Nutrition for Optimal Health
An interactive and award-winning nutrition learning program for the public—the resource recommended by physicians for patient nutrition education.
Aprenda Nutrición in Español
Earn a personalized certificate of achievement after each module!
A Public Service from the Nonprofit Gaples Institute
This online learning nutrition resource is not just a video or slideshow — you learn by active discovery.
Discover good nutrition — get started below!
I highly recommend this interactive course for patients. It's easy and efficient to review with them in-session as they work towards lifestyle behavior change goals.
Alyssa Vela, PhD, LP, DipACLM
Health Psychologist, Cardiac Behavioral Medicine
Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute of Northwestern
Assistant Professor of Surgery and Psychiatry
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
A clear, concise, evidence-based resource for all ages and backgrounds. I immediately shared with my 80-year old mother and my middle school age children; we all came away with new insights into the power of nutrition.
Julie Deardorff
Former Health and Fitness Writer,
Chicago Tribune
The Gaples Institute’s resources have been a great source of nutrition guidance for our students. The content is very engaging, easy to understand, and most importantly, inspires self-reflection to increase students’ physical health. Students in our First-Year Experience curriculum can customize their learning plan with topics they need the most, and the Gaples course is one of our most popular.
Kelly Brown, M.Ed.
Coordinator of First-Year Experience Curriculum,
Miami University | Regional Campuses
I would encourage everyone to view this online course and for those of you teaching Health, it's a must!! Sharing the Gaples Institute message is a message that all ages can benefit from, now!
Jeff Ryder
Middle School Phys. Ed. Teacher, Athletic Director & Coach
Quest Academy
Well prepared. Very informative. Made learning fun!
Praise from a Community Learner
It’s interactive and kept my interest. Thank you so much for providing this information!
Praise from a Community Learner
I loved everything. Explanations are wonderful. Very informative.
Praise from a Community Learner
Clear and concise with excellent examples and pictures.
Praise from a Community Learner
Our gratitude to Regan Thompson and Liam Harrison for their generous donation of voiceover talent for this course.
Frequently Asked Questions
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There are a lot of online courses in nutrition. What makes this one different?
This course was developed as a public service by the Gaples Institute, a trusted educational nonprofit with absolutely no commercial interests. We provide only evidence-based nutrition data in a unique, fun, engaging format. Our public nutrition course is widely recommended by physicians to their patients throughout the U.S. and abroad.
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Can a short online nutrition course really give me enough information to start getting healthier?
Yes! This online nutrition course will equip you with basic nutrition knowledge that you can put to use immediately to make healthier food choices. Think of it as nutrition 101. The online nutrition course also includes downloadable handouts that will help remind you of the important food facts that you learned.
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It seems like the question “What is nutrition” can produce all sorts of different answers! How do I know the information in this nutrition class is accurate and reliable?
We’ve condensed the very best and most recent scientific research into a succinct and efficient nutrition education experience. And confirmed by the feedback, it’s a fun, interactive way to learn the science of good nutrition. The course was developed by Dr. Stephen Devries, Executive Director of the Gaples Institute, a nonprofit supported by leading nutrition researchers and educators.
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Can understanding nutrition and eating healthier really make that big of a difference?
Yes! And the great news is, even small changes in your diet can make a big impact on health. This course will show you, in a fun, interactive way, how good nutrition is a foundation of health.
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What does this nutrition education course cost?
The Gaples Institute is a nonprofit whose mission is to help people discover good nutrition and the power they have to improve their health. We provide this free online nutrition course as a public service, open to anyone, with no strings attached! Please spread the word!
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Does this online learning nutrition course have closed captioning or other features for people with disabilities?
On all screens that feature audio narration, the course controls have a toggle for closed captions. In addition, the interactive portions of the course are keyboard-accessible for learners who don’t use a mouse or touch-screen. The 2022 update of the course also includes improved accessibility for learners who use screen readers.
What's in the New Edition?
- New content reflecting the latest nutrition research, including how food affects mood and brain health, why ultraprocessed foods are so dangerous, the impact of diet on COVID risk, and much more!
- New narration that speaks to a broader age range—both younger and older learners.
- Faster and more responsive course controls.
- Greater accessibility, including closed captions, keyboard-friendly interactions, and a better experience for learners who use screen readers.
