*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 with more confidence.

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Happy Studying, RD2Be 💙

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!

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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

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🎧 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
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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

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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.

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YouTube: @RDExamReady

🎧 Listen or watch anywhere:
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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
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YouTube: @RDExamReady

🎧 Listen or watch anywhere:
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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.

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🎧 Listen or watch anywhere: https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast