RD Exam Ready Podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down grain structure, whole versus refined grains, and the differences between enrichment and fortification. We also review gluten vs. gluten-free grains, types of flours, and properties of starch including gelatinization, dextrinization, and retrogradation. Join the RD Exam Ready email list for new podcast episodes, upcoming YouTube Lives, and PDF notes from live review sessions: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @rd.exam.ready YouTube: @RDExamReady Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down validity vs. reliability, sensitivity vs. specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) vs. negative predictive value (NPV). You’ll learn how to distinguish these concepts, recognize them in research questions, and apply what you’ve learned through practice questions. 📢 JOIN RD EXAM READY LIVE — OCTOBER 14! Join Zak on YouTube for a live practice-question session focused on test-taking strategies and applying your knowledge to exam-style questions. Tune in live or catch the replay afterward! Link to Live Session Join the RD Exam Ready email list for new podcast episodes, upcoming YouTube Lives, and PDF notes from live review sessions: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @rd.exam.ready YouTube: @RDExamReady Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down inborn errors of metabolism and the Medical Nutrition Therapy concepts you need to know for the RD Exam. You’ll review amino acid disorders, acidemias, urea cycle disorders, galactosemia, and glycogen storage disease, with a focus on the nutrition interventions and key concepts associated with each condition. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you’ve learned. Join the RD Exam Ready email list for new podcast episodes, upcoming YouTube Lives, and PDF notes from live review sessions: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @rd.exam.ready YouTube: @RDExamReady Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down FIFO and LIFO inventory management and inventory valuation methods that are helpful to know for the exam day. Don't get mixed up on this topic, come study it with Zak. You’ll review inventory rotation, valuation methods, and how FIFO and LIFO differ when determining inventory value and cost. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply these concepts on exam day. 📢 JOIN RD EXAM READY LIVE — SEPTEMBER 16! Join Zak on YouTube at 7:00 PM Central Time for a review of community nutrition programs and community needs assessments. https://www.youtube.com/live/yASHI5g6ecU?si=k9Wgs0BOnlN5lsga Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @rd.exam.ready YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down the different tools used to measure body composition and the key concepts you need to know for the RD Exam. You’ll review body composition models, what different measurement tools assess, and when certain methods may or may not be appropriate for different populations. The episode wraps up with practice questions from body composition and other RD Exam domains to help you apply what you’ve learned. 📢 JOIN RD EXAM READY LIVE THIS WEDNESDAY! Join Zak Wednesday 9/2/26 7:00 PM Central Time for another live review and practice question session on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/live/0pT6wyhleRg?si=VlFprN9y3peAM4p8 Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @rd.exam.ready YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down the gallbladder and pancreas, focusing on the anatomy, digestion and absorption, and medical nutrition therapy concepts you need to know for the RD Exam. You’ll review gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, nutrition interventions, and the differences between acute and chronic pancreatitis. The episode also covers pancreatic enzymes, nutrition support, and key MNT considerations, followed by practice questions to reinforce the material. Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share! Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

Food Science: Fats & Oils In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down the food science of fats and oils and the key concepts you need to know for the RD Exam. You’ll review the functions and properties of fats, different types of fats and oils, and how their characteristics affect food preparation and quality. The episode also covers cooking with fats, smoke points, rancidity, storage, and other important food science concepts. Practice questions at the end help reinforce what you’ve learned and prepare you for exam day. Join RD Exam Ready LIVE on Wednesday, August 19th at 7:00 PM Central Time: https://www.youtube.com/live/Cc8wSaDz88E?si=-dHmodNrjMtJXjBr Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down leadership concepts you need to know for the RD Exam. You’ll review types of power, leadership styles, and situational models while learning how to recognize these concepts in exam questions. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you’ve learned and prepare for exam day. Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down the nutrition needs of older adults and the key concepts you need to know for the RD Exam. You'll review the physiological changes that occur with aging, how those changes affect energy and nutrient needs, and the nutrition recommendations most commonly tested on exam day. This episode covers calorie, protein, fluid, and micronutrient needs, age-related physiological changes, and the federal nutrition programs available to support older adults. The episode concludes with practice questions to reinforce these essential life cycle nutrition concepts. Join RD Exam Ready LIVE on Wednesday, July 29th at 7:00 PM Central Time: https://youtube.com/live/GZuazSMS0S8?feature=share Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your…

