Nutrition: Science and Everyday Application - Second Edition

Reviewed by Dr. Shelly Brandenburger, Associate Professor, Minnesota State University Mankato on 3/3/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Good broad coverage of nutrition for an intro course. It's comprehensive but easily organized such that an instructor could go further into depth in an area(s) of choice quite easily.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Didn't see any issues with accuracy. There were a few data things that were maybe a little dated (such as the "top 10 causes of death in the USA" being 2016-2017 data) - but that's easy to rectify in building the PPT's for the course and replacing with a more current chart.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

There were a few data things that were maybe a little dated (such as the "top 10 causes of death in the USA" being 2016-2017 data) - but that's easy to rectify in building the PPT's for the course and replacing with a more current chart.

Clarity rating: 5

Very concise and clear in writing style which is good for the intended audience of this textbook (intro level, often non-health-majors) at our institution.

Consistency rating: 5

Very consistent across chapters which made it easy to develop a course around the text.

Modularity rating: 5

My only complaint there (and it's minimal) is the book uses the term "Units" to refer to what I would really call Chapters - many of the "sub-units" are 1-2 pages so they aren't really "Chapters". The only struggle I had with this is we've always used the term "Unit Exam" to mean an Exam on Chapters x through x, and so just worry the terminology of "Unit" might confuse the students - but this is minor. No other issues - overall very good organization to the next, very similar to what other Intro level texts do.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Good! I wanted a "functional approach to micronutrients" text so I appreciate the authors took that appreach as it is so much easier for intro-level students to understand. The overall organization and flow of the book is good.

Interface rating: 5

Excellent interface - students can download the book as a PDF or they can read it online with good navigation tools (arrows to go to next section with the sections stated on the arrow so students know where they are - can easily pop back to the overall Table of Contents with 1 click). No issues with distortion, images or other features. Online "self-checks" are fantastic - let students see how they are doing with reading comprehension (just a few questions at the end of the sub-units, immediate feedback, unlimited attempts so they can learn the right answer).

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No issues noted.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I appreciated the book was careful about including pictures of a variety of people. They also talk about weight in neutral terms to avoid stigma and focused on the positive (like a linked video about the Blue Zones projects) rather than the negative.

Comments

Please note: all of my review was on version 2 as I assumed this version would supersede version 1. We have adopted this book effective SU24 for all sections of our Intro to Nutrition moving forward and the authors have been response and helpful with access to some teaching tools. Overall, this is a great OER textbook and our students will appreciate the cost savings while still having a good text to learn from. Kudos to the authors!

Reviewed by Shelly Brandenburger, Associate Professor, Minnesota State University Mankato on 12/18/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This textbook covers 11 units and a broad swath of topics appropriate to a general / non-majors Intro to Nutrition course. I appreciate that the text covers a variety of perspectives where appropriate - for example, in weight management, both diet and non-diet approaches are discussed, HAES, Satter and information from the NWCR are all included with summary of the evidence-based approaches.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

In the "Who can you trust?" section, under "Trusted Professionals", it needs to be modified a bit to say "the term nutritionist is not a legally-protected or regulated term in all states" (it is in my state, Minnesota!) - same with the next paragraph where it says "anyone can call themselves a nutritionist" which again, is not true in Minnesota. And the information on steps to becoming an RDN need to be updated to 2024 (masters minimum) and the hours of supervised practice minimum is 1000. Also the CDR link there is dead - could use this one:https://www.eatright.org/become-an-rdn

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Overall the content is highly relevant to a non-majors audience. I particularly appreciated the solid coverage of the scientific method and types of studies to help build scientific literacy in a non-majors population. Our non-majors Intro to Nutrition fulfills a Science GenEd at our institution and we typically have to really build on what most Intro texts offer in coverage on this.

Clarity rating: 5

The text provides key terms in blue and puts definitions in the content or at least by a "hover-over for pop-up definition" so students don't have to go elsewhere to find definitions. The text provides key charts (often colorful and engaging) to give students a visual for key concepts. And the text provides links to studies they cite so students don't have to go and find that source and can read the original paper for more clarity as needed. Finally, the text provides videos that highlight key ideas to give students an opportunity to learn through audio in addition to reading. These videos are not all close captioned which may create an accessibility issue.

