Level: 3
Unit type: Internal
Guided learning hours: 60
NOTE: Kindly share your UPDATED exam paper to the LIVE EXPERT with an updated Case Study (if any)
Unit in brief
Learners explore concepts of nutritional health and influences on dietary intake, and learn how to assess and improve health through nutrition plans for individuals.
Unit introduction
Good nutrition is important for health and wellbeing. For example, people in hospital depend on getting the right food to help recovery. Also more people are at risk of obesity and illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes. As a worker in the health and social care sector, you need to understand what good nutrition is and the factors that can influence nutritional health, including lifestyle choices and eating habits. You also need to think about how health can be supported by making good nutritional choices.
In this unit, you will learn about the nutritional value of food and the dietary sources and function of different nutrients in the body. You will also learn about individual dietary needs, dietary recommendations and the factors that can influence nutritional health, such as lifestyle choices, education and culture. You will examine health factors that can affect nutrition, including medical conditions, digestive disorders, and food allergies and intolerances. Finally, you will develop practical skills in promoting nutritional health through the creation of a nutritional health improvement plan.
These activities will prepare you for a variety of careers in the health and social care sector, such as dietitians, nutrition consultants and nutrition educators. This unit will form a good basis for aspects of higher education study in social work courses and nursing qualifications.
Learning aims
In this unit you will:
A. Understand concepts of nutritional health and characteristics of essential nutrients
B. Examine factors affecting dietary intake and nutritional health
C. Plan nutrition to improve individuals’ nutritional health.