Written by Thomas Nguyen, senior nutritional sciences major

Parents often lecture their children that chronic diseases are associated with bad habits such as smoking and drug-use. Nonetheless, parents may also be putting their children at risk for chronic diseases by purchasing and/or feeding them unhealthy foods.

I have always been fascinated by the role that nutrition has not only on individual health, but on the population and global health as a whole. My dream is to become a physician. I strongly believe that nutritional science and health are directly related. I believe that research and advancements in human and animal nutrition can greatly improve health care.

Upon looking through the list of majors that the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) has to offer, I was in awe at the many opportunities the college has for students to achieve their dream jobs. One major stood out in my eyes: nutritional sciences.

I think that nutrition is interesting because it plays a key role in our health at every stage in life. Nutritional science is also very applicable in health care because what the patients eat can directly affect their risk of getting diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

The Food Science and Human Nutrition Department offers various nutrition-related courses. These courses are comprehensive with heavy emphasis on the role of nutrition on diseases, metabolism, genetics, and public health. In addition, the courses not only explain the importance of an individual’s nutritional health outcome but also offer insights beyond the patient and of a population as a whole. With application and diversity in clinical research, nutritional sciences is a great major and appropriate for students pursuing a career in health care.

Last but not least, my top reason for pursuing the nutritional sciences major is the department’s faculty and staff. They are friendly and always foster the most comfortable environment for students. They work tirelessly to provide the students with the best learning experience, and I value that compassion very much.

2