Nutrition & Digital Literacy

Helping Learners Navigate Nutrition Information in a Digital World

Social media, influencers, online videos, podcasts, advertisements, and artificial intelligence have changed the way people learn about food and health. Unfortunately, not all nutrition information online is accurate. From fad diets and miracle cures to misleading food marketing and viral wellness trends, learners need the skills to separate fact from fiction.

The Nutrition & Digital Literacy Program gives educators a ready-to-use toolkit for teaching critical thinking, media literacy, and evidence-based nutrition. This engaging PowerPoint program helps participants evaluate nutrition information, identify misinformation, understand food marketing tactics, assess influencer claims, and use digital tools responsibly. Learners gain practical skills they can apply immediately to make informed decisions about food, health, and wellness.

Designed for middle school, high school, college, community health, wellness programs, and adult education, this timely resource addresses one of the fastest-growing needs in health education today: helping people become smart consumers of online health information.

Program Topics Include:

• Finding trustworthy nutrition information online
• Evaluating websites, social media posts, and health claims
• Spotting nutrition myths and misinformation
• Understanding food marketing and advertising techniques
• Influencer marketing and sponsored content
• Social media, body image, and wellness
• Artificial intelligence and nutrition information
• Building healthy digital habits
• Becoming a smart health consumer

Learners Will:

✓ Identify credible nutrition information sources

✓ Evaluate online nutrition claims

✓ Recognize misleading marketing and misinformation

✓ Develop media literacy and critical thinking skills

✓ Understand how social media influences food choices

✓ Learn strategies for fact-checking nutrition information

✓ Make evidence-based health decisions

What's Included:

• Comprehensive PowerPoint presentation
• Speaker notes for every module
• Learning objectives and discussion questions
• Interactive activities and class exercises
• Real-world examples and case studies
• References and evidence-based resources
• Ready-to-teach lesson format

Perfect For:

• Health educators
• Nutrition educators
• Family and Consumer Sciences classes
• School wellness programs
• Community health programs
• Extension educators
• College health courses
• Workplace wellness programs

Why This Program Matters

Today's learners are exposed to more health information than any previous generation, yet many struggle to determine what is credible and trustworthy. This program empowers participants with the skills needed to confidently navigate nutrition information in a digital environment and to make healthier, evidence-based decisions.

Key Message

Think Critically. Check the Source. Follow the Evidence.

Help learners build the digital literacy skills they need to make informed nutrition choices for a lifetime. The science of health and nutrition is very sound, but sources for misinformation are expanding rapidly!

Specs:

• The program takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on assignments and discussions used.
• It could also be good to present one module per week, allowing time for assignments and discussions. This would be the best scenario since it would allow more time for research, sharing findings, and discussion. 
• 28 slides in one PowerPoint file plus 3 PDF handouts 
• 8 modules with discussions, speaker's notes with references, and assignments
• English
• Ages 12-100

Author comment - it is easy to make this program your own. Social media, fast food apps, and AI are all moving faster than ever, and at the same time, we are in an era where over 75% of Americans are overweight, people are struggling to keep up with expenses, work, families, budgets, and more. Critical thinking has never been more important for health and life skills. Educators have to teach critical thinking in addition to food groups, physical activity, and the perils of ultra-processed foods.