This episode is all about texture modified diets. In particular, you'll learn an overview of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) and the role you have when working with these diets. Speech Language Pathologists (SLP's) or Speech Therapists are the experts in assessing patients chewing and swallowing. They recommend the texture modification safest for the patient. As dietitians, we make sure the diet order is followed and that we collaborate with the interdisciplinary team. 

This is what you'll learn in this episode: 

• The reasons someone may need a texture modification
• The different levels for texture modification within the IDDSI
• The different levels for liquid consistency modification for people with swallowing difficulties

As a dietitian, you'll inevitably work with texture modified diets at some point so regardless of where you work, it's a good idea to have a basic understanding of these special textures. 

Here's a glance at this episode:

[04:05] An overview of the process to form a bolus

[05:00] A review of reasons someone might need a texture modified diet

[07:53] A discussion of IDDSI and what it stands for

[08:55] Why fluid is so important especially when receiving a modifed liquid consistency

[09:55] A breakdown of the levels within IDDSI

[18:08] Why following the recipe is necessary in order to make sure the thickened liquids are prepared to the right consistency

[18:39] A discussion of transitional foods and what they are

If you want to learn more about IDDSI, I recommend you visit the website for visual information regarding the levels and additional information about the various texture modifications. Here's the website: https://iddsi.org

In this episode, you'll learn about growth during infancy. Growth charts are used in pediatrics to assess growth and look at trends. This episode breaks down growth charts and reviews Z-scores. 

Whether you work in pediatrics, find yourself covering a pediatric unit one day, or need to pass the RD Exam, this episode has a little bit of something for everyone. And my goal is to make sure you're prepared. 

This is what you'll learn in this episode: 

• A breakdown of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
• A quick review of pediatrics and dietitian coverage in pediatric units
• How birthweights are categorized such as SGA, AGA, LGA and IUGR - you'll learn what these mean
• Percentiles versus Z-scores and an overview of what these mean

You'll also hear a couple stories and I give a shout out to another new RD who joined this fabulous community.

Here's a glance at this episode: 

[04:10] A review of the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding outlined by the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI)

[12:50] An overview of growth charts including an explanation of plotting percentiles versus Z-scores

[15:10] How growth charts show growth trends and what to do if the measurements are off

[17:40] An explanation of growth charts, what is measured on the growth charts, and WHO versus CDC growth charts

[21:10] The growth changes you'll see when malnutrition is present

[22:09] A discussion of birthweight classification

[26:00] A review of common terms you'll need to know when working with infants

[29:35] A review of standard infant growth

In this episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, I talk about perfectionism. It's no secret dietitians are known to have perfectionist tendencies which can be channeled for wonderful things. But at the same time, can hold you back from making progress in your life and career. 

As someone who's regularly struggled with perfectionism, I wanted to share my challenges and some of the things I do to help me get over these perfectionist tendencies. 

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why perfectionism needs to be controlled so you can focus on helping others
• Some actionable things you can start doing today if you're struggling with perfectionism

Remember, perfectionism can stop progress. A great mantra to follow: "Done is better than perfect".

When you wait for things to be perfect, you won't get it done. Wanting to do well is a natural thing but if it goes to far, it can be paralyzing. So if this is something you're struggling with, you won't want to miss this episode. 

And it will be a good reminder that you're not alone - I'm with you. But even more than that, you can do something about it. 

Because you can do hard things! 

This episode is all about inborn errors of metabolism and who better to talk to than Danielle Vice, an amazing metabolic dietitian and a special friend of mine. We have a great conversation about metabolic conditions that might pop up on the exam. This conversation is sure to make you fall in love with metabolics. And at the very least, you'll be reminded why dietitians are so incredible and important. 

This is what you'll learn in this episode:

• How to manage the diet for people with Phenylketonuria (PKU) and why dietary management is so incredibly important
• MNT for homocystinuria
• An overview of Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD)
• A review of Urea Cycle Defects
• An update on galactosemia and the most recent recommendations for dietary management 

Metabolics is a great reminder of why dietitians take so many classes in chemistry (biochemistry, organic chemistry) and how important metabolic pathways are for metabolism. When something goes wrong, Registered Dietitians are the experts in dietary management. 

If you're interested in learning more about metabolics, here are some great resources to help you expand your knowledge: 

Metabolic University

Genetic Metabolic Dietitians International 

And I give a big shout out to another fabulous RD who just passed the RD Exam. I love this community so much and am so honored this podcast helps so many listeners get across the finish line. Be sure to listen while I welcome this incredible RD to the RD community. 

In this episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, you'll learn about diabetes with a fabulous RD who has specialized in diabetes for the majority of her career. And she's amazing at it. 

