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What is the
#1 misconception
students bring with them to the
Introductory Nutrition Course?
Spring 2015 Poll
About the Course itself:
That it is not a science. That it will be an easy
course — as an alternative to chemistry or biology.
I don’t have to read the book.
It is an easy A.
Most students think this course is a cooking course
instead of science base.
Nutrition is just a course and isn’t important to
follow in life.
Students did not realize nutrition consists of math
and science.
Studying burns calories.
That it is an easy class that they do not really need
to study for and will not really need in nursing career.
That nutrition is a “fluff” course, not science-based.
The students believe they need to make a large
effort to each protein everyday, they think they
need meat at every meal.
Protein is used as a primary energy source and
increased protein is needed for athletes.
That body builders and other weight bearing
athletes need very high levels of protein — that
they NEED to supplement with protein powders
and other products to meet their needs.
They believe they need more protein than they really
do and believe they need “special” protein foods
and/or lots of meat to get enough.
Protein and carbohydrate intake. Too many students
believe carbs are bad for you and so they move to
larger amounts of protein. Most of this I believe is
related to the push for body building and the fitness
craze in which they believe personal trainers and so
called “nutritionists” know it all about eating healthy.
That the course will be easy and unlike a typical
science class.
About Carbohydrates:
That there will not be much “science stuff” in the
course, because after all Nutrition is the study of
food, health and wellness, etc.!
Carbohydrates are bad.
That this is an easy course and they won’t have to
study.
That this will be an easy class, thinking nutrition is
simply about food groups.
They assume they already know nutrition based on
what they have heard.
This is a cooking course.
This is an easy course because I know so much
already.
This will be an easy course.
About Protein:
Carbohydrates are bad for you.
Carbohydrates are found ONLY in grains (not
vegetables, fruits, milk, etc.) and are bad.
Carbohydrates are most fattening nutrient.
Carbs and fats are “bad”.
Carbs are “bad” and protein needs are high.
Carbs are bad.
Carbs are evil and make you fat.
Carbs are only in grains and carbs should be avoided.
Chicken is a carbohydrate and that orange juice is
an added sugar, but sports drinks are fine to drink
and not added sugars.
That the percentage of protein in our daily intake
should exceed our intake of fats.
CHO are fattening.
“Amino acids are lipids which use the enzyme
amylase for digestion.”
Protein and carbohydrate intake. Too many students
believe carbs are bad for you and so they move to
larger amounts of protein. Most of this I believe is
related to the push for body building and the fitness
craze in which they believe personal trainers and so
called “nutritionists” know it all about eating healthy.
Carbs are “bad” and protein needs are high.
Excessive protein needed for working out
(I have students who willingly get it wrong on
tests because they refuse to believe the facts).
Diabetes is caused by eating sugar.
High protein diets are better.
They often think that carbohydrates in general are
bad and not needed in the diet.
Protein is a nutrient with no downside.
The idea that carbohydrates are bad.
What is the
#1 misconception
students bring with them to the
Introductory Nutrition Course?
Spring 2015 Poll
About Fats:
Interpretation of the food label.
Carbs and fats are “bad”
Overgeneralizing broad categories of macronutrients
(protein, lipids, carbohydrates) as “healthy” or
“unhealthy.” i.e. “Cut all carbs,” “fats are bad for you.”
All fats are unhealthy.
Dietary Fat is the enemy.
Fat is bad for you.
Fat is the same as cholesterol
That all fat is bad.
That all fat is bad, (and they do look at it as
bad in addition to it being unhealthy.)
Most of my students have absolutely no idea how
many calories that they consume per day. After doing
a Nutritional Analysis they are usually shocked.
If it is natural, it is healthy.
It takes too much time to eat healthy.
Portion distortion!
That fat free is healthy.
Portion size.
That fats are bad.
Regarding nutrition: basic principles regarding
the science behind the facts.
That fats are bad for you.
That saturated fat is worse than sugar.
That the percentage of protein in our daily
intake should exceed our intake of fats.
Serving sizes are the biggest misconception in my
non majors nutrition course.
Single?! How difficult to pick one.
About Supplements:
That 2000 calories are far too many for any college
student to consume. The students are horrified,
even if they are active, exercising in addition to
walking all over campus with a heavy book bag.
Megadoses of vitamins and minerals are good.
That everything in moderation is ok... even if
everything they eat is processed.
If you are tired, take a B vitamin supplement to
give you energy.
Supplements are the cure-all for a healthy lifestyle.
Supplements can replace all nutrients of foods.
That nutrition means taking supplements.
Vitamins and minerals provide energy.
Vitamins are energy producing nutrients.
That foods are either good or bad.
That high salt intake causes hypertension.
That nutrition is a dynamic science and that new
information though always available is not always
accurate.
Vitamins by their self provide energy!
That the way they eat now will have no impact
on their future.
About Diet & Intake in General:
The amount of calories they need to maintain weight.
Artificial Sweeteners are dangerous food additives.
The correct amount of carbohydrate, fat and protein
intake. I poll the class at the beginning of each
semester, and typically only one or two students know
the correct answer out of 30 plus students. I ask them to
rank the three nutrients in order of daily intake (most to
least).
A total lack of knowledge about food, supplements,
and lifestyle diseases.
As for nutrition misconceptions, there are many.
They everyone who eats knows what to eat, and
that a healthy diet includes a lot of protein and
carbohydrates.
The harmful effects of food.
Athletes should follow nutrition guidelines for
general health.
The most common misconception is the relationship
between BMR and weight loss/gain.
Eating healthy is expensive.
The notion that ‘good nutrition’ is inconvenient, making
it the highest expression of self value. I focus a lot of time
an energy asking the question: ‘how important are you?’
Genetically modified food is terrible and is not
healthy.
If they are not adding salt to their food it is
low sodium.
There is a simple, easy way to lose weight and keep it off.
You can lose weight by drinking water.