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 field and is now available!
NP 110 lays the foundation for a 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 Content for Educators
NP 110 Content for Educators
Please contact us for more information
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 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. This course provides conceptualization in NP and introduces key terms, concepts, and findings supported by nearly 3,000 research studies (housed within the CNP Research Libraries). The six major elements defining the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR) are explored, including the psychological, cognitive, behavioral, sensory-perceptual, interoceptive, and psychosocial elements. 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 Fall 2021!
NP 120 explores the mechanisms, communication pathways, and dietary elements involved in the gut-brain axis and microbiome in relation to our psychological processes and mental health. Enrollment open Fall 2021!
(Prerequisite: NP 110)
NP 126: Diet-Stress Relationship
NP 126: Diet-Stress Relationship
Coming Fall 2021!
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 150: Diet-Child Mental Health Relationship
NP 150: 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)
NP 100 SERIES
The 100-level series is academically oriented. Each course in this series will help you establish a solid theoretical foundation of the field of Nutritional Psychology. Beginning with NP 110, these courses will form the basis of the new certification program.
NP 200 SERIES
Courses in the 200-level series will have an applied focus. Their goal is to help mental health and allied professionals build the skills necessary to educate clients in addressing the DMHR. These courses will also focus more strongly on scope of practice.
Upcoming Courses
NP 110 Content for Educators
NP 110 Content for Educators
Please contact us for more information
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 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. This course provides conceptualization in NP and introduces key terms, concepts, and findings supported by nearly 3,000 research studies (housed within the CNP Research Libraries). The six major elements defining the Diet-Mental Health Relationship (DMHR) are explored, including the psychological, cognitive, behavioral, sensory-perceptual, interoceptive, and psychosocial elements. 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 Fall 2021!
NP 120 explores the mechanisms, communication pathways, and dietary elements involved in the gut-brain axis and microbiome in relation to our psychological processes and mental health. Enrollment open Fall 2021!
(Prerequisite: NP 110)
NP 126: Diet-Stress Relationship
NP 126: Diet-Stress Relationship
Coming Fall 2021!
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 150: Diet-Child Mental Health Relationship
NP 150: 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.