Food Composition Database
A Food Composition Database is a collection of detailed information about the nutritional content of foods. It's like a giant digital cookbook that tells you exactly what nutrients are in different foods. Nutritionists and dietitians use these databases to plan meals, analyze diets, and make food recommendations. Think of it as a reference tool that shows things like how much protein is in chicken, how many vitamins are in an apple, or how much sodium is in processed foods. Common examples include the USDA Food Database and EuroFIR, which are used by professionals to make informed decisions about food and nutrition.
Examples in Resumes
Utilized Food Composition Database to develop personalized meal plans for 200+ clients
Conducted research using Food Composition Database and Nutrient Database for institutional menu planning
Analyzed dietary patterns using Food Composition Database and Food Database systems for clinical studies
Typical job title: "Nutrition Database Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Nutrition Database Specialists
Professional Organizations
Online Resources
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you ensure the quality and accuracy of data in a food composition database?
Expected Answer: A senior professional should discuss quality control measures, data validation processes, standardization of food measurements, and methods for keeping the database updated with new food products.
Q: How would you handle missing nutrient values in a food composition database?
Expected Answer: They should explain methods for estimating missing values, using similar food items as references, and documenting assumptions and limitations in the data.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you use food composition databases to develop specialized meal plans?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of using database tools to create balanced meal plans, considering nutritional requirements, portion sizes, and dietary restrictions.
Q: What factors do you consider when comparing different food composition databases?
Expected Answer: Should discuss data sources, update frequency, food variety coverage, and specific nutrient information availability in different databases.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What basic information can you find in a food composition database?
Expected Answer: Should mention basic nutrient content like calories, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, plus portion sizes and food categories.
Q: How do you search for specific foods in a composition database?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic search functions, food categorization systems, and how to interpret basic nutritional information from database entries.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic database navigation and searching
- Simple nutritional analysis
- Understanding of common nutrients
- Basic meal planning using database information
Mid (2-5 years)
- Advanced nutritional analysis
- Custom report generation
- Recipe analysis and development
- Database comparison and selection
Senior (5+ years)
- Database quality assessment
- Research project management
- Training and supervision
- Complex dietary analysis
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic nutrient categories
- Inability to interpret nutritional data
- Lack of experience with major food databases
- No knowledge of dietary guidelines or recommendations
Related Terms
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