Food and Nutrition Management
Program Overview
Humber’s Food and Nutrition Management diploma program prepares you for a supervisory role that combines the dynamic world of food service with the expanding world of health care. This is an ideal program if you:
- love food
- have a keen interest in the science of nutrition
- enjoy managing people in a fast-paced environment
Our faculty has extensive industry experience and will prepare you for a career in a variety of courses taught in state-of-the-art culinary lab facilities.
You will have the opportunity to join student branches of the Ontario Home Economics Association (OHEA) and the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management (CSNM). As student members, you will build on your networking skills in the foodservice and hospitality sector and have the opportunity to apply to association-sponsored bursaries and scholarships.
Both the Food and Nutrition Management program and the Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyle Promotion program share a common first year of study. Qualified graduates can earn the Nutrition & Healthy Lifestyle Promotion diploma with two additional semesters of study. Earn two diplomas in three years! This may help streamline career aspirations.
Our program is recommended if you are starting your career path, are currently working in the food service or health-care industries, or if you have a background in culinary arts or hospitality.
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:
Plan menus to accommodate the nutritional, dietary and medical needs, cultural and religious requirements, and personal preferences of clients
Manage handling, preparation and service of food to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and industry best practices for health, safety, sanitation, quality assurance and client satisfaction
Manage nutritional needs of diverse clients in health care and other food service settings in collaboration with or under the direction of health care professionals
Support others to work professionally and ethically in accordance with industry, organization and legal standards
Monitor relevant local, national and global trends, emerging technologies, changes to legislation and best practices to enhance work performance and inform the management and delivery of food and nutrition services
Deliver customer service that anticipates, meets and/or exceeds individual expectations and is consistent with organization standards and objectives
Contribute to the hiring, coaching, training, scheduling, supervision and performance management of department staff in accordance with human resources, labour relations, workplace health and safety, and industry best practices
Apply industry best practices, financial constraints, and principles of social responsibility and environmental sustainability to inventory management and procurement of goods and services
Contribute to the analysis of food and nutrition services and operations, and the implementation and evaluation of changes, to support continuous improvement
Contribute to the planning and administration of budgets consistent with organization objectives and legal requirements for nutrition and food service departments
Select and use information and industry-specific technologies to enhance individual work performance and the management and delivery of food and nutrition services
Promote food and nutrition services and healthy living to support marketing plans and the general well-being of clients
Work Placement
Work placements are a valuable way to gain experience in the field and build contacts. You will complete a five-week full-time placement in the health-care foodservice industry.
Work placements take place at the end of the fourth semester. Possible locations include:
- business/industry and education facilities
- food suppliers, manufacturers and distributors
- foodservice outlets
- hospitals, long-term care and retirement facilities
Program Highlights
Experience a number of interesting and unique courses within the program such as:
Techniques of Healthy Cooking
In this course, students continue to develop their culinary skills and integrate their knowledge of macro and micronutrients and the functionality of different foods to create healthier food products. Students learn how to modify recipes based on various criteria including: nutritional profiles, cost, interaction of ingredients, culinary techniques, allergens, and specific dietary requirements and preferences. Students also focus on sensory evaluation, to explore the impacts of food on each of the 5 senses. This knowledge is then applied to recipe development, preparation, menu planning and service for specific populations.
Nutrition Throughout the Lifecycle
Dietary and nutrient needs change throughout the lifecycle, and at each stage there are specific challenges and concerns to consider and manage. This course examines the physiological changes and the importance of nutrition throughout the lifecycle, including childhood, adolescence and aging adults. This course has a significant focus on gerontology and students learn about the unique challenges associated with aging and nutrition for the elderly. Students explore the nutrition related challenges for seniors living at home and for foodservice in retirement and long term care settings.