Consistency rating: 5

The book's style, language, layout and approach are consistent throughout the text which students will appreciate.

Modularity rating: 4

I appreciate the way the units are laid out. My only suggestion would be sub-headings within the Units such as "I: Introduction... , II. Nutrition and Health...." to easily assign readings to students and help them navigate the text. The text provides self-checks at the end of the "sub-units" which is helpful for students to reflect at the end of a module.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Good flow - similar to other Intro/non-majors texts. I particularly appreciate the "functional approach" for micronutrients as I have found students learn from this approach more successfully.

Interface rating: 4

I really like the eBook as opposed to some OER books which are PDF only. I think this is more user friendly for students. However, when you finish reading one section, you have to scroll to the top of the page again to get to the dropdown to get to the next section. NOTE: a print copy of the textbook is available to students for $32.41 which I appreciate the affordability of it for those who don't want an eBook or found the interface not to their liking.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The writing is simple and succinct making it easy for students to understand and professors to expound on.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I didn't see any cultural insensitivity - and do appreciate incorporating the HEP alongside MyPlate as so many cultures do not consume dairy and it is not a necessary food group.

Comments

Note: I reviewed the 1st edition since that is what's on the OER site and the dropdown list on this review site - but the authors do note a link to Version 2 on their site when you click on Version 1. This text does not have a chapter on global nutrition, hunger and the environmental concerns of food production - the could be a helpful "end" to leave non-major students with the "big picture" and perhaps garner their interest in the food system, becoming engaged food-citizens and understanding the important work RDN's do in so many aspects of the food system. Under Stevia, I think a little more clarification might be called for - for the indigenous populations who consume Stevia straight from the plant, that's very different from Truvia (I grow stevia plants in our lab and show students what the leaves taste like) - this section seems to insinuate that Stevia isn't natural when technically it is. Overall very impressed with the textbook and will be changing to this text next Fall for our Intro course.

Reviewed by Janet Smith, Assistant Professor, University of Saint Francis on 12/6/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Breadth of information covered

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Accurate and updated

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Specific content to General Nutrition Science

Clarity rating: 5

Clear and concise

Consistency rating: 5

Chapters are consistent in format

Modularity rating: 5

Several visuals that allow quick access to information.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Consistent from chapter to chapter; Information emphasized through bold print.

Interface rating: 5

Simple and effective

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Error free

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Recognizes various nutritional needs within culture and society

Comments

Concise chapters with relevant information

Reviewed by Michelle Hesse, Assistant Professor, James Madison University on 3/29/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The table of contents/outline for the entire textbook has a similar organization to other “mainstream” basic nutrition textbooks and seems to cover a wide range of nutrition topics. From the table of contents, larger nutrition concepts and deeper discussion about sustainability and nutrition, farm to table references and food safety are missing as "major topics" in the text and I would have thought these to be better represented given their emphasis in the opening introduction of the test. However, as you dive into the text, while they aren't listed as major topic areas in the table of contents, they are discussed and mentioned (ie: sustainability in the Proteins Chapter & food safety in the Lifecycle Nutrition Chapter). The beauty about Open Access Materials is that the adopter is free to fortify the information presented in this text with additional topics relevant to how that adopter teaches the course! Overall, the book is quite comprehensive and references major nutrition recommendations both from the national and global context when reinforcing nutrition information.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

In reading through the content, I have found that the authors have taken a very balanced approach when presenting the science and perspectives of nutrition science and recommendations. Some notable examples include discussion on the strengths of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the limitations in our process for establishing these guidelines. This type of transparency, particularly about the political process involved, is very important. I also appreciated the unit on energy balance and weight management, particularly the discussion on body mass index (BMI) and tempering its utility as a formula with the limitations of using BMI to evaluate health status. The section on metabolically healthy individuals that are evaluated as obese is an important consideration! The balanced discussion on breastfeeding is also commendable and recognition that women can have significant challenges and barriers to breastfeeding to the recommended duration.

