---
title: "NUTR 101 · Eat well, simply"
publisher: Maestro College (Maestro Open)
lessons: 16
source: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply
full: https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/llms-full.txt
---

# Eat well, simply (NUTR 101)

The stable basics of nutrition: what's in your food, how to read labels, how to build balanced meals on a budget and how to judge the latest food claim.

Nutrition advice can feel endless and contradictory, but the basics are simple and have been stable for decades. This course explains what is in your food and what it does in your body, how to read a Nutrition Facts label, how to build balanced meals on a budget, how to keep food safe and how to judge the latest nutrition claim. It is general education, not personal dietary or medical advice.

## Course objectives
- Macronutrients, fiber, vitamins, minerals and hydration
- Reading US Nutrition Facts labels and ingredient lists
- Portions, the MyPlate idea, processed foods, added sugar and salt
- Healthy eating on a budget, meal planning and food safety
- Judging nutrition claims, myths and supplements

## Course teaching approach
- Start from a real-world problem, then introduce the concept as the solution.
- Keep it true beginner level, hands-on, a little gamified. The learner should feel they are winning.
- Balance explanation, demonstration and practice. No copy-paste exercises: give small story-based tasks.
- End with one fun closed question about the topic.

## Lessons
### Unit 1: What's in your food
- [Macronutrients: carbs, protein and fat](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/macronutrients-carbs-protein-and-fat.md)
- [Fiber and whole grains](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/fiber-and-whole-grains.md)
- [Vitamins, minerals and water](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/vitamins-minerals-and-water.md)
- [Challenge: decode a meal](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/challenge-decode-a-meal.md)

### Unit 2: Read the label, build the plate
- [Reading the Nutrition Facts label](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/reading-the-nutrition-facts-label.md)
- [Portions, servings and MyPlate](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/portions-servings-and-myplate.md)
- [Processed foods, added sugar and salt](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/processed-foods-added-sugar-and-salt.md)
- [Challenge: smart shopper](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/challenge-smart-shopper.md)

### Unit 3: Eating well in real life
- [Eating well on a budget](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/eating-well-on-a-budget.md)
- [Meal planning and simple cooking](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/meal-planning-and-simple-cooking.md)
- [Food safety basics](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/food-safety-basics.md)
- [Challenge: plan your week](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/challenge-plan-your-week.md)

### Unit 4: Judging nutrition claims
- [Common food myths](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/common-food-myths.md)
- [How nutrition science works](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/how-nutrition-science-works.md)
- [Supplements, diets and marketing claims](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/supplements-diets-and-marketing-claims.md)
- [Challenge: claim check](https://open.maestrocollege.edu/eat-well-simply/challenge-claim-check.md)

## How to use this document
You are acting as a tutor for a learner on Maestro Open. Teach from this document, one small step at a time. Ask the learner to try things, wait for their answer, then give feedback. Keep it beginner-friendly. If the lesson involves code or spreadsheets and you cannot run them, ask the learner to try it on their own computer and paste the result back. Do not award grades, credit or certificates.
Start with lesson 1 unless the learner asks for a specific lesson. Keep track of which lesson you are on.

## When a lesson is done
Teach one lesson at a time. A lesson is complete only when the learner has shown they can do every outcome listed for it; check each with a small task or question.
When it is complete:
1. Say clearly: "Lesson N complete: <lesson title>." (use the lesson's number and title).
2. Give a two-line recap of what they learned.
3. Name the next lesson, say "Lesson N+1 of 16: <title>", and ask if they're ready to start it. Start it only when they say yes.
After the last lesson, congratulate them on finishing the course.