This course is offered for the first time in 2009. It has been designed for those who want to direct their passion for nutrition onto an exciting and rewarding career path.
This 1-year course also serves as the first year of our 3-year Nutritional Therapy Diploma. >

What is a Nutrition & Health Coach..?

Someone who inspires, educates and instructs people towards good health:

through understanding of the vital importance of nutrition in health
by teaching individuals to know which foods are best suited for them, and how to:
source and select good foods, find recipes and plan menus
cook wholesome, tasty meals for clients and their families.

Duration, Format & Study Hours

12 weekends (Sat & Sun) over 10 months - September 2009 to June 2010
Seven units taught over 12 weekends (View Outline Programme with Details of the Units & Topics covered)
Weekend lectures plus monthly tutorials (about 180 contact hours in total) cover the core material for the units, which are preceded and followed by reading and assignments (about 10-12 hours/week)

Skills Objectives (Assessed)

formulating individualised diet and lifestyle recommendations based on interview and follow-up consultations
evaluating quality of food items based on knowledge about ingredients, processing, additives, labelling, health claims, etc.
sourcing wholesome foods/ ingredients, cooking, devising recipes and menus
presentation skills, including research and preparing materials
business planning

Assignments & Assessments

food journal/ nutritional self-assessment & reflection
diet and lifestyle recommendation – four case studies
local food sourcing survey
food product quality assessments
cooking demonstration
recipes and menu plan
written assignments
short classroom tests
class presentation
business plan
final exam

Awards & Qualification

FETAC Level 6 award: 'Nutrition & Health' (in association with Bray Institute of Further Education)
IINH award: 'Certificate in Nutrition & Health'
Certificate in 'Nutrition & Health Coaching' - This new qualification is currently being formulated by IINH in association with a well-known international accreditation body [call the IINH office on 01-272 3003 for details]
Students holding an ITEC therapy qualification may also sit an exam for the ITEC Diploma: 'Diet and Nutrition for Complementary Therapists'

What do Nutrition & Health Coaches do..?

They 'coach' individual clients, families, groups and classes towards a healthy awareness and practice of nutrition for health. They teach the vital importance of wholesome foods and eating habits and advise, encourage and instruct people as they adopt health-supporting food choices, cooking skills and eating habits for restoring health, boosting vitality, improving fitness and successfully controlling weight, among others
They prepare individualised dietary recommendations for clients, based on their health, weight and fitness goals, nutritional needs, condition, food preferences, time & money factors, and motivation level.
They advise on good sources for healthy products and fresh produce – including home-growing.
They take clients shopping to show them how to make better choices. Knowing how to make sense of food labels and health claims gives people the power to make smarter, healthier food choices for home meals and when eating out.
They show clients how to cook practical, tasty, wholesome meals, and they devise suitable recipes and meal plans for them and their families.
Nutrition & Health Coaches are taught to research reliable information on food and health issues, and to give talks and presentations at corporate meetings or for other events or occasions, formal and informal.

How Do Nutrition & Health Coaches Earn Money..?

They can create their own business to offer their preferred range of services. Their blend of knowledge and practical and motivational skills is ideally suited for private clients looking for nutrition-related coaching for weight-loss or fitness training, for example.
They can be employed as an independent Coach or work as part of a team in such settings as complementary health clinics and spas; motivation-based and other weight-loss programmes; health & fitness clubs, corporate health & fitness programmes, sports clubs; obesity projects; health initiatives run by or for schools, nurseries, charities, local authorities, associations; recovery programmes, food & mood programmes, and so on
They can work in or for health stores and related businesses, e.g. offering programmes of talks and courses on health topics

Course Fees

The fee for the Nutrition & Health Coaching programme is € 3500. This includes teaching materials, assessments and exam fees. Several study books will need to be purchased, though some of the recommended titles can be borrowed from the IINH library.

Please Download an Application Form and return by post or email.