One glaring error I found in the content was around recommendations and training for registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN's); 1200 hours of supervised practice is no longer required since we are moving to competency-based nutrition education (Who Can You Trust for Nutrition Information). This section should be updated.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Nutrition is a field that has constantly evolving science and recommendations. The text is written very succinctly, with short sections that are manageable, with just the right amount of content. Since the creation of this text, the authors have updated it to reflect the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and appeared very successful in doing so, which demonstrates the adaptability to this text!

Clarity rating: 5

The textbook is very approachable and is written very clearly. Any technical terminology is further defined, and students can "hover over" terms for greater context and an expanded definition! I also really love the many examples that the authors use to illustrate key points in the textbook, which makes the topic more interesting and exciting. A wonderful example of this is Colin O'Brady's story in the introduction to Energy Balance!

Consistency rating: 4

The authors have done a very good job with creating modules that are concise, informative and accurate. Each chapter module includes an introduction. The look and feel of each of the chapter modules are very similar. I appreciate the relevancy of their examples that are used throughout the text when describing concepts in a different way/ more in depth. One area for improvement on consistency is around abbreviated language. One example are the terms WIC and SNAP introduced in Chapter 2, which when first introduced are not expanded to give readers the actual names of those programs.

Modularity rating: 5

Each section of the text has a very similar look and feel in terms of its layout and consistently includes mixed content (text, pictures, figures and videos). Each section also includes a knowledge check! The authors have done a great job with representing a variety of resources and references in their text, including referencing other OER resources and those OER resources that were inspiration for their text. The authors also have a section in the text where they acknowledge recent updates that have been made to the resource. This also aligns with the relevance section of this rubric- update of the content to ensure its relevance.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The table of contents/outline for the entire textbook has a similar organization to other “mainstream” basic nutrition textbooks, with the absence of a few main topics which I have indicated above in the comprehensiveness section. However, I did find that each section across all the units transitioned well into the next and content was woven from previous units and sections into future content, creating continuity for student learning!

Interface rating: 4

I like the efficiency of navigation with buttons at the bottom of the page prompting the user to move to the next page of content.
The videos would benefit from a caption, connecting how that video aligns with the chapter content, similar to the explanations that are given for figures. I did notice throughout that some videos do have captions that provide a bit more context for readers, yet being more consistent in how those captions are used would be advantageous.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

There were no obvious grammatical errors in the text.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I really like the introduction to the book which sets the tone for a more inclusive, individualized viewpoint on nutrition/ food topics. It acknowledges that interest in nutrition is diverse. I really liked the inclusion of cultural foods and cultural food references (link to all of the dietary guidance recommendations across the globe) in the first chapter of the text. The authors have done a great job integrating the tone of inclusivity throughout the book, for example further referencing cultural food options, mentioning of health disparities and utilizing figures, photos and videos that were representative of a variety of races, ethnicities and backgrounds. Videos provided had the option to turn on close captioning for the hearing impaired. This inclusive approach helps the audience see their own story during their learning!

Comments

I very much enjoyed reviewing this OER and felt that the book did a wonderful job presenting relevant and current nutrition science and topics in an accessible way. I also appreciate how succinct and easy each unit was to read and the text was more enjoyable to interact with than others given the embedded resources (like videos, figure and graphs) and the presentation of the content which was "chunked" in very manageable pieces as to not provide too much or too little information at once! Highly recommend that nutrition instructors interested in OER review this text- it is worth the time and effort to do so!

Reviewed by Jorge Canchola, Lecturer II, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 12/15/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

All topics of an introductory course to nutrition are included. Although alcohol is not considered a nutrient, this topic is usually covered in similar textbooks that aren't open access. Also, a section for water is needed. It would be a good idea to add specific diseases related to the topics of each module. A section about obesity and hormones can be added to the Digestive System section along with fad diets. Although it isn't comprehensive, the explanation of cellular respiration is adequate for a non-majors introductory level course. The glossary is effective. The text would be greatly improved by adding a table of contents page and an index section. Adding the dietary reference tables at the end of the book would help the reader identify their dietary needs.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The themes and definitions used in this textbook are aligned with those used by Pearson and McGraw-Hill.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

In 2021 the section, “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” was updated to reflect the 2020 recommendations. The information presented for diabetes mellitus in the US dates back to 2015; I would recommend updating figures and data each year.

