Student-led nutrition and health initiatives
Nutrition and Dietetics students contribute towards promoting, organising and delivering health and food-related initiatives.
Students involved in this have the opportunity to develop the following Common Good attributes:
- Active and global citizenship
- Confidence
- Entrepreneurial mindset
- Responsible leadership
What’s involved?
Collaborate with staff, societies and sports clubs to deliver nutrition health promotions, online skills workshops and food-related initiatives. Previous topics include Vitamin D and Health, ‘Food and Mood’ and Sustainable Diets.
How will participating in this activity/opportunity allow students to make a positive difference in the communities that we serve?
By designing promotional campaigns, students can harness their interest in food, health and nutrition to inspire and motivate their audience to learn more about the impact of diet on health. Through targeted initiatives, students will research specific nutrition topics and present this information in a relatable format to encourage engagement and enable understanding.
Local communities can also benefit from specific initiatives such as food bank donation drives which provide much-needed supplies for those experiencing financial difficulty.
What are the benefits of taking part in this activity/opportunity for participating students?
Participating students will benefit from working with fellow students to develop creative promotions that apply and develop their health and nutrition knowledge. Being part of a team, students can gain transferrable skills in collaboration, time management and communication skills.
By balancing extracurricular activities alongside their studies, students will be encouraged to participate where they can without impeding their class activities.
Success stories
Mental health awareness promotion:
In support of World Mental Health Day, students from the undergraduate programme designed a promotion stand to engage with students and staff on the concept of ‘food and mood’.
Online vitamin D workshops for local community youth group (age eight to 16):
A group of Dietetics students from all programme levels delivered an online skills workshop to Cricket Scotland’s youth programme, the Wicketz Hub.
Foodbank donation drives on behalf of the Trussell Trust:
Working in partnership with other GCU societies and sports clubs this ongoing campaign encouraged students attending on-campus social events to donate food items and toiletries for those experiencing food poverty and financial difficulty in the Glasgow area.
Sustainable Food ABC – Sustainable Diets Project:
Uniting students with a common interest in climate change and sustainable diets. Sustainable Food ABC on Facebook.