what is a culinary nutrition degree

What Exactly is a Culinary Nutrition Degree?

If you are passionate about the art and science of cooking for and serving guests, the hospitality industry could be a great fit for you! Besides the standard industry programs of culinary arts, hotel management, and wine taster (yes, that’s a real job), there’s also a culinary nutrition degree. A culinary nutrition degree is a fairly new idea—the degree program combines classic culinary techniques with nutrition science, building the skill sets necessary to serve health-conscious people.

If you do eat out frequently, you’ve probably noticed a drastic increase in the number of healthy restaurants. Farm-to-table restaurants have surged in popularity, as have restaurants that join with local farms, co-ops, and food producers to serve “localvore” cuisine. Even fast food restaurants—Wendy’s, Subway, and yes, McDonald’s—are offering more healthy options, and listing the calorie count of their menu items. There is a science behind healthy eating—nutrition—and it is more complicated than you might think.

Nutrition and dietary management classes can cover a range of things. A Culinary Arts degree program will likely focus on: 

  • Preservation of taste and flavor, and presentation of healthy foods 
  • Menu planning and development
  • Ingredient integrity and sourcing
  • Alternative cooking and baking techniques
  • Nutrition analysis, recipe modification, and cooking for special dietary conditions and therapies

The Trick is in the Technique

Beyond nutrition classes, the culinary nutrition degree is also built on solid cooking techniques. Whether you’re a novice cook or have been practicing in your kitchen for years, culinary school can be a challenging (and delicious) environment. For a culinary nutrition degree, you’ll study kitchen organization; cooking methods and principles; baking and pastry fundamentals; fabrication of meat, seafood, and poultry; and plating and presentation techniques. One of the great benefits of a culinary degree is that it teaches skills that serve you at work, and at home—being a good cook (or living with one) makes life more pleasurable, and provides some stability to a home. 

It’s true that a perfect palette can’t be taught; however, basic and advanced cooking techniques can get you pretty close. Plating and presentation techniques make any dinner party far classier, and they also make eating dinner alone more enjoyable. Culinary degrees generally include pastry making, and international cooking classes (which are possibly the most fun college courses anywhere).

The Business of Culinary Arts

There’s another component to a culinary nutrition degree: Culinary Operations Management. The business aspect of running a restaurant is crucial for any successful culinary venture: 

  • Quality Control
  • Kitchen Sanitation & Safety
  • Patient Service and Etiquette
  • Purchasing and Storeroom Management 

Not everything in culinary school is related to cooking! Creating a safe, smoothly run kitchen is a priority for everyone who works at a restaurant or hotel, and usually the top priority. While pursuing a culinary degree, you’ll work with chef instructors and nutrition professionals—it’s a great way to learn from people with direct industry experience. 

What Can You Do With a Degree in Culinary Nutrition?

Culinary Nutrition is a diverse field, with opportunities in schools, restaurants, and hotels for chefs, line cooks, or caterers. Since a Culinary Nutrition degree includes some business savvy, many graduates eventually open their own establishment, or offer their services as a contractor. 

Get Started Here

At ECPI University, you could pursue an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Culinary Arts and Applied Nutrition and develop a fundamental culinary skill set through hands-on time in our professional kitchens. Our classes will instruct you in the science behind culinary nutrition and dietary management. A professional kitchen/classroom is an intense, challenging, and ultimately, rewarding and delicious atmosphere—and it’s a fast degree. In less than 15 months, you could have a culinary nutrition degree in hand. If you’re interested in a degree in culinary nutrition, contact ECPI University today for more information. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

Learn more about ECPI's College of Culinary Arts TODAY!

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