The Science of Nutrition capitalizes on students' natural interest in nutrition by demonstrating how nutrition relates to their health. The authors achieve this by using an applied approach, exposing commonly held nutrition myths, and relying on the most current research.

The applied approach is evident in the functional organization of the micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) chapters. Rather than requiring students to memorize all the vitamins and minerals and their characteristics, the authors present them based on their functions (like fluid and electrolyte balance, antioxidant function, bone health, energy metabolism, and blood health) so that students can understand their effects on the body. Beyond the functional organization of the book, The Science of Nutrition also includes applied features such as case studies, You Do The Math boxes, and Nutrition Label Activities. The applied approach relates the function of nutrients to their applications to health, which encourages a conceptual framework that students can use to organize information about the nutrients. This promotes better understanding and retention of the material.

The authors have also concentrated on the goal of debunking commonly held myths about nutrition, and they do this with the Nutrition Myth or Fact? boxes and the chapter-opening Test Yourself true or false quizzes. The goal of currency is met in this book by the inclusion of the latest theories and research.