FDSC20230

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Academic Year 2025/2026

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Introduction to Human Eating Behaviour (FDSC20230)

Subject: : Food Science

College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences

School: : Agriculture & Food Science

Level: : 2 (Intermediate)

Credits: : 5

Module Coordinator: : Dr Emma Feeney

Trimester: : Spring

Mode of Delivery: : Online

Internship Module: : No

How will I be graded? : Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Please note that this module is offered entirely online, including assessment. For this reason, there is no scheduled timetable in the system. \ \ In this online module, students will be introduced to the topic of Human Eating Behaviour, and the various factors affecting food choice. Food, as presented in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, is essential for human life, but in addition is a pleasurable experience that is intertwined with culture, traditions, ethical and sustainability concerns, conscious and unconscious internal factors, as well as being controlled by a number of biological feedback mechanisms that influence intake, hunger and satiety. Students will learn about the different hormones involved, and the different biological pathways. The factors that impact food choice and the development of preference can vary from person to person, and can also be influenced by external cues. Food preferences, eating habits and behaviours develop, grow and adapt from birth right through to old age, as our internal and external environments and our sensory perceptions change, and as nutritional requirements change over time. \ \ The module will examine some of the frameworks around food choice, covering the various aspects from choice behaviour, nudge theory, external cues such food packaging and marketing, sensory attributes, and food environment, and internal cues such as hunger and satiety, perception of food intake, individual genetic influences, inherent values and the development of individual food preferences. \ \ Students will learn about how these change and adapt over the lifespan and with changing environments. They will be introduced to basic principles of sensory science, and to basic concepts of eating behaviour such as eating rate, bite size, energy density, portion size, and their measurement. On completion of the module, students will gain an understanding of how the internal and external environment can impact these different factors and lead to differences in eating behaviour across the lifespan. \ \ Please note - due to the online nature of this module, prospective students are strongly advised that a high degree of self-direction and motivation is required. \ While no pre-requisites are specified, it is advised that some prior knowledge of biology will be very useful.

About this Module

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What will I learn?

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students will be able to: \ • Describe frameworks governing food choice, and eating behavior\ • Describe the role of food in a range of culture and traditions globally\ • Understand differences in food preferences and describe theory on how these develop\ • Understand basic concepts of nudge theory and the application to eating behaviour\ • Demonstrate knowledge of the biological and psychological factors that impact food intake in different population groups\

How will I learn?

Student Effort Hours:

\

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Lectures, short quizzes, and autonomous student learning.\

Am I eligible to take this module?

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

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Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module. \  \

How will I be assessed?

Assessment Strategy

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Carry forward of passed components

Yes

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What happens if I fail?

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \

Assessment feedback

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Online automated feedback\

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

After each assessment, feedback on the class performance will be given, which will be used for their continuous improvement and mastery of the module.

Associated Staff

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