In this episode, Zak Kaesberg breaks down how to choose the best nutrition problem statement using the PES format. You'll learn how to distinguish between the intake, clinical, and behavioral-environmental domains, prioritize nutrition diagnoses, and identify the most appropriate problem statement in common RD Exam scenarios. Through several patient case studies, Zak walks you through the critical thinking process behind selecting the primary nutrition problem, writing effective PES statements, and avoiding common mistakes when interpreting assessment data. The episode concludes with practice questions designed to strengthen your clinical reasoning and prepare you for exam day. Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready LIVE and RECORDED Lessons Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down nutrition assessment—the first step of the Nutrition Care Process and one of the most important concepts for the RD Exam. You'll learn the purpose of nutrition assessment, how to prioritize patients based on nutrition risk, and the key assessment domains that guide nutrition diagnosis and intervention. This episode also reviews common nutrition screening tools, anthropometric measurements, biochemical data, nutrition-focused physical exams, comparative standards, and the role each plays in evaluating a patient's nutrition status. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help reinforce these essential assessment concepts. Join RD Exam Ready LIVE on Wednesday, July 15th at 7:00 PM Central Time for another live practice question session: https://youtube.com/live/-B2Gd0_MJac?feature=share Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down the different types of community program evaluations to help you confidently answer public health questions on the RD Exam. You'll learn how to distinguish between formative, summative (outcome), impact, process, structure, and fiscal evaluations, when each is used, and the clues that help you identify the correct answer on exam day. Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak Kaesberg breaks down religious diets and cultural food practices to help you confidently answer RD Exam questions involving food restrictions, dietary patterns, and special considerations. You’ll review key religious dietary practices including Judaism and kosher diets, Islam and halal foods, Mormon dietary practices, Hinduism, Buddhism, Seventh-day Adventists, and Catholic traditions. Zak also connects these concepts to cultural food patterns among different populations and discusses common nutrition concerns you may see in practice. Join RD Exam Ready LIVE on Wednesday, July 1st at 7:00 PM Central Time for a food science review with practice questions: https://youtube.com/live/fTx_6b7htjM?feature=share Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we review the respiratory system and medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for pulmonary conditions that you need to understand for the RD Exam. We’ll cover respiratory anatomy and physiology, gas exchange, acid-base balance, and how lung dysfunction impacts nutrition care. We’ll also discuss MNT considerations for conditions including COPD, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, and enteral nutrition recommendations for ventilated patients. Want the notes from live sessions and updates on new episodes? Join the email list here: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA When you subscribe, you’ll get notified about new podcast episodes, upcoming YouTube Lives, and receive PDF notes from live review sessions directly to your inbox. Follow RD Exam Ready for more exam prep: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch the podcast anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy Studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we review the nutrition labeling concepts you need to know for the RD Exam. We discuss Nutrition Facts label requirements, ingredient and allergen labeling, and which foods and restaurants are required to provide nutrition information. We also break down the differences between nutrient content claims, structure/function claims, and health claims, including common examples that frequently appear on RD Exam questions. 📱 Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDexamready TikTok: @rd.exam.ready YouTube: @RDExamReady with LIVE Lessons! 🔔 Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review to help support the podcast and share it with other future RDs.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks Quality Improvement in a clear, exam-focused way. You’ll learn about cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, performance improvement models, tools, and much more! We finish with 3 practice questions to prepare you for exam day. 📺 Join RD Exam Ready Live 🗓 June 3 at 7:00 PM Central Time 👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/zchUa5mgJSU?si=cTZ0NRqADWP3_GM_ 📲 Follow RD Exam Ready Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady 🎧 Listen or watch the podcast anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we review the food science concepts behind fruits and vegetables that you need to remember for the RD Exam. Zak breaks down the structure of plant cells, carbohydrates found in produce, important vitamins and minerals, ripening processes, storage techniques, cooking methods, and USDA grading standards for fruits and vegetables. We finish with three solid questions to practice your learning from today's session and test your knowledge. Want the notes from live sessions and updates on new episodes? Join the email list here: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA When you subscribe, you’ll get notified about new podcast episodes, upcoming YouTube Lives, and receive PDF notes from live review sessions directly to your inbox. Follow RD Exam Ready for more exam prep: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch the podcast anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak break down Anemias. He expands this into the labs, deficiencies, and ways to differentiate each anemia from the other. We finish by doing 3 practice questions to test our knowledge. RD Exam Ready Live 5/20/26 7:00 pm Central Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down Foodservice Production Systems to help you feel confident tackling these concepts on exam day. This episode focuses on the four major systems you’re expected to know — conventional, ready prepared, commissary, and assembly serve — and how each one operates in real-world settings. You’ll