Clarity rating: 5

Although simplified in its explanations, this textbook is adequate for a lower-level non-majors course. The figures can be improved, they have technical terms/abbreviations that are not explained in the text, only mentioned in the figure's description. For example, the role and location of GLUT4 transporters in glucose metabolism. Also, the glucose ranges for normal, low and elevated glucose levels are not stated. Embedded videos are helpful in clarifying concepts.

Consistency rating: 5

Although there are three authors, there are no major issues with the text's consistency in style, use of terminology and framework.

Modularity rating: 5

The topics of the modules flow in a logical order. They are broken down in a way that is similar to an intro to nutrition textbooks by major publishers. There are various types of check your understanding type questions at the end of each section which help review the information.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Topics are organized in a logical and well-flowing fashion. Vitamins and Minerals topics could be better placed after Proteins.

Interface rating: 5

Links are active, embedded activities work and videos play without a problem.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

There are no issues with grammar. The textbook is written in a conversational style. I can imagine the author speaking to the reader, asking and answering questions as they would in a class.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The textbook is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. However, there is no discussion of the higher risk of developing DM II in Hispanic and African American populations or lactose intolerance in those of Asian descent.

Comments

This textbook provides a general overview of nutrition. It best suits one-semester introduction to nutrition course for non-majors. I would not recommend this textbook to be used in a biology majors curriculum.

Reviewed by Ginny King, Associate Professor and Program Coordinator, North Shore Community College on 12/1/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This OER contains most elements found in a basic, introductory nutritional science textbook and follows a similar flow. Classic and current nutrition considerations are incorporated including basic nutrition principles as well as modern nutrition concerns, such as sustainability. The index is clear and there is a comprehensive glossary.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The text's content appears accurate, and the material is presented in a neutral, unbiased way and does not appear to support one pattern of healthy eating over another, but rather focuses on general, evidenced-based recommendations.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This resource has a section titled "Updates Made to OER" that includes the date, page number, unit, and summarizes the changes made. The "Introduction" section also encourages communication with the authors to provide feedback, suggestions, and corrections; in addition, there is an opportunity to track resource usage and for contact about important updates.

Clarity rating: 5

The text flows well and is written in a pleasing way that is not overly scientific or full of jargon, but still honors facts and data.

Consistency rating: 4

The macronutrient sections could be more consistent in how they are presented and organized. For example, the protein section starts with an introduction and then structure and function. While the carbohydrate and lipid sections address structure and function, it is not presented in the same way, which may or may not be appreciated by the novice reader.

Modularity rating: 5

This text is easily and readily divided into smaller sections that contain not just reading, but also visuals like pictures and graphics. In addition, there are video links and "test-your-knowledge" style interaction components.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Generally speaking, the topics are presented in a logical and clear manner. There is no right or wrong way to present the micronutrients but separating them may help for better understanding of the unique differences between minerals and vitamins.

Interface rating: 5

Minimal interface issues were noted while navigating through the resource.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No overt grammatical errors were noted.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Food and nutrition are inherently cultural, and these aspects were addressed in this text.

Comments

Although I do not always agree with lifecycle nutrition considerations being infused into a general nutrition textbook (I feel it warrants a text in and of itself, and many do exist), I was pleased to see the inclusion of eating competency in the "Raising Healthy Eaters" section in Unit 11. Most other general nutrition texts do not touch upon this crucial topic in the way this OER did. Discussing nuance with feeding both kids and adults is incredibly important as there is a balance between a healthy diet and mental health (and a whole lot of grey in the middle). In addition to HAES and the Satter Eating Competence Method, a revision of the text might benefit from including the Intuitive Eating Principles.

Reviewed by Susan Massad, Professor, Framingham State University on 11/13/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The text provides a comprehensive coverage of all topics provided in their chapters.
The chapters are laid out logically and include enough detail for an entry-level nutrition course. It is just challenging enough, without being overly technical. There is more detail on digestion, absorption, and metabolism in the text I currently use, so I might add more to this section.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I found the content to be accurate. I compared it to the current text that I use and the chapter material is similar and the concepts are factual and up to date.
This text provides more information on food intolerances, gastrointestinal illnesses, including celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease than the text I currently use.

