About this Course

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Around the world, we find ourselves facing global epidemics of obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other predominantly diet-related diseases. To address these public health crises, we urgently need to explore innovative strategies for promoting healthful eating. There is strong evidence that global increases in the consumption of heavily processed foods, coupled with cultural shifts away from the preparation of food in the home, have contributed to high rates of preventable, chronic disease. In this course, learners will be given the information and practical skills they need to begin optimizing the way they eat. This course will shift the focus away from reductionist discussions about nutrients and move, instead, towards practical discussions about real food and the environment in which we consume it. By the end of this course, learners should have the tools they need to distinguish between foods that will support their health and those that threaten it. In addition, we will present a compelling rationale for a return to simple home cooking, an integral part of our efforts to live longer, healthier lives.
View the trailer for the course here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7x1aaZ03xU

Learner Career Outcomes

34%

started a new career after completing these courses

38%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

11%

got a pay increase or promotion

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Beginner Level

Approx. 6 hours to complete

English

Skills you will gain

Health Informatics
Nutrition
Food Safety
Food Science

Learner Career Outcomes

34%

started a new career after completing these courses

38%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

11%

got a pay increase or promotion

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Beginner Level

Approx. 6 hours to complete

English

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.81/5 (8,858 Ratings)

Maya Adam, MD

Lecturer

Stanford School of Medicine

1,308,999 Learners

8 Courses

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(81,444 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Background on Food & Nutrients

1 hour to complete

6 videos (Total 23 min)

Week2

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Contemporary Trends in Eating

In this section, we will explore the ways in which highly processed foods differ from real, whole food and the implications of food processing on our health. We’ll also look at how our consumption of sugar has changed in recent decades and explore sensible solutions for people who wish to start eating better. We will also meet Kevin, a middle-aged pre-diabetic man, and find out how a step-wise approach to behavior change helped him change for the better.

1 hour to complete

5 videos (Total 26 min)

Week3

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Future Directions in Health - Part I

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 13 min)

Week4

Week 4

1 hour to complete

Future Directions in Health - Part 2

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 15 min)

Reviews

4.7

8416 reviews

5 stars
79.26%
4 stars
15.93%
3 stars
3.47%
2 stars
0.76%
1 star
0.55%

TOP REVIEWS FROM STANFORD INTRODUCTION TO FOOD AND HEALTH

by LLMay 16, 2017

This course is a good preparation for those who are interested in acknowledging more on human being health. After completing the course, I figured out much more than I could imagine in the beginning.

by PJun 26, 2019

This course builds a good foundation and specialised knowledge in food and health. I would have liked to build skills by solving real-world problems through case studies and practice weekly exercises.

by KWMar 11, 2023

This course has a lot of great information on nutrition and simple eating without being overwhelming. It gives practical advice that anyone seeking to eat healthier can implement in their daily lives.

by NPAug 23, 2021

Very informative! Thanks for having this course free so that more people who are starting to learn about eating properply (like me) will be able to get access to authentic and legit lessons on food ;)

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Stanford Introduction to Food and Health