Having dabbled in nutrition and developed a keen interest, I was searching for a concise plant-based nutrition course that would give me a good foundation in understanding science-based nutrition. After researching and comparing many plant-based nutrition certification courses, I finally chose T. Colin Campbell’s Nutrition Course.Â
Read on if you want to learn about plant-based nutrition and consider joining Dr. T. Colin Campberll’s Nutrition Course.Â
Reasons I have chosen Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s nutrition certification course:
1. CostÂ
The 6-week plant-based nutrition certificate course costs $945.00. I tried to find a discount but could not find one then. They run occasional discounts, so watch the T. Colin Campbell Nutrition Course Website. Â
2. Experts and TrustÂ
The T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies is a nonprofit organisation; this gave me a sense of trust. I liked that the plant-based nutrition course was led not by one or a few instructors but by many experts in their field. I was unfamiliar with Dr T. Colin Campbell’s work before I joined the course, so it was interesting to hear about the findings from the China Study. I was very excited to see some plant-based nutrition experts, such as Michael Greger, Neal Barnard Dean Ornish, and Caldwell Esselstyn, on the course that I was familiar with, to name a few.Â
3. The course focuses on plant-based nutrition.Â
When choosing a nutrition course, I followed a pescetarian diet, and the more I listened to all Michael Greger audiobooks, the more I transitioned to a whole-food, plant-based diet. Taking a plant-based nutrition certificate course made sense for me as I wanted to ensure I ate healthy and understood the impact of food on my long-term health and the planet.
4. Pase and supportÂ
Another reason I chose Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s nutrition course was the pace. The course required a few hours a day to study, which suited me very well. It also had deadlines for all three-course sections, which helped me keep learning and ensure everything was done on time. I liked that all students joined at the same time, and we could all ask questions and receive the answers within a day or so. It was nice not to feel alone and to interact with other students and the support team.Â
5. No Spammy Marketing
I like how relaxed the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies is in the sales and marketing department. Most of the courses I was interested in and added my email kept bombarding my inbox with different offers and pushes to sign up. With Dr T. Colin Campbell’s plant-based nutrition certification course, the marketing is less intrusive, and I find it more professional and trustworthy.Â
Who is the course for?
It is stated in the course that this plant-based certificate course is for everyone :
- Anyone seeking to improve their nutrition and health
- Medical and health professionals
- Chefs or food managers
- Athletes and personal trainers
- Parents
- Teachers
- Entrepreneurs
After completing the T. Colin Campbell nutrition course, I agree with this statement: everyone will learn something precious. I would say, though, that if you are an athlete or a personal trainer, this course touches very lightly on sports nutrition and focuses more on the success stories rather than going very deep into the nutritional needs of athletes. It does not dive into macronutrients and personalised nutritional needs. However, it breaks down an overall point on nutrition and health that can be very beneficial regardless of your fitness level.Â
Cons and Pros of Dr T. Colin Campbell’s plant-based nutrition certification courseÂ
What I lovedÂ
- I loved the way the information was presented. Most of the content was in video form, which was much easier to digest than reading.Â
- The course covered a lot, and I have learned more than I expected from the six-week course.
- I loved the quizzes and assignments. They helped cement the information and were the right difficulty—not too hard but also not too easy, and they made you think. I liked receiving a message from instructors telling me why they liked my thought process; this built up my confidence even more.Â
- A variety of plant-based experts made the course very focused and insightful.Â
- The plant-based certification course covered way more than nutrition. It covered everything from politics and scientific studies to environmental issues.Â
- I love that you can download the full transcript of the course for future reference.
- I love the whole food plant-based community. Many active people share interesting articles and studies and I love learning and interacting there.Â
What could be improved?
Some of the information, especially significant statements, sometimes felt skimmed through, and I wish they had been explained more clearly. Instructors were helpful in answering the questions afterwards, but their links were mainly to the https://nutritionstudies.org/ articles rather than external studies.
- Attention to detail was lacking at some points. Some video editing issues and broken links to the material could have been quality-checked and updated.
The Nutrition and Chronic Disease part was very educational. Some information was skimmed, and some felt a bit repetitive.Â
- I also found the dashboard could have been more user-friendly, especially in discussion forums or discussions needed for a particular course section. I did receive an email that the course will be moved to a different platform, so hopefully, this will improve the learning experience of future students.Â
- Although the course touches on micronutrients like vitamins and minerals, it does not dive deeply into the nuances of specific micronutrient needs, especially when following a plant-based diet.Â
- One element I missed from the course was personalized nutrition. While the general guidelines for plant-based diets are well-supported by research, individuals have unique nutritional needs, and I wish there were a bit more emphasis on personalised nutrition.Â
The Dr T. Colin Campbell nutrition course structure:Â
The plant-based nutrition certificate course consists of 3 parts, each to be completed in two weeks.Â
Each part contained quizzes, discussions, activities, task submissions, and interactions to be graded. Â
All three parts are loaded with information.