Chapter on physical activity has precise distinction between anaerobic and aerobic metabolism and reactions that take place within the cytosol versus the mitochondria. The sports drink recipe is very useful.

The chapter on life cycle nutrition provides a general overview of major nutrient requirements at each stage of life from pregnancy to infancy to the later years. At first, I thought that this might not be adequate since the current text I use has separate chapters for each stage. However, this chapter provides adequate information.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The introduction to molecules and basic chemistry sections are very useful.
The text provides some excellent hyperlinks to sites that students would find to be useful. These include the explanation of bomb calorimetry and the brief program on the “blue zones” program.
The self-check questions at the end of each chapter section are very useful and provide a great way for the reader to get immediate feedback on whether the material is understood.
Glad to see Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health Healthy Eating Plate on p. 69 – and its contrast with the USDA “my plate” guide, as it gives the readers greater awareness of healthy options from each food group.

Clarity rating: 5

Very readable format and very useful self-study quizzes with immediate feedback.

Consistency rating: 4

The chapters are laid out in a logical order. I'd recommend including a chapter on energy metabolism after the chapters on carbohydrate, protein, and fat.

Modularity rating: 5

I think that the headings and sub-headings are about right. I didn't have any trouble following the text, though I have been teaching this material for many years so I'm not sure how the modularity would look like from a student's perspective.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

It's all well-organized. Each concept builds upon another.

Interface rating: 5

I had no problems navigating it. The hyperlinks all worked and I found this images and charts to be laid out logically and in a sequence that wasn't hard to access or understand.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I didn't notice grammatical errors

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

I didn't notice a lot of cultural relevance. This is an introductory textbook on basic nutrition. I didn't notice any cultural insensitivity.

Comments

Overall, I like this text. It doesn't have everything I need, however.
For the course I teach, I would look for a text that includes a separate chapter on metabolism. In the text I use, there’s a chapter that gives more detailed steps of how glucose, glycerol and fatty acids, and amino acids, are utilized. It includes more details on gluconeogenesis and on the economics of feasting and fasting. The text I currently used includes a chapter on diet and health that covers a lot more information on heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and infectious disease than Nutrition: Science and Everyday Application provides. Lastly, our current text includes a chapter on consumer concerns about food and water and a chapter on hunger and the global environment. This isn’t in Nutrition: Science and Everyday Application. Still, I wouldn’t use the lack of these 2 chapters as criteria on textbook selection for Nutrition Science and Applications since we could incorporate this into a research paper assignment.
While I am open to the possibility of adopting the Nutrition: Science and Everyday Application text because I really like the way it is laid out and I find the self-study links very useful, I’d hesitate mainly due to the lack of a separate chapter on metabolism and a separate chapter on diet and health.
That said however, I plan to talk to other faculty who teach the same course (Fundamentals of Nutrition Science) and ask what they think. We would like to offer our students free access to texts.
(The text I use is Whitney, E & Rolfes, S (2022) Understanding Nutrition, 16th Edition, Belmont, CA. Wadsworth/Cengage Learning)

Reviewed by Julie Mancuso, Affiliate Faculty, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 8/8/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

It begins with the concept of health and goes through the physiological concepts of atoms to organs to systems etc, spending more time on the substrates.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Using up to date resources.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The beauty of the text is that many units/chapters can be used independently of the rest.

Clarity rating: 4

Some topics are discussed in more detail than others i.e. organs vs systems. It is written at an appropriate beginner level in order to gain interest from the reader and engage the reader further. Beginning the book with real life examples that pertain to nutrition is helpful in engaging the reader further.

Consistency rating: 4

Some chapters went into more detail than others.

Modularity rating: 5

Yes, the chapters flow in the units;

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

May make more sense for Unit 1 and Unit 2 to be at the end with the exercise Unit since they are unique.

Interface rating: 4

Some graphs are more discernable and usable than others.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Grammar is sound.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

Needed to address cultural competency with the Designing programs information.

