If feels like every week there is another headline about a lifesaving or killer food. With so much conflicting information, how do you sort the facts from the fiction. Maybe you would like to feel confident about food choices to improve your long-term health, or lose some weight. Perhaps you are a nutrition coach or a family doctor looking to help your patients in a more holistic way. Then you might be looking to find the best nutrition and health online video courses and wondering how to choose one. In this article I’ll discuss 9 nutrition health online video courses.
Nutrition titles what do they all mean?
Firstly before looking at the courses, I think it is important just to clarify what all the different nutrition titles mean. This is so you know the level of training, and if you are considering nutrition as a career, understand your routes to qualification.
- Nutritionist is not a protected title. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist with zero qualifications.
- Nutrition coaches do not need any formal qualifications and anyone can call themselves a coach. Some coaches do have a course or certified short course in nutrition.
- State Certified Nutritionist. This is an American title, and after completion of a certified short course (see individual states for details as to which are approved) they are able to see clients in a professional capacity. State Certified Nutritionists, do not have the same requirements as a registered nutritionist, as certified courses are no longer than 8-10 weeks. State Certification is an America term and is not recognised in the UK.
- Registered Nutritionist in the UK. The primary route to registration is after completion of an approved nutrition Batchelors degree (3 years full time) and then registration with Association for Nutrition (AfN), or the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT). Completing an online course is not a route to Registered Nutritionist. Registered Nutritionists will have a far greater depth of knowledge than a nutrition coach or State Certified Nutritionist.
Who These Courses are Not Appropriate For
If you want to be a dietician or registered nutritionist, in the UK you will need to complete a dietetics degree or a nutrition degree, and then register with the relevant professional body. For dieticians this is the Health and Care Professions Council, while for registered nutritionists, it is the Association for Nutrition, or the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine.
What Does Accreditation Mean?
So you have seen that the course is accredited but what does that really mean? There are a number of different organisations who can provide accreditation for courses. To become accredited, the course has to usually meet a set standard. There is no universally agreed standard and some standards are more rigorous than others. Standards include things like access to a course tutor, a final assessment, provision of a certificate on completion.
In some ways accreditation is just a paid marketing hoop, as it can be difficult to know the standard set by the accreditation body, and not recognised by others. However, it does help to give you confidence that a standard has been met, and looks better on your CV. Fundamentally though, the qualifications of the teacher matter more than accreditation.
9 nutrition health online video courses
With these criteria in mind, I’ve looked at loads of nutrition courses out there and found the best to make it easier for you. So, keep reading to discover more details as we uncover the 9 nutrition programs we’ve curated for you.
How to Choose the Best Online Nutrition and Health Video Course
It’s important to consider 3 main points about the course:
- Who is the teacher, and do they have relevant qualifications?
- Is the course accredited?
- Is the course based on scientific evidence or opinion?
- Price and value for money.
Many of these courses are run by state certified nutritionists from the United States of America. In the USA, only an 8 week certified nutrition course is needed to call yourself a state certified nutritionist. In the UK, the primary route to becoming a registered nutritionist is a 3 year degree in nutrition. This is important to consider when looking for a teacher.
Internationally Accredited Diploma Certificate in Nutrition £74.99
The course focuses on diets and diet planning, taught by a nutrition coach and gym owner.
- Nutrition coach
- Certified by “The International Association of Therapists”
- Science backed content but delivered by a nutrition coach, not a Registered Nutritionist.
- Course is limited for the price.
This course includes:
- Micronutrients
- Macronutrients
- Diets and energy balance
Suitable for:
- Nutrition coaches
- Life coaches
- People interested in nutrition.
This course is aimed at people with an interest in nutrition and nutrition coaches, without need for prior knowledge about nutrition. Even though it has an accreditation, this won’t enable you to be a State Certified Nutritionist, or a Registered Nutritionist.
I would be cautious undertaking a course that is delivered by a nutrition coach, with no formal qualifications.
New Skills Academy – Introduction to Sports Nutrition Certification $199
Diet and Nutrition Coach Certification: Beginner to Advanced
- No details about the teacher
- No – only certified for continuing professional development
- Very limited information about content, and science backed content not mentioned.
- Poor value for money.
This course includes:
- Micronutrients
- Macronutrients
- hydration
Suitable for:
- Nutrition coaches
- Life coaches
- Personal trainers wishing to get a basic foundation in nutrition
If you want to obtain a certification for health and Nutrition with an emphasis on sport nutrition, this is the course for you. New Skills Academy offers this Intro to Sports Nutrition Certification in four complete modules, but the information on sports nutrition is limited.
A fairly basic course with an emphasis on sport, with a high price.
