Q. Does Tufts have any resources for me to learn more about nutrition and preparing healthy meals?

A. “As a matter of fact, we have quite a few options,” says Diane L. McKay, PhD, assistant professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and director of Tufts University’s Friedman Online Graduate Certificate Programs. “If you like your information in bite-sized pieces, we have an expanding collection of free micro-courses: 30-to-60-minute online lectures by Friedman faculty on a wide variety of topics, including the psychology of eating, dietary supplements, and sustainable diets.

“For those who want something a bit more substantive, we now have a six-week, non-credit, online mini-course called Serving a Healthy Diet. Featuring several Friedman faculty members, this course is for anyone who cooks for themselves or others and wants to learn more about the evidence behind the recommendations about what to eat, as well as strategies for creating a healthy plate. Homework assignments include preparing a dish incorporating what you have learned each week and ‘sharing’ it with your classmates in the online discussion forums. This course is offered every spring, summer, fall, and winter. It requires a commitment of only two to four hours per week, depending on time spent in the kitchen preparing your homework.

“For those who really want something they can sink their teeth into, we have a variety of courses through the Friedman Online Graduate Certificate Programs. These online, 14-week, graduate-level courses require eight to 12 hours per week of effort on average. Topics range from Foundations of Nutrition Science to Theories of Behavior Change; Sustainability and the Food Consumer; Nutrition & Innovation; Current Controversies in Nutrition; and more. Over the years we have welcomed many lifelong learners and others who are simply interested in pursuing their passion for nutrition. Students will earn academic credit for each course successfully completed with a grade of B- or better and will earn a Certificate of Graduate Studies for completing three certificate courses.”