Reviewed by Serah Theuri, Associate Professor, University of Southern Indiana on 5/17/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book covers a wide range of topics making this a great resource for people with no nutrition background. Some areas such as the Tools for Achieving a Health Diet in Unit 1 is covered with great depth. Other chapters such as Pregnancy and Lactation are not as comprehensive. This chapter covers pregnancy in great detail but has little to no information on lactation concepts. Lactation is covered in the early infancy chapter, there needs to be a better chapter title organization.
Unit 11 - Nutrition Throughout the Lifespan covers some phases of the lifecycle but is missing some such as school aged child, and adult phase.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

Content is generally accurate. Unit 8 and Unit 9 are both covering vitamins and minerals with a creative and unique approach. Some minerals such as calcium and bone health take up more space in coverage than others. Vitamins and minerals involved in blood health discuss iron, and vitamin K only. High blood pressure is major public health problem related to sodium and potassium intake. The fact that there is no discussion of these two nutrients and blood health limits the accuracy and shows some level of information bias under this section

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Content is up-to date given most reference sources are from within the last 5 years. The text is written in a way that will allow any necessary updates relatively easy and straightforward to implement.

Clarity rating: 3

The text is written in a lucid, somewhat accessible prose and provides some but not complete context for jargon/technical terminology use. For example, in the Protein Choice and Sustainability, there is no context for what sustainability means in agricultural protein production. Sustainability issues in food production, food security and planet health have gained attention among scientists and governments.

Consistency rating: 4

Because the book makes the attempt to cover many nutrition topics in one book, internal consistency in terms of terminology and framework can be improved. There is little consistency within and between Units.

Modularity rating: 3

The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course. Text cannot be easily reorganized and realigned with subunits of a course without presenting disruption to the reader. Implementation of suggestion in the Organization section below may useful to the authors.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

Some sections Unit 1, 2, & 11) contain topics that are presented in a logical and somewhat clear fashion. Other sections (Unit 4-9) could each use some restructuring for improved logical flow of information. Example of logical flow for each of the units: nutrient chemistry, nutrient function, recommendations for daily intake, best food sources, impact of inadequate or excessive intake, practical application exercises etc.
Expectations for "Everyday Applications" as indicated in the book title should provide the reader with practical activities to apply the information in their own daily nutrition. For example: under carbohydrates, an exercise to record, count and evaluate carbohydrate intake using an evidence-based method such recommended percentage of calories from carbohydrates.

Interface rating: 4

The text is free of significant interface issues. It is easy to navigate with no problems but I find some sections distract the reader due to image or media overload. Example: , Unit 6 - Protein Choices and Sustainability; Unit 7 - Best Practices for Weight Management

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text does not contain grammatical errors

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. Examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and background is evident in some sections. For example, in Unit 1, under the Tools for Achieving a Healthy Diet, nutritional guidelines for different countries is given. Other sections (Unit 6 - Protein) such as Protein Food Choices and Sustainability focused heavily in planetary health and failed to describe the plant-based eating patterns that are based on religion, animal rights activism and culture. Screen-reader users may have difficulty in understanding some images that lack captions, titles or footnotes.

Comments

This is a potentially great resource for undergraduate students. Information literacy, basic nutrition of macronutrient, energy balance, metabolism is covered adequately. Vitamins, minerals, nutrition throughout the lifespan and energy balance sections can be rearranged with logical flow of information that is less disruptive to the reader. Because the book title suggested "everyday applications" the units should provide practical exercises to engage the reader in nutritional health promotion.

Reviewed by Beverly Moellering MS RD LD, Assistant Professor/Director Coordinate Program in Dietetics, University of Saint Francis on 5/7/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The topics covered in this text are ideal for an introduction class in nutrition. The reader is exposed to a wide variety of the basics of nutrition science.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Appropriate citations are provided for information accuracy.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The nutrition science and information literacy chapter is a great addition to this text.

Clarity rating: 5

Scientific terms, along with easy to understand language is utilized in this text. A great mix for an introduction course.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is consistent in terminology used throughout the book.

Modularity rating: 5

Chapter topics are divided appropriately so an instructor can assign smaller reading sections.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The format allows a reader to be introduced to broad nutrition topics and then digs into the specifics of macro and micronutrients.

Interface rating: 5

Images, videos and photos are displayed accurately and enhance the text.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammar issues apparent.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The authors provide a variety of races, ethnicities and backgrounds in the text and photos.

