Health Coach Collaborative/Natural Nutrition Essentials Certificate

  • $799 or 4 monthly payments of $210

Natural Nutrition Essentials Certificate

  • Bundle

Whether you're exploring nutrition to improve your own health or considering a future in nutrition consulting, the Natural Nutrition Essentials Certificate offers an excellent starting point. This 35-hour introductory program is designed to support your personal wellness journey or help you integrate foundational nutrition knowledge into your current fitness, health, or wellness practice.

3 Foundational Nutrition Courses

The Natural Nutrition Essentials Certificate includes the first three courses of the Natural Nutrition Coach Program.

In this program, students are introduced to the core principles of natural nutrition, the digestive system, and menu planning. You'll also gain an understanding of the key roles and responsibilities of a Natural Nutrition Coach. These foundational courses will guide you toward healthier eating habits while deepening your knowledge of how food, nutrients, and food-based ingredients influence overall health. Students receive free access to customizable nutrition forms and client management tools that are designed to save you time and simplify the consulting process.

This program teaches you:

  • The principles and philosophy of natural nutrition, and the health risks associated with a modern, processed food diet.

  • The basic science of the macronutrients, how and why they are important, and optimal food choices of each.

  • How blood glucose problems arise and how to manage blood glucose with specific dietary and lifestyle interventions.

  • The process of digestion from start to finish!

  • Digestive issues can occur in the stomach and intestines, from heartburn to leaky gut syndrome.

  • How to recognize imbalances in the digestive system and protocols that may help achieve balance.

  • How the gut influences digestion, immunity, mood, and mental health.

  • The psycho-spiritual meaning of digestive problems.

  • How to read and interpret food labels and understand portion sizes.

  • The benefits of eating seasonal, organic, non-GMO food.

  • Food additives and their effect on health.

  • The functions, deficiency symptoms, guidelines, and clinical applications for each vitamin, mineral, and trace mineral, as well as guidelines for purchasing high-quality dietary supplements.

  • How to organize a natural foods kitchen and healthy cooking practices.

  • Menu planning for yourself and for people with unique nutritional needs and specialty diets.

  • The tools and resources to help you along the way.

  • And so much more...

NNC 1.1 - Foundations in Natural Nutrition

  • Course
  • 28 Lessons

Foundations in Natural Nutrition is an introduction to the principles of a natural food diet as they relate to health and well-being. The macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and lipids) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are explored in detail: their functions, metabolism, absorption, deficiency symptoms, and association with health and disease. Other nutrients found in food are explored as well.

The Foundations in Natural Nutrition includes 5 texts which cover the following topics:

  • An introduction to the principles and philosophy of natural nutrition
  • The energy-yielding nutrients and their structure, synthesis, and classifications – carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids
  • Calculating macronutrients
  • Balancing blood glucose levels
  • Added vs. natural sugars
  • Gluten and when a gluten-free diet is relevant
  • The essential fatty acids, trans fats, and seed oils
  • Guidelines for cooking with fats and oils
  • Detailed descriptions of each vitamin and mineral, their functions, the foods they are found in, and how they can benefit health
  • Other beneficial nutrients and non-nutrients
  • Why hydration is so important
  • And much more…

NNC 1.3 - Digestive Health & The Microbiome

  • Course
  • 9 Lessons

Digestion is the cornerstone of health. This course explains the components and functions of the digestive system and its accessory organs and why problems can so easily arise within this system leading to chronic illnesses of the digestive tract which can greatly impact physical and mental health. You will also learn how these concerns may be influenced by dietary, behavioral, and supplemental interventions.

Some of the topics covered include:

  • The process of digestion throughout the entire digestive system

  • A detailed explanation of the types of digestive enzymes and how they can be used

  • Diseases of the small and large intestines

  • Improving regularity and what normal bowel movements look like

  • Relief for constipation and diarrhea

  • Colon and liver cleansing and detoxification techniques

  • The many roles of the microbiome and how your gut impacts physical and mental health

  • Detailed explanations of probiotics and prebiotics and how they can influence health

  • DIY instructions for fermenting vegetables at home

  • Explicit protocols for major digestive conditions

  • The psycho-spiritual meaning of digestive problems

With over 100 pages this course textbook includes fully referenced protocols based on our Four Pillars approach for common digestive disorders, including acid reflux, constipation, leaky gut syndrome, dysbiosis and candida, SIBO, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. The practical guide includes done-for-you meal plans and an at-a-glance reference chart itemizing the do’s and don’t’s for each condition.


NNC 1.5 The Foundations of Personalized Meal Planning

  • Course
  • 20 Lessons

Learn practical meal planning and menu design to prepare you to work with clients. Learn how to apply natural nutrition principles to create a menu that maximizes nutrients and incorporates individual health needs and tastes, while also considering time, budget restraints and other obstacles.

These are just some of the topics we cover in Meal Planning for Your Clients:

  • How to read and interpret food labels
  • Portion sizes
  • Which food additives to avoid and why
  • The benefits of eating seasonal, organic, non-GMO food
  • Organizing and planning a healthy menu for the entire week
  • Healthy food preparation and practices, including instructions for soaking and sprouting
  • Cooking methods to prevent nutrient losses
  • How to overcome barriers to healthy eating, including time and budget constraints, picky eaters, and more
  • Specialty diets, diet trends, and menu planning for clients following these diets
  • Preparing a weekly grocery list
  • And more…

Completing the Natural Nutrition Essentials Certificate program allows you to:

  • Enjoy the bounty of health benefits a natural foods diet brings to your life!

  • Experiment with food and ingredient combinations to find the eating style that’s best for your body.

  • Plan menus and recreate your recipes to include more nutrient-dense ingredients.

  • Incorporate basic nutrition consulting into your existing fitness or wellness-based practice.

  • Apply to become a Metabolic Balance Coach

  • Take the next steps to become a Natural Nutrition Coach and start an exciting new career!

Upon successful completion of the Natural Nutrition Essentials Certificate, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. Should you decide to continue on your journey to becoming a Natural Nutrition Coach (NNC), these course costs and credits will be applied to the full Natural Nutrition Coach Certificate program.

Note that a Natural Nutrition Essentials Certificate program does not allow you to:

  • Practice medicine

  • Diagnose and treat disease

  • Prescribe medical treatments or blood tests

  • Make unproven health claims, or

  • Misrepresent training or represent yourself as a Registered Dietitian (or equivalent).


FAQ section

Frequently asked questions

You've got questions. We've got answers.

Are there any prerequisites to taking this program?

No, there are no pre-requisites to this program. This is considered an iintroduction to Natural Nutrition.

How long is the NNE program?

It takes most students between 35 and 40 hours to complete the NNE program.

How many continuing education credits is this program worth?

Canfitpro provides 4 CECs, and we can provide a petition letter for other organizations.

What is a passing grade?

A passing grade of 80% or more is required on all quizzes and assignments to receive the certificate of completion.

How is the NNE program presented?

This online program is 100% self-paced. Your learning materials include a downloadable PDF textbook, online quizzes, assignments, and videos to review.

Does the NNE program qualify me to take the Metabolic Balance Coach program?

Yes, it does!

Does the NNE program qualify me for membership with the Health Coach Alliance?

The NNE is a great start, but the Health Coach Alliance requires students to have the full Natural Nutrition Coach Program to qualify for HCA membership and the designation of Registered Health Coach.

Those who complete the NNE have successfully finished three accredited courses that count toward the full program.