Overview

This unit introduces the field of food and nutrition where students will gain an understanding of nutrient food sources and their role in health; and dietary recommendations. The determinants of food choices will also be examined along with a consideration of the methodologies used to collect dietary data. Students will apply this knowledge to assess nutrient and food intake at the personal level in relation to Australian dietary recommendations.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026
Winter
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
22-June-2026
02-August-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-June-2026
Census date
07-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
14-July-2026
Results released date
18-August-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Explain factors that influence food choices
  • Examine the nutrient content of common foods in the Australian food supply
  • Interpret and apply the Australian food and nutrient recommendations to guide food choices for good nutrition
  • Interpret information on a food product label and identify related food labelling laws
  • Use quality evidence to produce authentic nutrition-related artefacts
  • Apply skills of reflection and critical appraisal to examine nutrition knowledge and ideas

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Online Lecture 12 12 weeks 1
On-campus Class 24 12 weeks 2
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 36 12 weeks 3
Specified Activities Various 78 12 weeks 6.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Assessment

All applicable locations

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Final Portfolio Individual  40%  2,4,5,6

Hawthorn

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  20%  1,3,6
Assignment 2 Individual  40%  1,2,3,5

Content

  • Overview of macronutrients and micronutrients in food and their general functions in the body
  • Australian Dietary Guidelines and Nutrient Reference Values.
  • Determinants of food choices and dietary behaviours
  • Food labelling laws in Australia and their application to practice
  • Australia’s food supply and food intake of Australians as measured by national dietary surveys
  • Dietary and anthropometric assessments
  • GA 1 - Verbal Communication
  • GA 2 - Communicating using different media
  • GA 5 - Information literacy
  • GA 6 - Technical literacy

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.