Comments

After reviewing this text I will be sharing with my adjuncts on how we can begin using it.

Reviewed by Lisa Salinas, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 11/29/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book is quite comprehensive in its coverage of basic nutrition topics. The table of contents is very user-friendly and appropriately detailed and there is an option to 'search in book,' if you are looking for a specific term.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content in this book appears to be accurate, error-free and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is very up-to-date. One of the first things I noticed was the section called 'Updates Made to OER,' which provides a table describing the important updates made 8 months ago due to the chance in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Additionally, there is a 'Note to Educators' in the Introduction that mentions that an instructor will be notified if there are any updates. The way the book is arranged, in small sections, makes me believe updates should be fairly easy to integrate.

Clarity rating: 5

This textbook was written very clearly for a college-aged audience with a basic science background. Keywords are provided in bold type and then defined either before or after.

Consistency rating: 4

The book was very consistent in terms of formatting. Each unit started with an introduction of that particular topic and then flowed through topics, typically from basic to more specific. I will say that I felt the chapters in the macronutrient units could have been arranged a bit more consistently between carbohydrates, lipids and protein.

Modularity rating: 5

There are 11 units, which easily could be arranged as 1 unit per week of class in a semester. Also - the text is easy on the eyes in that it is broken up nicely with headings, pictures and videos.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics in this textbook are presented in a way that makes sense as you move through important basic topics of nutritional science.

Interface rating: 5

Navigation was seamless and smooth.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not come across any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text does not seem to have any culturally insensitive or offensive material. The pictures provided throughout the textbook represented many different races and ethnicities.

Comments

This was a very enjoyable textbook to navigate. The integration of videos truly plays to a new generation of tech-savvy students as well as to various learning styles. It would be nice if the authors could think about creating a follow-up textbook that covered nutritional science in various conditions and disease states.

Reviewed by Lucas Dargo, Associate Professor, Manchester University on 3/2/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The content is well organized and each chapter has a comprehensive layout of information presented so that regardless of the learner's background they can understand the foundation of the chapter before diving into more specifics. Pictures are provided to enhance the learners' comprehension.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

All information appears accurate, error free and unbiased.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This text is written in a way that would provide a foundation for an introductory nutrition course, but would not be appropriate for a sports nutrition-focused course.

Clarity rating: 5

Information is presented in a logical, clear flow.

Consistency rating: 5

Each chapter is layed out in a similar format to provide a general overview and then provides more specifics. Multiple examples are provided throughout the text.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course starting broad and developing more specific content in a logical way for learners. For example, the authors provide a general overview of minerals/vitamins and how it used with the various body systems.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Each chapter is laid out in a similar format to provide a general overview and then provide more specifics. Multiple examples are provided throughout the text.

Interface rating: 5

The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The authors feature multiple caucasian Americans but lack diversity in pictures.

Comments

I would adopt this book for my intro nutrition course due to its comprehensive nature.

Reviewed by Leslie Redmond, Assistant Professor, University of Alaska Anchorage on 1/3/21, updated 1/10/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text covers all areas of the subject at an appropriate level of detail expected for a basic human nutrition course. As the authors state in their introduction, this text was developed for a nutrition course taken by many types of students, including those who wish to pursue careers in healthcare as well as those who simply want to learn more about the topic. As such, I felt that the depth and comprehensiveness was appropriate. The content areas followed a similar outline to what I have seen in other texts on this subject.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Content was accurate and up to date with current science. I especially appreciated the direct references to published research, particularly in the section on "Lipid Recommendations and Heart Health."

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Content is up to date and I believe it will be easy and straightforward to update as the science evolves. The authors are careful to make it clear when the evidence on certain subjects is limited, and also explain that lack of evidence does not necessarily mean lack of relationship or effect (such as in their discussion on the role of potassium in hypertension). Framing the text in this way will make it easier to update and edit in the future as more evidence becomes available. Current trends and topics are introduced but done in such a way that will allow for editing.

Clarity rating: 5

Clarity was appropriate for the intended audience. I didn't feel that there was any jargon or terminology used that would be beyond the basic prerequisites for this course, and anything that might have be new for some students was defined clearly.