review how food is prepared, transported, and served within each system, along with key differences in labor, skill level, equipment needs, and cost considerations. Zak walks through relatable scenarios to help you clearly distinguish between centralized and decentralized service, and understand when each system is most appropriate. Want the notes from live sessions and updates on new episodes? Join the email list here: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA When you subscribe, you’ll get notified about new podcast episodes, upcoming YouTube Lives, and receive PDF notes from live review sessions directly to your inbox. Follow RD Exam Ready for more exam prep: Instagram:…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down Community Needs Assessments and program planning to help you feel confident tackling these concepts on exam day. This episode focuses on how to approach community nutrition questions, understand the flow of a needs assessment, and apply critical thinking to identify the next best step in a given scenario. This episode emphasizes how to think through questions the way the RD Exam expects—focusing on sequence, decision-making, and practical application—then wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you’ve learned. Want the notes from live sessions and updates on new episodes? Join the email list here: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA When you subscribe, you’ll get notified about new podcast episodes, upcoming YouTube Lives, and receive PDF notes from live review sessions directly to your inbox. Follow RD Exam Ready for more exam prep: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch the podcast anywhere:…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down phytochemicals and plant pigments to help you feel confident tackling these food science topics on exam day. You’ll review major phytochemical groups like polyphenols, carotenoids, glucosinolates, and phytoestrogens, their food sources, and their roles in health. Zak also explains how plant pigments such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and chlorophyll change under certain conditions. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you’ve learned and reinforce key concepts for the RD Exam. Get your notes and stay updated: Join the email list for live session notes, new episode alerts, and PDF review sheets: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA Follow RD Exam Ready for more exam prep: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down Wounds and Wound Healing MNT to help you feel confident tackling these topics on exam day. This episode focuses on the nutrition foundations behind wound healing — including pressure injuries, staging, and how nutrient needs change based on severity. You’ll review the phases of wound healing, types of wounds, and how to identify and understand pressure injury stages. Zak connects this directly to Medical Nutrition Therapy by walking through calorie, protein, and fluid needs across each stage, along with the role nutrients play in supporting healing. He also ties in real clinical considerations like metabolic stress, malnutrition risk, and when supplementation becomes necessary — then wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you learned. Join us live on YouTube March 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM Central (5:00 PT | 6:00 MT | 7:00 CT | 8:00 ET) as we break down practice questions and strategy for exam day:…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak walks through toddler and preschool nutrition and the key life cycle concepts you need to understand for the RD Exam. You’ll review how growth assessment changes at age two when we transition from WHO growth standards to CDC growth charts, including BMI-for-age classifications for overweight and obesity. Zak also covers feeding development, appropriate portion sizes, choking hazards, and how children develop food preferences through repeated exposure to new foods. The episode also reviews important nutrient needs for toddlers and preschoolers, including protein requirements, energy needs, and key micronutrients such as iron, zinc, calcium, fluoride, fiber, and vitamin D. Want more free RD Exam prep content? Follow RD Exam Ready on social media: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready Mailing List: If you want to get notified when new episodes release, hear about upcoming YouTube Live sessions, and receive PDF notes from those live…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews the key concepts you need to know about meat, poultry, and fish for the RD Exam. You’ll walk through the physical and chemical properties of these foods, their nutrient content, and how structures like muscle, connective tissue, collagen, elastin, and marbling impact tenderness and cooking methods. The episode also covers USDA inspection versus grading, beef and poultry grading systems, and the common cooking methods used for different cuts of meat and types of seafood. Zak explains when to use moist heat versus dry heat cooking and how tenderness, connective tissue, and fat content influence preparation methods. Join the RD Exam Ready email list here: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA When you subscribe, you’ll get notified about new podcast episodes, upcoming YouTube Live review sessions, and receive PDF notes from live sessions sent directly to your inbox. Follow RD Exam Ready for more exam prep: Instagram: @RDExamReady TikTok: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down Endocrine Disorders MNT to help you feel confident tackling these topics on exam day. This episode focuses on key non-diabetes endocrine conditions you’re expected to know — including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, pituitary disorders, adrenal disorders like Addison’s and Cushing’s, and PCOS. You’ll review core physiology, lab patterns (T3, T4, TSH), common signs and symptoms, medical management, and the Medical Nutrition Therapy that matters most for the RD Exam. Zak connects hormone imbalances to nutrition implications like changes in metabolic rate, insulin resistance, sodium balance, and energy needs — then wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you learned. Join us live on YouTube March 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM Central (5:00 PT | 6:00 MT | 7:00 CT | 8:00 ET) as we review foodborne illnesses together: https://youtube.com/live/273roYBV4Y8?feature=share Want the notes from live sessions and updates on new episodes? Join the email…

