Health Promotion Programs and Nutrition Education.

A nutrition education program ought to include a nutritional needs assessment, education counseling, and referral as necessary.

Educational sessions and materials ought to include the following information -

o  The relationship of nutrition and chronic diseases

o  Improving consuming patterns

o  Relationship of nutrition and proper weight maintenance

o  Exercise

o  Stress

o  Blood pressure

o  Cholesterol

o  Diabetes and other chronic diseases.

o  Nutritionally accurate 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 consuming habits. Guidelines for bettering consuming habits should be based on or consisitent with national recommendations such as the Food Guide Pyramid.

Instructor must 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.