Consistency rating: 5

Text was consistent in terms of terminology and framework. Each unit provided consistency and structure for students, beginning with clearly presented Unit Learning Objectives followed by videos to enhance the content and self-checks to assess student understanding. I think that with this consistency, students will know what to expect each week as they complete their work; there will be no surprises.

Modularity rating: 5

The text was developed to align with a 10-week course, with one unit per week, which I believe is reasonable given the depth of content. The text was easy to read and visually broken up into manageable sections with figures, videos, or other supporting graphics.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics follow similar outlines to what I have seen in other text for this level of nutrition. The progression is logical and each section builds conceptually off of the previous one.

Interface rating: 5

I did not experience any significant interface issues. Navigation was clear and easy to follow, no images or visuals were distorted, and I was not distracted by any features. The interface felt very much like reading an article on a popular media website (but without the pop-ups and ads!); in other words, a format that should be familiar and non-intimidating for students.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not come across any grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

I did not note any cultural insensitivities or offensiveness. The authors did well acknowledging the importance of culture in terms of race, ethnicity, and background but also in terms of environment and how those differences may impact individual and population health and nutrition. There is opportunity for improvement in the discussion of "Factors that Drive Food Choices," in the second section of Unit 1. Culture is listed as a driving factor but is only given a one sentence explanation.

Comments

Overall I thought the authors did a great job discussing nutrition in a way that made the science accessible and open for discussion as opposed to static and inflexible. They were careful to explain how different people will experience nutrition in different ways, and how our scientific understanding of nutrition is constantly evolving. This approach helps students to think critically about the information and keep an open mind when it comes to recommendations and guidelines.

Reviewed by Ashley Gaboriault, Adjunct Instructor, Bunker Hill Community College on 12/31/20, updated 1/6/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book is both covers over-arching principles as well as gets in depth on the science of nutrition. It uses helpful metaphors and integrates videos to help further delve into the topics presented. Even the section discussing atoms and molecules had me a little overwhelmed in the start of the section, however by the time the examples and videos were done, I had finally understood the key concepts like covalent bonds and why it matters if a compound is organic or inorganic. It was super informative and related back to food in a way that was actually understandable for someone with a food background, not a science background.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Book was very accurate. Facts were up to date and relevant to current times.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

While the book was up to date and relevant with current times, I think it missed an opportunity to talk about the historical shifts in nutrition on a societal level. It focused mainly on current trends or trends in the food pyramid, but I would have love to see discussions on the molecular shifts in the foods based on how they are grown. I think there was a missed opportunity in terms of talking about the difference between fresh/alive flour and nonbleached enriched flour especially when talking about gluten intolerance vs celiac. However, maybe there isn't enough peer reviewed information on the topic to be included quite yet.

Clarity rating: 5

Very clear and easy to read. Sometimes there are sections where I felt overwhelmed at first, but the method that the authors use to explain everything is smart and by the end of each section I felt I had a better grasp on the topic.

Consistency rating: 5

Very consistent in language, philosophy, and sequencing.

Modularity rating: 5

I would give this a 6 if I could - this is book is formatted beautifully into modular sections. Easy to follow, builds on previous sections, and already in the right order for a class.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

See previous comment.

Interface rating: 5

No issues, easy to use and follow. Links worked great and were easy to watch and continue on.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No errors that I saw.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

I don't think there were any issues that would make this book culturally insensitive, however I would have like to see a little more discussion about cuisines across the globe. I think it was very well addressed, but I also always like to see how nutrition crosses cultures and varies across the globe. Also, information on what happens to those who move into a new culture and how that affects their nutrition would be great to see in future updates.

Comments

This is a GREAT introduction to nutrition that would be an excellent class textbook. I would love to see more supplemental information about where our food comes from and long term effects of commodity products on the body, but that could be the rebel Chef in me. In my business we call the USDA, the "US-DUH" as they mostly support large scale commodity products or government agenda, and do not always reflect the most accurate nutritional information available. Which is also why I love the acronym "CRAAP" that was in the book talking about how to check whether or not to believe studies. That section was fantastic and truly well written. Overall excellent Textbook!