*Sorry for the poor audio on this one folks. Turns out forgetting to plug in the correct microphone can decrease the quality! We'll get it right for next time, and this seemed like a fine topic for audio issues. Thanks!* In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down Menu Development and why it matters for the RD Exam. From menu types (static, cycle, and single-use) to pricing styles like prix fixe and à la carte, we review the key concepts you need to recognize on exam day. You’ll also learn how menus impact the entire foodservice system — including staffing, equipment, cost control, sustainability, cultural considerations, government regulations, and nutritional adequacy. We walk through menu psychology, aesthetics (color, texture, shape, and balance), and the Star, Plow Horse, Puzzle, and Dog framework for evaluating menu items. If menus feel straightforward but you’re not always sure what the exam is really asking, this episode will help you connect the dots and approach these questions…

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews key Nutrition Assistance Programs you’ll want to understand for the RD Exam and real-world community nutrition practice. We break down what each program provides, who is eligible, and the income guidelines that determine benefits — from SNAP and WIC to school meals, older adult nutrition programs, CSFP, CACFP, and more. 📺 Upcoming RD Exam Ready YouTube Live — 2/18/26 Mark your calendar! We’ll be going live on Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00 PM Central Time with another review session designed to help you study smarter. More practice questions, explanations, and real-time support. You don’t want to miss it! 📲 Follow RD Exam Ready Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready 🎧 Listen or watch the podcast anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) and staffing calculations, a topic that often causes confusion in foodservice management. You’ll learn how FTEs fit into the management functions, how to calculate FTEs per day, week, and year, and how to account for relief employees and adjusted FTEs. Zak walks through common exam-style scenarios, highlights unit-tracking tips, and finishes with practice questions to help you apply these concepts with confidence on exam day. 📺 Upcoming YouTube Live – EN & TPN Calculations Join us Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00 PM Central Time (5:00 PM Pacific | 6:00 PM Mountain | 8:00 PM Eastern) 👉 https://www.youtube.com/live/rhQiFfnCVd4?si=UQygvJ_tVdvPesZL 📲 Follow RD Exam Ready for more practice questions & live updates: Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: RD Exam Ready 🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help spread the word and support fellow RD2Be’s. Happy studying 💙

