Food Science: Fruits and Vegetables

Food Science: Fruits and Vegetables

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 [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 [https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast] Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group. Happy Studying, RD2Be 💙

Anemia Labs and MNT

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 [https://www.youtube.com/live/8sPK59251VY?si=zZVBvcOuR9rRPru3] Join the email list for notes and updates: http://eepurl.com/jvGxaA [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 [https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast] Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group.  Happy studying, RD2Be 💙

Conventional, Commissary, Ready-Prepared, & Assembly-Serve

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 [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 [https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast] Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group.  Happy Studying, RD2Be 💙

Community Needs Assessment & Program Planning

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 [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 [https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast] Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group.  Happy Studying, RD2Be 💙

Phytochemicals and Plant Pigments

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 [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 [https://feeds.transistor.fm/rd-exam-ready-podcast] Subscribe, rate, and share with your study group.  Happy studying, RD2Be 💙