Land and Food Systems (July 2024)

Essentials of Nutrition

In this introduction to nutrition course, students will learn about nutrients: what they are, why they are important to health, recommended intakes, and common Canadian food sources. Controversial topics in nutrition are explored. Key concepts are emphasized through field trips to local food production and retail outlets and are an integral component of students’ learning experiences. Upon completion of the course, students will be better equipped to sort out fact from fiction by applying their knowledge of nutrition to everyday scenarios and to their personal dietary choices.

Healthy Cooking and Eating in Canada’s Multicultural Context

This course will focus on applying the nutrition concepts learned from Essentials of Nutrition. You will be enriched with hands-on cooking experience, tasting and discussions about food choices. You will learn fundamental cooking skills and how to modify recipes for better health. Students will work in small groups to prepare a wide variety of foods from the many cultures making up Canada’s cultural mosaic. The instructor, a Registered Dietitian and Chef, will guide students in their cooking, help them explore the nuances of tasty foods they have prepared and lead discussions on how to ensure food is both delicious and healthy. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of fundamental knowledge and skills of food safety, the practical outcomes of recipe modification, an understanding of the role and interactions of ingredients in food preparation, and a variety of preparation techniques and their nutritional attributes.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Graduate (Master/PhD) Students: Not Accepted

Introduction to Food Science

An introduction to key concepts related to the science of food: the Canadian food system, chemical and physical properties of foods, government regulations, food additives, food preservation techniques, food safety, and trends in foods for nutrition and health. You will learn to arrive at an informed position about controversial issues relating to the food that you will encounter as consumers in the marketplace, and that you hear about in the media. Come and explore activities of entomophagy (eating insects), molecular gastronomy, and 3-D food printing.

The Science of Sensory Evaluation

Sensory evaluation is used to evoke, measure, analyze, and interpret human responses to food products as perceived through the senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing. Food processing and manufacturing companies globally need to know the principles and practices of sensory evaluation to produce food products that meet quality control standards and consumer needs. The sensory characteristics of a food are critical in the development of new food products and determine their success in the marketplace. There are special challenges in sensory evaluation because people are subject to various environmental, psychological and culture biases, and pose ethical considerations. In this hands-on course, you will explore techniques used to generate and analyze sensory data. You will apply the sensory evaluation theory that you learn, by participating in evaluations as both panelist and sensory analyst. Field trips and laboratory activities will demonstrate and reinforce theory presented in the courses.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Graduate (Master/PhD) Students: Not Accepted