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews the major types of bariatric surgery and the nutrition considerations you need to know for the RD Exam. You’ll learn how each procedure changes digestion and absorption, what vitamin and mineral deficiencies to watch for, and how these concepts show up in exam-style questions. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply the material with confidence on exam day. 📲 Follow RD Exam Ready Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: @RDExamReady 🎧 Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast 📺 Upcoming YouTube Live: February 4th at 7:00 PM Central https://youtube.com/live/rhQiFfnCVd4?feature=share

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down fixed, variable, and semi-variable costs in a clear, exam-focused way. You’ll learn how to identify each type of cost, avoid common points of confusion, and apply these concepts to calculation and break-even style questions. This episode is designed to help you think more confidently through foodservice finance questions on exam day. 📺 Join RD Exam Ready Live 🗓 January 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM Central Time 👉 https://youtube.com/live/yE5PpAN18SI?feature=share 📲 Follow RD Exam Ready Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: @RDExamReady 🎧 Listen or watch the podcast anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak focuses on one of the most important skills for passing the RD Exam: QUESTION STRATEGY. You’ll learn how to approach every question with confidence using process of elimination, smart calculation techniques, and structured thinking for more complex clinical scenarios. This episode is all about improving performance on questions—not just memorizing content—so you can put the odds in your favor on exam day. 📲 Follow RD Exam Ready Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: @RDExamReady 🎧 Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down the organizing function of management in a clear, student-friendly way. You’ll learn how managers group tasks, delegate authority, structure organizations, and manage staff through concepts like organizational charts, line vs. staff authority, span of control, and centralized vs. decentralized organizations. The goal is simple: help you recognize where these concepts fit so you feel confident on exam day. 📺 Join RD Exam Ready Live January 7, 2026 at 7:00 PM Central Time We’ll be reviewing minerals live on YouTube. 👉 https://youtube.com/live/C7A6KrCYl8A?feature=share 📲 Follow RD Exam Ready Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: @RDExamReady 🎧 Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down stress, inflammation, and the labs you’ll see in acute illness. Learn how acute phase reactants work, how to interpret albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, and CRP, and why inflammation—not nutrition alone—drives many lab changes in hospitalized patients. This episode helps you connect inflammation, metabolism, and nutrition care with confidence. Follow & Listen 📲 Instagram: @RDExamReady ▶️ YouTube: @RDExamReady 🎧 Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak walks through common gastrointestinal disorders and the nutrition therapy used to manage them. You’ll review conditions affecting the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, with a clear focus on understanding etiology, signs and symptoms, medications, and nutrition interventions. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you’ve learned and strengthen your clinical reasoning for exam day. Follow & Listen: Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: @RDExamReady Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

YOUTUBE LIVE: 12/17/25 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time [VITAMINS WITH Q&A] Link:https://youtube.com/live/za_riY2HouY?feature=share In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down behavior change and educational theories you need to know for the CDR Exam. Learn how major models explain patient motivation, readiness to change, and counseling strategies—without getting lost in the details. The episode focuses on how to recognize these theories in exam questions and apply them confidently on test day, with practice questions to reinforce key concepts. Follow & Listen Follow on Instagram: @RDExamReady Subscribe on YouTube: @RDExamReady Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

Episode Description: In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down the key equipment and facility standards you’ll need to know for the RD Exam. From understanding equipment requirements and dishwasher basics to lighting standards and common exam traps, you'll learn how to identify what matters most on test day. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply and reinforce the material. Follow & Listen: Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: @RDExamReady Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

Episode Description: In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down the major types of research you’ll need to recognize for the RD Exam. You’ll learn how to distinguish descriptive vs. analytical studies, understand common designs like case–control, cohort, cross-sectional, qualitative research, and RCTs, and use simple examples to keep them straight. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply the concepts with confidence. Follow & Listen: Instagram: @RDExamReady YouTube: @RDExamReady Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak covers the essential employment laws and union concepts you’ll need for the exam. Learn his proven method for identifying Pro- and Anti-Employee acts, then put your knowledge to the test with focused practice questions designed to reinforce what you’ve learned. IG: @rdexamready YT: @RDexamready

