Basic Nutrition: Strengthening Physical Bodies for Spiritual Discipleship

Course Summary

Combining nutrition topics and scripture, we'll learn how to improve our spiritual discipleship by strengthening our physical minds and bodies with nutritional food. This unique three-part nutrition course can bless your learner physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Course Description

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have the responsibility to keep our bodies and minds as healthy as possible. Why? So that we can have the strength and endurance needed to build the kingdom of God. This three-week course combines Bible verses and basic nutritional information to form a foundation of personal responsibility on which your learner can build for a lifetime. Each week of this three-week course, we will create a mind map as we discuss the following topics: ✨WEEK ONE: The body is a temple; Fruits of the Spirit; fruits and vegetables; water; plate balance and portion size; goals ✨WEEK TWO: Physical and mental strength; grains and proteins; cooking methods; goals ✨WEEK THREE: Physical and emotional healing; sugar, salt, and oils; reading labels; goals; discipleship Skills needed for this class include the willingness to make mind maps and a desire to participate in the weekly discussions. ✔︎ This is an action-oriented class in which learners will set goals to accomplish each week and then report back on the results. One's personal health begins with personal responsibility. This class can help your learner create healthy patterns of eating as they progress down the path of discipleship.

Content Considerations

The class will NOT included information on specific diets, such as vegan, vegetarian, Paleo, Keto, gluten-free, etc.; our focus will be on the basic nutritional benefits of different foods. This is a faith-based course with a Christian worldview. We will be reading and discussing verses from the King James Version of the Bible and the role our bodies play in discipleship.

Syllabus

✨WEEK ONE (Fruits of the Spirit) Introduction: Your body is a temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Topic: Fruits and Vegetables • Scripture: Galatians 5: 22-23; discussion on how these spiritual fruits are more easily obtained when we keep our body as strong as possible • Discuss the vitamins and minerals found in certain fruits and vegetables and how they benefit our bodies • Discuss the health benefits of drinking water • Discuss plate balance and portion size (gluttony, Proverbs 25:16) • Challenge: What new fruit and vegetable will you try this week? • Set nutrition goals for the week ✨WEEK TWO (Physical and Mental Strength) Topic: Grains and Proteins • Report back on how goal went the previous week • Scripture: Joshua 1:9; discussion on how carbs and protein are necessary, but if consumed in disproportionate amounts can negatively impact one's physical and mental health • Discuss our favorite types of grains and proteins, as well as other options • Discuss the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids found in certain grains and proteins and how they benefit our bodies • Discuss cooking and baking methods • Challenge: How does the food you eat noticeably affect your body? • Set nutrition goals for the week ✨WEEK THREE (Physical and Emotional Healing) • Topic: Sugars, Salt, and Oils • Report back on how goals went the previous week • Scripture: "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) • Discuss our favorite types of sugary and salty treat • Discuss the difference between healthy and unhealthy fats • Discuss the vitamins, and minerals found in sugar and salt and how they benefit our bodies • Discuss reading labels • Challenge: What sweet or salty treat can you substitute with a healthier version? • Set nutrition goals for the week • Conclusion: Choosing to strengthen our bodies and minds as disciples of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Supplies

Supplies needed for each class: ✏️ Pencil with eraser 📄 Two sheets of blank white paper