Health and Food Technology is a hands-on practical subject that is particularly suitable for those who are interested in cooking, food and health. The course will teach you how to prepare healthy food as part of a balanced diet, and how to make food choices that are good for your health. It helps you to develop important skills such as creative thinking, problem solving, planning and organising.
The skills that you develop in Health and Food Technology are useful in many different career areas, such as food preparation and service, food and drink manufacturing, food science and technology and dietetics and nutrition.
Career Pathways
To see what career areas this subject could lead to and the routes to get there, download and view these career pathways:
Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism
Entry is at the discretion of the school or college, but you would normally be expected to have achieved:
In this course you will learn about the properties of food in relation to food production, processing and the development of food products. Issues that influence food choices are investigated to allow the consumer to make an informed decision.
The course consists of three areas of study.
Food for Health
Topics covered: the relationship between health, food and nutrition, dietary needs for individuals at various stages of life and explain current dietary advice, and producing and evaluating food products which meet individual needs.
Food Product Development
Topics covered: the functional properties of ingredients in food and their use in developing food products, the stages involved in developing a food product, producing food products to meet a range of consumer needs, and the safe and hygienic food practices and techniques.
Contemporary Food Issues
You will investigate contemporary food issues, how these issues influence decisions taken by consumers when making food choices, and communicate your findings in an appropriate way.
The course assessment has two components totalling 80 marks:
For the assignment component, you will be required to research and analyse information regarding a food or consumer issue and make a food product. The assignment will be assessed across four sections: planning, the product, product testing and evaluation.
Both the question paper and the assignment are set and externally marked by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across course assessment.
The course assessment is graded A-D.
Successful completion of this course may lead to:
Further study, training or employment in:
Your school will give your parents an Options or Choices information booklet, which has detailed information on the curriculum and the individual subjects or courses you can study. It will also invite them along to a Parents’ Information Evening.
They can also read the information leaflet(s):
Nationals in a Nutshell - Health and Food Technology (Higher)