Here is a rough breakdown of what was taught throughout the course :
Nutrition and Society
- Critical thinking skills to examine health and nutrition,Â
- Learning to understand Scientific research
- Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s 8 Principles of Food and Health
- Understanding of nutrition, including various micro- and macronutrients
- The importance of fibre and gut microbiomeÂ
- Food policy and politics and their effects on health choices
Nutrition and Chronic Disease
- Methodology of the China Project
- Nutrition, genetics, and chemicals in the development of cancer
- How heart disease develops, and how nutrition is key to its treatment
- Whole food, plant-based diet on diabetes
- Impact of nutrition on brain health.Â
- Nutrition in autoimmune disorders
Plant-Based in Practice
- A healthy diet is essential for maternal health from pregnancy to birth, for child development, and throughout the stages of life.
- Nutrition for athletes and fitness enthusiasts
- Impact of our food choices on the environmentÂ
What I learned from Dr T. Colin Campbell’s nutrition course.Â
- I have learned how to analyse nutritional data online to ensure it is correct, not influenced by the food industry, or misinterpreted. I have also learned about the limitations of nutrition studies.Â
- I have enhanced my knowledge about nutrients and the microbiome. I now understand that nutrients work together as a whole rather than separated into fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.Â
- A better understanding of processed and whole foodsÂ
- I was shocked to learn how much money and influence governments receive when making food policiesÂ
- It was interesting to touch on China study, but I wish more information was provided, I need to read the book to understand it fully.Â
- It was a massive learning about diseases like Cancer and Alzheimers and understanding that genetics is not always the main factor for the disease.
- I have a much better understanding of GMOs and how much impact the chemicals have on the planet.
- I have a much better understanding of how bad the state of our environment is and how animal agriculture, including overfishing, is destroying the planet at a very rapid pace.Â
The impact on my life:Â
- I consume way less oil than I used to and am learning to cook with no oil at all when possible.
- I eat more whole foods and avoid refined foods like white bread, pasta or rice.
- I stopped using protein powders and got all the protein from whole plant-based food.
- Instead of relying on supplements for nutrition, I am focused on getting most of it through food.
- I have almost eliminated fish and dairy from our diet, with infrequent occasions when eating out.
- I am educating my parents about food choices and how food impacts their health. I recommend small changes in their diet to help with high blood pressure and cholesterol. After completing Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s plant-based nutrition certification course, I can articulate myself better, and I feel that they are listening to me a bit more.Â
- When cooking, I try to load as many nutritious ingredients as possible to enhance the flavour and provide my body with what it needs to thrive. I call this ‘nutrition first’ cooking.Â
- I started to focus on my dogs’ nutrition. Instead of kibble, he now enjoys real meat with vegetables and superfoods like flaxseeds.Â
- Completing Dr T. Colin Campbell’s plant-based nutrition certification course gave me more motivation and confidence to create Barefoot Basil.
- I have just turned and feel the healthiest, happiest, and lightest I have ever been!Â
IS DR. T. COLIN CAMPBELL’S PLANT-BASED NUTRITION CERTIFICATION COURSE WORTH IT?Â
The Dr. T Colin Campbell nutrition course was very informative and eye-opening. It reshaped my understanding of how food affects every aspect of our lives—from personal health and the health of our communities to the health of our planet. I learned that a whole-food, plant-based diet is not only one of the most powerful tools we have for preventing and reversing chronic diseases but also a way to contribute to environmental sustainability.
The course taught me to make informed dietary choices, critically assess research, and have a healthier lifestyle. Most importantly, it taught me that food is medicine and that choosing a plant-based diet can create a future where people and our planet can thrive. Whether you want to improve your health, reduce your environmental impact, or learn more about nutrition, this plant-based course offers invaluable insights that will stay with you forever.
A quick disclaimer. This article is my honest opinion, but if you would join the course through the links provided in this article, I may earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting barefootbasil.com
If you want a Nutrition Course covering plant-based nutrition and want to become a Certified Nutrition Coach, read: Precision Nutrition Level 1 Nutrition Certification. An Honest Review 2024.
Silvija Meilunaite PN1-NC, is a certified nutrition coach and a writer in the nutrition and self-improvement field with a passion for exploring science-based knowledge focusing on holistic health and plant-based nutrition.
Featured in the Wellness on Time magazine.
