A nutrition education program should include a nutritional needs assessment, education counseling, and referral as necessary.
Nutrition education sessions and materials should include the following information
o The relationship of nutrition and chronic illnesss
o Improving eating patterns
o Relationship of nutrition and proper weight maintenance
o Exercise
o Stress
o Blood pressure (BP)
o Cholesterol
o Diabetes and other chronic diseases.
o Nutritionally precise information regarding the relationship of health to diet, including cholesterol, fats, fiber, alcohol, carbohydrates, salt, sugar, and vitamin/mineral supplementation.
Methods for identifying healthier foods and incorporating low-calorie, high nutrient foods into eating habits. Suggestions for bettering eating habits should be based on or in line with national recommendations such as the Food Guide Pyramid.
Nutrition instructor should be a registered dietitian, registered nurse, or have a baccalaureate degree or higher in health education with training in nutrition.
If an allied health professional instructs the program, a consultation and review of the program design by a registered dietitian is recommended.