This is what you'll learn in this episode: 

• The pros and cons of insulin pumps
• A breakdown of diabetes and the MNT to help keep blood sugar under control
• Risk factors for developing gestational diabetes
• An overview of dawn phenomenon
• Stories to tie everything together

Here's a glance at this episode:

[08:00] A case study explaining how little kids can learn how to carbohydrate count

[12:35] A common regimen of carbohydrates to insulin for children with diabetes and why this is so important

[14:05] Why correctional insulin is important for people with diabetes who are dependent on insulin

[17:50] A review of how insulin pumps work

[24:00] The role of the RD as part of the interdisciplinary team for diabetes management

[27:15] An overview of gestational diabetes

[37:50] A simple explanation of diabetes using the lock and key analogy

In this episode of the RD Exam Made Easy Podcast, you'll get a review of common nutrition related medications. There are so many medications to be aware of but some have a bigger impact on nutrition than others. So this episode will go over some of the medications that not only will help you with the exam but will also help you in your career as a Registered Dietitian. 

This review is for educational and informational purposes only. If you have a question about medications, always reach out to your physician. And if you're unsure about a medication one of your patients is taking, always ask questions. Stay curious. It's the best way to learn.

This is what you'll learn in this episode:

• A review of commonly used medications that have nutrition implications
• A discussion of the side effects associated with the medications and how they impact nutrition and your nutrition interventions

Here's a glance at this episode:

[07:25] A review of a medication known to cause frequent bowel movements

[08:30] A discussion of a medication that is known to cause "moon face"

[09:55] A tip to help you remember different medications

[11:30] A scenario on what to do if a patient is on tube feeds and getting a medication that needs to be taken without food

[16:10] A review of medications often called "water pills"

[19:00] What medications make people hungry and usually require a double portion diet

[ 23:00] A discussion of the medication that requires a consistent Vitamin K diet

[26:55] An overview of good and bad cholesterol

We live in a diverse world with many different cultures and religions. Several religions follow religious dietary practices. Knowing these dietary practices shows respect and inclusivity for people from all backgrounds.

It's also helpful to know this information if you work in a hospital or in foodservice where you have oversight of the menu provided to patients. 

These are the religious dietary practices you'll learn about in this episode:  

• Halal Diet
• Kosher Diet
• Seventh Day Adventists Diet
• Roman Catholic Diet
• Buddhism Diet
• Hinduism Diet
• Mormon Diet

You'll also get a review of some common special diets such as gluten-free and the different vegetarian diets. 

Here's a glance at this episode:

[06:33] A review of the Halal diet

[13:40] The term for neutral foods in the Kosher diet

[14:56] The one and only Blue Zone in the North America where a large number of Seventh Day Adventists live

[16:34] A tip on how to work through the test questions

[17:49] What culture sees cow's as a sacred animal

[18:36] A review of common special dietary restrictions 

In this weeks episode, you'll get a review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and hear about 5 areas in the world known as Blue Zones. 

You'll also hear a story about a dear friend who knew the power of nutrition for healing. Food is medicine. This is nothing new, especially to dietitians. Hippocrates said in 400 BC: "Let medicine be thy food and let food be thy medicine". The story I share in this episode proves that statement to be true. This story is truly inspiring. 

Check out these Resources to learn more: 

If you want to learn more about functional nutrition, check out these free resources at the Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health for you to learn more. You can find the link here. 

And if you want to learn more about the Blue Zones and how to live to be 100 (and not just survive, but truly live), check out this website for information and resources. You can find the link here. 

Get ready to learn all about foodservice and tray delivery systems. My guest this week is Kendra Stoen, a Registered Dietitian with years of experience working in foodservice. She's also a good friend and has a lot of great stories - several she shares on this episode. 

If you're not be exposed to all the different foodservice systems in your internship, this episode will fill in the gaps. 

Whether you're an RD2Be studying for the exam or a Registered Dietitian wanting a refresher of the different foodservice systems, this episode is for you. If you want to hear a fun conversation between two RD's with some great foodservice stories -and a little bit of history too - you'll get all that and more in this episode. 

This is what you'll learn:

• Conventional, Commissary, Convenience and Ready-prepared foodservice systems
• Pros and cons of each type of foodservice system
• Tray delivery systems and how it's changed throughout the years

Here's a glance at this episode:

[10:11] A review of the commissary foodservice system 

[19:25] What a Ready-prepared and cook-chill system is and the benefits of this type of foodservice system

[24:50] The challenges of using a conduction plate in retherm carts and the progress made the improve food heating

[28:48] Clarification between commissary and satellite

[33:30] Why it's so important to collaborate with nursing partners

[56:08] The "new" thing in technology and tray delivery

In this episode, you'll learn about the ebb and flow phase following injury and the metabolic response to trauma. You just might be asked a question like this on the RD Exam and if so, I got you covered. 

Learning about this during my clinical rotation as an intern was one of the best lessons and prepared me for my role as a trauma dietitian. I wanted to share a case study and explain the ebb and flow phase through the learnings from that case study. 

This is what you'll learn in this episode:

• Characteristics of the ebb phase and the flow phase
• The metabolic response to trauma/injury
• The role of the dietitian when assessing a patient who's sustained an injury

Here's a glance at this episode:

[05:20] Shout out to 4 amazing new RD's who just joined the RD community 

[08:00] Strategy for addressing low blood pressure immediately following injury

[09:36] Protein needs for patients who've had an injury/trauma

[12:40] Blood sugar levels after injury