Dietetics and Nutrition

3 semester credits. A healthy lifestyle is based on eating nutritious food in appropriate amounts and promoting a sound lifestyle behavior that minimize the risk of chronic diseases so common nowadays in western world.
This course introduces students to an in-depth knowledge of Mediterranean lifestyle, often defined as the healthiest and most complete, focusing on the nutritional aspects of Mediterranean diet and the cultural background of the most significant Mediterranean areas. 
Students will gain a sound knowledge of the criteria behind the Mediterranean diet pyramid and will compare it with 1) other world’s dietary regimens 2) the many different dietary recommendations that developed in the last thirty years, to better understand how also dietetics is directly affected by an evolving society.
An emphasis will be put on the benefits of living and eating the Mediterranean way, thanks to a focus on the main Mediterranean style dietary patterns.
 During the course students will analyze statistics on disease reduction, learn how to calculate nutrients quantity in dishes and develop a balanced Mediterranean style menu that will combine both nutritional indications and gastronomic culture of the area. This course provides tools and core elements needed to understand and adopt a healthy way of eating. Prerequisites: Culinary Arts majors or three semesters of Dietetics and Nutrition coursework, or equivalent.

3 semester credits. The continuous growth of nutritional awareness worldwide has brought nutrition to be one of the fundamental subjects in constant evolution during the last decades. This course provides students with basic nutrition concepts and focuses on the overview of the requirements and functions of protein, carbohydrates, lipids and the major vitamins and minerals that are determinants of health and diseases in human populations. Emphasis will be placed on the role of nutrition in growth and health through the life cycle and the role of diet in the development of chronic diseases and the maintenance of a good health status thanks to a balanced food consumption.
The course offers an overview of food policies, food education and an analysis of nowadays eating habits. Students will also learn the guidelines for the balancing of a vegetarian diet and understand how to read a food pyramid.



3 semester credits. Forty years after the first appearance of Molecular Gastronomy, Chefs’ approach to food has dramatically changed. Gastronomists and food historians talk about the last great food revolution of our times; the movement that changed the way we perceive food and started to stimulate new questions and give interesting answers to those that want to enhance their food knowledge. Since then cooking has taken a great step forward, opening paths once impossible to even think about.
This course is aimed at non-scientific students who wish to approach the world of scientific application toward cooking and want to improve their knowledge of cooking techniques. A scientist and a Chef will alternate teaching the course giving both technical information and practical suggestions. Students will learn cutting edge techniques to create new textures and amazing effects. Prerequisites: Two semesters of Culinary Arts coursework or equivalent.

3 semester credits. This course explores and examines the physiology of sensory organs and how we perceive flavors. The course is designed to expose students to the theory and practice of sensory evaluation techniques and their application to the composition of dishes. Students gain knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of taste, smell and other senses and experience using these senses as analytical tools to assess food products. From the simplicity of identifying the basic tastes to the complexity of aftertastes and aromas, the objective of this course is to train taste buds to better understand the mechanics of our senses as they get in touch with food. Why do we react positively to sweet taste? Why do we sometimes refuse bitter taste? Does umami taste really exist? The course will answer these and many other related questions in order to give the students the instruments needed to deal with flavors that are not generally accepted but require a deeper understanding before being appreciated. This course consists of experiential learning hours with our Community Engagement Member Institutions (CEMI). CEMI are dynamic learning environments created to foster learning through a structured interaction with the community. In addition to regular lecture hours, students will be involved in learning by doing through real projects and integration with the local population and territory in order to remove cultural and learning barriers as well as to develop a strong likelihood for success in life. The experiential learning hours are fully supervised by instructors who track students step by step during their learning experience, monitor and advise according to student needs, and support student initiative. This unique learning model allows students to benefit from an all-encompassing educational experience based on theory and practice in real enterprises, learning of comprehensive operational processes, problem-solving, leadership, and management. Prerequisites: Culinary Arts majors only.