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down medical nutrition therapy for critically ill patients. You’ll review the metabolic stress response and how to identify the ebb, flow, and recovery phases, along with key nutrition considerations for patients with sepsis and major burns. Zak also covers calorie and protein prescriptions, when to use predictive equations, and why early enteral nutrition is preferred whenever possible. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply what you’ve learned and feel more confident on exam day.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak breaks down Carbohydrate Counting for Diabetes in a clear way to apply to your exam day. You’ll review how to calculate carbohydrates in common meals and snacks, and what to know about starches, fruits, dairy, and non-starchy vegetables. Zak also walks through lean, medium-fat, and high-fat proteins to help you see how they fit into diabetes meal planning. The episode wraps up with practice questions to test your knowledge and help you feel more confident for exam day.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews the key ingredient functions tested on the CDR Exam. From flour, eggs, and fats to sugar, salt, and leavening agents, you’ll learn how each ingredient contributes structure, flavor, stability, and tenderness to baked goods. Zak also breaks down common baking issues — like low volume, fallen centers, and tunneling — and explains how ingredient balance affects final product quality. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply the material and strengthen your food science knowledge for exam day.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews the key concepts of infant nutrition you’ll need to know for the CDR Exam. From growth assessment standards and nutrient needs to feeding recommendations, you’ll learn what’s tested and how to apply it. Topics include energy, protein, fat, vitamin D, iron, and fluoride requirements, along with how to interpret WHO growth charts for infants. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply these concepts on exam day.

In this episode, Zak reviews the biochemistry of fats — what you need to know for the CDR Exam. From fatty acid structure and saturation levels to digestion, absorption, and metabolism, this episode breaks down how fats move through the body in both fed and fasted states. You’ll learn how triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols function — and how to connect these concepts to real RD Exam practice questions.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews key leadership and management theories tested on the CDR Exam. From Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Model to Expectancy Theory, Reinforcement Theory, and McGregor’s Theory X & Y, you’ll learn the essentials of how each theory explains employee motivation and management styles. The episode wraps up with practice questions to help you apply the theories directly to exam scenarios.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak reviews the key herbs and botanicals you’ll need to know for the CDR Exam. From garlic, ginseng, and gingko to St. John’s Wort, valerian root, and more — you’ll learn what each claims to do, their risks, and the food–drug interactions that are most testable. The lesson wraps up with practice questions to help you apply the material and sharpen your exam skills.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, Zak tackles the physical and chemical properties of water — the very first topic on the CDR Exam outline. You’ll review the essentials for exam day, including freezing and boiling points, cooking applications, and how water behaves in different circumstances. Dive in (no pun intended) and solidify your understanding of this core food science concept.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we break down the renal system from the ground up. Zak covers kidney anatomy and function, filtration and absorption, and how the nephron maintains fluid, electrolytes, and pH balance. You’ll also learn about GFR, the RAAS system, and why nutrition is so critical in kidney disease. We finish with practice questions to help you connect the physiology to what you’ll actually see on exam day.

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we unpack the biochemistry of protein in a way that actually makes sense. From essential vs. non-essential amino acids to protein digestion, absorption, and metabolism, Zak breaks down the big processes like transamination and the urea cycle into exam-ready takeaways. To finish, we put your knowledge to the test with practice questions so you can know how to apply this information for exam day!

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we break down the key nutrition surveys and surveillance systems you need to know for exam day. Zak reviews NHANES, What We Eat in America, NHIS, BRFSS, YRBSS, FSANS, TDS, and FLAPS — focusing on their acronyms, populations, and purpose. We’ll highlight how to differentiate between them and then reinforce the material with practice questions to help you apply this knowledge with confidence. *During this episode I mistakenly call the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System by many wrong names. Please note that whenever I specified Youth, I am referring to the YRBSS.*

In this episode of the RD Exam Ready Podcast, we explore the major structures and functions of the GI tract, the key enzymes driving digestion, and the hormones that regulate the process. Zak breaks down complex physiology into exam-focused takeaways — then applies the material to targeted practice questions. Happy Studying RD2Be!