceptive, and psychosocial (Prerequisite NP 110). Enrollment is now open!
NP 120: Microbiota Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA) and Mental Health
NP 120: Microbiota Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA) and Mental Health
Coming Winter 2022!
NP 120 explores the Microbiota Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA). Evolutionary conceptualization of the MGBA is explored, as are the physiological and communication pathways connecting the gut and brain. Dietary elements influencing MGBA regulation and MB composition, and MGBA influence on all aspects of the DMHR are explored (Prerequisite NP 110).
NP 150: Mechanisms Influencing the Diet-Mental Health Relationship
NP 150: Mechanisms Influencing the Diet-Mental Health Relationship
Coming In 2022!
NP 150 explores the mechanisms by which dietary intake influences all essential aspects of aspects of the diet-mental health relationship. Factors involving inflammation, neuroinflammation, alteration of the intestinal microbiota and gut-brain axis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, HPA-Axis dysfunction, and neuroplasticity are explored (Prerequisite NP 110).
NP 110 Content for Placement within University Curriculum
NP 110 Content for Placement within University Curriculum
NP 110 content is designed for educators in mind! Content from NP 110 is university-level and can form the basis for inclusion within any college-level syllabus. Contact us for further details if you would like to incorporate NP within your curriculum (Prerequisite NP 110).
NP 126: Diet-Stress Relationship
NP 126: Diet-Stress Relationship
Coming Spring 2022!
This course introduces the interconnected and bi-directional relationship existing between dietary intake and psychobiological response to stress. Referred to as the “Diet-Stress Relationship” (DSR) this course employs concepts from both the fields of psychology and nutrition to inform our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms through which diet and stress interconnect (Prerequisite NP 110).
NP 160: Diet-Child Mental Health Relationship
NP 160: Diet-Child Mental Health Relationship
Coming Summer 2022
This course will benefit those who wish to develop understanding in the evidence-based relationship between dietary intake patterns and mood, behavior, and psychological functioning in the child and adolescent population (Prerequisite NP 110).
LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR A NEW FIELD OF STUDY
Findings exploring the link between diet and certain aspects of mental health exist. The purview of Nutritional Psychology lies deep within the intersection of the fields of psychology and nutrition to explore the underpinnings through which this link exists. Informed by research, this field is designed to serve as a major stepping stone in supporting the development of a university-level curriculum for students and professionals designed to deepen their understanding of this connection and use this understanding to inform major change in global mental health.
CNP curriculum serves learners from countries around the world, including Belgium, Canada, Italy, India, Turkey, Nepal, Bermuda, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and others. Learners range from interested individuals to post-doctoral professionals across different fields.
Curriculum development for CNP courses involves consolidating multinational research from across disciplines and presenting it in a way that can be understood by people from varied educational backgrounds, expertise areas, and cultures. CNP strives to promote respect, inclusion, and promotion of diversity in developing course content and related materials.
NP 100 SERIES
The 100-level series is theory-oriented. This course series provides a solid foundation in nutritional psychology and establishes the theoretical underpinnings by which the diet-mental health relationship occurs. Beginning with NP 110, these courses will form the basis of the new certification program.
NP 200 SERIES
Courses in the 200-level series are applied. The goal of the NP 200 series is to help mental health and allied professionals build the skills necessary to educate your clients in the DMHR. These courses focus on the application of NP/DMHR within the clinical and applied environments and scope of practice guidelines are emphasized.
Upcoming Courses
NP 110: Introduction to Nutritional Psychology Methods
NP 110: Introduction to Nutritional Psychology Methods
NP 110 is the foundational course in the study of nutritional psychology and is a prerequisite for all future NP courses. Provides conceptualization in NP, introduces key terms, language, concepts, and evidence based findings. The six major elements defining the DMHR are explored, including the psychological, cognitive, behavioral, sensory-perceptual, interoceptive, and psychosocial (Prerequisite NP 110). Enrollment is now open!
NP 120: Microbiota Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA) and Mental Health
NP 120: Microbiota Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA) and Mental Health
Coming Winter 2022!
NP 120 explores the Microbiota Gut-Brain Axis (MGBA). Evolutionary conceptualization of the MGBA is explored, as are the physiological and communication pathways connecting the gut and brain. Dietary elements influencing MGBA regulation and MB composition, and MGBA influence on all aspects of the DMHR are explored (Prerequisite NP 110).
NP 150: Mechanisms Influencing the Diet-Mental Health Relationship
NP 150: Mechanisms Influencing the Diet-Mental Health Relationship
Coming In 2022!
NP 150 explores the mechanisms by which dietary intake influences all essential aspects of aspects of the diet-mental health relationship. Factors involving inflammation, neuroinflammation, alteration of the intestinal microbiota and gut-brain axis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, HPA-Axis dysfunction, and neuroplasticity are explored (Prerequisite NP 110).
NP 110 Content for Placement within University Curriculum
NP 110 Content for Placement within University Curriculum
NP 110 content is designed for educators in mind! Content from NP 110 is university-level and can form the basis for inclusion within any college-level syllabus. Contact us for further details if you would like to incorporate NP within your curriculum (Prerequisite NP 110).
NP 126: Diet-Stress Relationship
NP 126: Diet-Stress Relationship
Coming Spring 2022!
This course introduces the interconnected and bi-directional relationship existing between dietary intake and psychobiological response to stress. Referred to as the “Diet-Stress Relationship” (DSR) this course employs concepts from both the fields of psychology and nutrition to inform our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms through which diet and stress interconnect (Prerequisite NP 110).
NP 160: Diet-Child Mental Health Relationship
NP 160: Diet-Child Mental Health Relationship
Coming Summer 2022
This course will benefit those who wish to develop understanding in the evidence-based relationship between dietary intake patterns and mood, behavior, and psychological functioning in the child and adolescent population (Prerequisite NP 110).
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
Explores the relationship between dietary intake and family, culture, community, society
Psychological
Explores the relationship between dietary intake patterns and our feelings, moods, and emotions (e.g., resilience, flourishing, creativity, happiness, depression, anxiousness, irritation, sadness, well-being)
Behavioral
Explores the relationship between dietary intake and reactions, actions and behaviors in which we engage in relating to dietary intake
Perceptual
Explores the relationship between dietary intake and senses involving sight, smell, sound, taste, touch, and how we make meaning of this information.
Cognitive
Explores the relationship between dietary intake and brain processes involving cognition, attention, memory, learning, reasoning, executive functioning, and decision making etc.
Interoceptive
Explores the relationship between dietary intake and our internal bodily sensations we experience because of it (i.e., the bi-directional signal processing between brain and internal organs that generates a representation of our internal state from the food we eat)
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
Take steps to develop your understanding of the relationship between diet and mental health. Together, we can build a new model of mental healthcare to include this important piece of the puzzle.