CDN Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CDN facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. How do lipids contribute to metabolism? → They store energy, form cell membranes, and produce hormones
2. How does poverty influence community nutrition? → It limits access to healthy foods
3. In the context of CDN certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing renal & cardiac nutrition? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
4. Which complication is most associated with rapid advancement of enteral tube feeding in a critically ill patient? → Aspiration pneumonia
5. High-dose aspirin therapy can deplete which vitamin by increasing its renal tubular excretion? → Vitamin C
6. In the context of CDN certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing sports nutrition & performance? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
7. In the context of CDN certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing eating disorder treatment? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
8. Which of the following best describes a key competency required for sports nutrition & performance in CDN practice? → Strong analytical skills combined with effective communication and ethical judgment
9. Which stage of the Transtheoretical Model is characterized by consistent healthy behavior maintained for more than 6 months? → Maintenance
10. A registered dietitian notices a client has strong resistance to change. According to MI principles, the best response is to: → Roll with the resistance and explore ambivalence without arguing
11. Patients on warfarin (Coumadin) anticoagulation therapy require careful monitoring of their intake of which vitamin? → Vitamin K
12. In motivational interviewing (MI), which technique involves reflecting back what a client has said to encourage deeper exploration? → Reflective listening
13. Loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide) and thiazide diuretics frequently cause depletion of which electrolyte, potentially leading to cardiac arrhythmias? → Potassium
14. What is the primary function of carbohydrates in the human body? → To provide energy
15. A dietitian sets a SMART goal with a client. Which example best illustrates a SMART nutrition goal? → 'Replace one sugary beverage with water 5 days per week for the next month'
16. What is the primary advantage of a closed enteral feeding system over an open system? → Reduced risk of microbial contamination with longer hang times (up to 24–48 hours)
17. What is the role of water in metabolism? → It regulates body temperature and aids digestion
18. How does the body regulate blood sugar levels? → By secreting insulin and glucagon to regulate levels
19. Which amino acid is considered conditionally essential and is commonly added to PN formulations for critically ill or surgical patients? → Glutamine
20. What is the typical protein requirement (g/kg/day) for a critically ill patient receiving nutrition support? → 1.2–2.0 g/kg/day
21. What is the role of government policies in community nutrition? → They regulate food safety and access to nutrition
22. What is a common challenge in addressing nutrition in low-income communities? → Limited access to nutritious foods
23. A client reports emotional eating during stressful periods. Which cognitive-behavioral strategy would be most appropriate? → Using food journaling to identify emotion-food cue connections
24. Isoniazid (INH), used in the treatment of tuberculosis, acts as a structural antagonist to which B vitamin, frequently necessitating supplementation? → Pyridoxine (B6)
25. Metformin, a first-line medication for type 2 diabetes, is associated with reduced absorption of which vitamin over time? → Vitamin B12
26. Which electrolyte abnormality is most commonly associated with initiating PN in a patient who has been NPO for an extended period? → Hypophosphatemia
27. What is the purpose of fiber in digestion? → To regulate digestion and prevent constipation
28. In the context of CDN certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing medical nutrition therapy? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
29. In the context of CDN certification, what is the most important consideration when implementing cultural competency in nutrition? → Ensuring alignment with established standards, stakeholder needs, and best practices
30. Chronic alcohol abuse impairs the activation of which vitamin primarily through its effects on hepatic hydroxylation? → Vitamin D