Diet and Nutrition Coach Certification – Beginner to Advanced – Udemy £59.99
Diet and Nutrition Coach Certification: Beginner to Advanced
- State certified nutritionist
- No – only certified for continuing professional development
- Science backed
- Limited information, but lower price.
This course is delivered by Felix Harder and seems geared towards muscle growth and weight loss diets for people looking to become a nutrition coach. Felix is also a fitness coach. The course feels directed towards a male audience, looking to combine fitness and nutrition.
This course includes:
- Micronutrients
- Macronutrients
- Diets
- supplements
Suitable for:
- general interest
- nutrition coaches but not enough to be a state certified nutritionist
A fairly basic course taught by a state certified nutritionist, with a strong focus on fitness.
Stanford Center for Health Education Nutrition Science Short Course $2300
- Professor of medicine at Stanford University
- Certified by Stanford University
- Science backed
- Comprehensive course, but high price tag.
Stanford Center for Health Education provides an 8 week course on nutrition science. If you are an aspiring nutritionist looking for a nutrition basis before further education and certification, you may consider this course as a foundation.
This course includes:
- Micronutrients
- Macronutrients
- Diets
- Supplements
- Health, disease and nutrition
Suitable for:
- Nutrition coaches
- State Certification in the USA (check your state before enrolment)
- Professions wishing to gain a foundation in nutrition
This looks a great course if you want to be a state certified nutritionist in the USA, or you are looking to see if nutrition is for you, before embarking on a degree in the UK. It is however, pretty expensive but really you a paying for the certification to become a State Certified Nutritionist in the USA.
Expert Guide to Nutrition and Eating for Health
- Dr Harriet Holme, MA MBBS MRCPCH (2009) PhD RNutr, Medical doctor with a PhD, Registered Nutritionist, and Lecturer in Nutrition
- In the process of certification
- Science backed
- Lots of information and competitively priced.
As a doctor and Registered Nutritionist, I’ve written this course to suit people who are looking to improve their long-term health, and nutrition coaches who want to understand how to support their clients.
This course includes:
- Guide to macronutrients
- Guide to micronutrients and how get enough
- How to balance your plate
- How to design a personalised meal plan just for you
- What are antioxidants and why do they matter?
- A guide to dieting including how to get to a healthy weight
- What are metabolism and metabolic rate?
- What to eat for healthy bones and joints
- What to eat to reduce your risk of high blood pressure
- What to eat to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke
- What to eat to reduce stress and improve your mood
- What to eat to support your immune system
- What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and practical tips to help
- A guide to intermittent fasting and time restricted eating
- What is emotional eating, and practical tips to help.
- Which supplements do you really need?
- How to choose a honey
- Which is the best oil / fat to cook with
- Is organic worth the cost?
Suitable for:
- Anyone interested in nutrition and wishing to improve their long-term health
- Nutrition coaches
- Health professions wishing to gain a foundation in nutrition
This provides great value for money with lots of science backed information and practical tips focused on eating for health and nutrition. Ideal for nutrition coaches and health care professionals looking to improve their knowledge.
The Doctors kitchen Teachable $200
- Dr Rupy Ajula, General Practitioner doctor with masters in nutrition
- Not certified
- Science backed information.
This course includes:
- How to prepare the healthiest yet simplest breakfasts and main meals that everyone needs to master.
- The different types of diets and what they have in common
- Learn how to recipe create yourself using the principles of what makes a delicious healthy meal
Suitable for:
- Anyone interested in nutrition
Great course for anyone who wants to learn how to cook more healthily with lots of tasty recipes.
Wellness. Simplified. Happy & Healthy Living: Nutrition Udemy £59.99
- Teacher (Matthew Strohhacker, MPH, MBA, CPH) has a degree in public health but no formal nutrition qualifications reported
- Not certified
- Science backed information not described.
- Very limited information and not cheap.
This course includes:
- Micronutrients
- Macronutrients
- Diets
- How to shop for food
- Recipes
Suitable for:
- Someone interested in nutrition
This course appears to be based on the opinions of the teacher, and I would be cautious undertaking a course that is delivered by someone without formal qualifications.
Precision Nutrition – Nutrition Certification $1428
- John Berardi PhD, CSCS
- Not certified
- Science backed information and coaching.
- Lots of information, but pricey.
This course includes:
- Micronutrients
- Macronutrients
- Energy production
- Precision nutrition coaching method
Suitable for:
- Nutrition coaches
Precision Nutrition is course designed to enable you to confidently become a nutrition coach.
This course is ideal if you want to be a nutrition coach, providing all the information you need to get started with clients.
Hope you have found this article on 9 nutrition and health online video courses helpful, and it gives you the confidence to choose the right course for you. Whether you are interested in improving your general health, learning some cooking skills and new recipes, or motivated to become a nutrition coach, there is the right nutrition and health online video course for you.