Institutional Menu Planning
The menu is every foodservice operation's strategic plan. Menu planning skills are paramount in any foodservice organization as the menu is the key driver in each system and critical to optimizing the health of customers/patients/residents. In this course, students gain the practical, step-by-step knowledge required to design an institutional menu rotation that incorporates nutritional requirements for clients with regular, therapeutic and texture modifications. Students gain a working knowledge of Canadian legislation, regulations and guidelines relevant to menu planning for the healthcare and education sectors. The tools used in nutritional and cost analysis to develop solutions for modifying menus to meet established targets, are introduced. Students also learn how to incorporate key themes and marketing and promotion strategies for menus to sell their suitability to their target customer groups.
The Humber Advantage
The practical components of this program are delivered in state-of-the-art culinary labs, ensuring you gain all the required technical and employability skills for your future career.
Hands-On Learning
Food & Nutrition Management students have the opportunity to participate in and host many events throughout the year. Program events give students the chance to connect with industry professionals and put what they are learning into practice.
Humber Centre for Healthy Living
Students will receive hands-on experience in our on-campus Humber Centre for Healthy Living. Drawing on the expertise of Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness faculty and students, the CHL offers a range of programs, services, and events for MAKING HEALTHY HAPPEN within the Humber community.
We Know What It Takes
Courses are taught by faculty with vast industry experience which will prepare you for a role that combines the dynamic world of food service with the expanding world of health care. Practical training takes place in state-of-the-art culinary lab facilities and is reinforced through work placements.
An Education in High Demand
This program is recognized by the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management. Organizations within this industry comment on how thorough and diverse the Humber program is. There are opportunities for graduates straight out of placement, including opportunities for supervisory roles. Specifically there is an increasing need for positions in long term care and retirement facilities.
The Humber Experience
The Right Fit
Do you love food? Do you care about helping people? Have a keen interest in the science of nutrition? Enjoy managing people in a fast-paced environment? If you are starting your career path or are currently working in the foodservice or health-care industries, or if you have a background in culinary arts or hospitality, this program may be for you.
Take a 360 Degree Tour of Our Culinary Lab
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Study Abroad
Qualified students in this program may apply to participate in experiential learning trips to the Mediterranean/Italy where students have a hands-on experience in food culture, diet and lifestyle of the Mediterranean.
Qualified students in this program may also apply to a study abroad service learning trip to contribute to a global community. Past service learning trips were to Nunavut and Nicaragua. In addition, eligible students have the opportunity to apply for a study abroad experiential trip to Peru.
Each year, we offer a variety of experiential learning trip opportunities for students to study abroad. Our annual short duration experiential trips in May are approximately two weeks in length. These faculty-led study abroad trips are confirmed in the Fall semester.
These trips vary each year and are subject to availability and eligibility requirements. Additional fees apply.
Your Career
Nutrition and food management is a large global industry and growing. With a continually increasing focus on health, nutrition and keeping fit for life, careers in food and nutrition are sustainable. Our graduates have a wide range of career options including working in:
- corporate food service organizations
- correctional institutions
- educational facilities
- government agencies
- hospitals, long-term care and retirement facilities
Potential jobs include:
- business/sales associate in the food service industry
- consultant to food suppliers, manufacturers
- diet technician
- food and beverage manager
- food service supervisor/director
- nutrition manager
Professional Accreditations & Recognition
Canadian Society of Nutrition Management (CSNM)
This program is recognized by the Canadian Society of Nutrition Management (CSNM) as an accredited program. Graduates may apply to become members.
Advanced Food Safety certification (ADVANCED.fst®)
Qualified students earn Advanced Food Safety certification (ADVANCED.fst®) as part of the program.
Additional requirements may apply.
Note: The requirements for the additional credential(s) are determined by the granting body, which is independent from the College. Students are encouraged to obtain the specific requirements directly from the granting body before enrolling.
Program Availability
Food and Nutrition Management Program - A Field in Demand
In this video In this video, listen to industry experts speak to what a Food and Nutrition Manager is, learn about the industry and its future, hear from alumni and learn about advantages of Humber’s program!
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