Medical Nutrition Therapy
Disease-specific protocols, enteral & parenteral nutrition, nutrition assessment, biochemical markers, and therapeutic diet modifications for clinical conditions.
RD Exam Prep
Written by an RDN
Active Recall Method
Puzzle
Your Way
to RD Success:
Exam Crosswords
The only crossword study book designed specifically for the Dietitian board exam
Tired of re-reading the same dense notes? Puzzle Your Way to RD Success by Registered Dietitian Merisa Martinez, RDN transforms exam preparation into an engaging, effective active-recall experience. Every puzzle maps directly to a real RD exam knowledge domain — so every minute you spend puzzling is a minute spent mastering exam-ready terminology.
Paperback Price
$24.99
ISBN: 978-8336362077 · Paperback · Travel-sized
📦
Amazon Prime
👩⚕️
RDN-Authored
🎯
Exam-Domain Aligned
✅
Answer Key Included
⭐
5.0 / 5.0
3 Verified Ratings
🎓
RD Exam Prep
By a Credentialed RDN
🧩 Sample Puzzle: MNT & Clinical Nutrition Expert Level
K
A
R
E
N
T
E
R
A
L
T
L
R
B
O
L
U
S
2 Across:
Nutrition delivery administered directly to the GI tract via tube. Used when oral intake is not possible. (7 letters) → ENTERAL ✓
4 Across:
Feeding method where formula is delivered rapidly by syringe rather than via continuous infusion. (5 letters) → BOLUS ✓
Why This Works
Stop Re-Reading.
Stop Re-Reading.
Start Retrieving.
Traditional RD exam prep often means staring at the same pages until the words blur. Puzzle Your Way to RD Success takes a fundamentally different approach — rooted in the science of active recall — and makes it genuinely enjoyable.
Written by Merisa Martinez, RDN at Live Nourished Today , every crossword was crafted to mirror the depth and clinical context of the actual RD board exam. This isn't trivia — it's targeted mastery.
Active Recall Over Passive Review
Retrieving a term from memory under constraint creates far deeper encoding than re-reading flashcards or notes — the same cognitive process activated during your actual exam.
Every Clue Is Exam-Aligned
Clues use clinical framing, disease-specific contexts, and dietary reference language — not vague definitions. Written by someone who has sat the exam and works in practice daily.
No Screen. No Charger. No Excuses.
Travel-sized paperback means you can study on your commute, between rotations, or anywhere your dietetic internship takes you — without draining your phone battery.
Fights Study Burnout
Puzzle-based studying has been shown to reduce cognitive fatigue while maintaining focus longer than traditional study formats — so you absorb more per session, every session.
What You'll Master
Every Puzzle Maps to a
Every Puzzle Maps to a
Real RD Exam Domain
Unlike generic crossword books, every puzzle in this collection was built around the knowledge areas tested on the NDTR and RD board exams. Pair it with personalized nutrition counseling to reinforce clinical application beyond the exam.
Biochemistry & Metabolism
Macronutrient metabolic pathways, enzymatic functions, nutrient interactions, digestion and absorption mechanisms, and energy metabolism fundamentals.
Food Science & Safety
Food composition, preparation methods, HACCP principles, food labeling standards, food safety regulations, and the science behind quality and preservation.
Vitamins & Minerals
Fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, major and trace minerals, deficiency and toxicity conditions, DRIs, food sources, and clinical significance on the exam.
Community & Public Health
Federal nutrition programs (WIC, SNAP, MNP), nutrition guidelines, population health assessment, health disparities, and public health nutrition interventions.
Counseling & Education
Motivational interviewing, behavior change models, nutrition education strategies, counseling theories, and communication frameworks used in everyday dietetics practice.
The Method
Why Crosswords Outperform Flashcards
Cognitive science is clear — active retrieval builds stronger, longer-lasting memory than passive review. Here's how this book puts that into practice, one puzzle at a time.
Encounter the Clue
Each clue presents a clinical concept using the framing and language of real RD exam questions — not beginner definitions.
Actively Retrieve
You search your memory for the exact term — including correct spelling. This retrieval effort is what drives deep encoding into long-term memory.
Cross-Reference
Crossing answers force you to verify answers using intersecting letters — requiring simultaneous recall of multiple nutrition concepts.
Verify & Internalize
The included answer key lets you confirm and correct immediately — closing the feedback loop that cements lasting recall before exam day.
The Science Behind Puzzles
Your Brain Is Built
Your Brain Is Built
for This Kind of Learning
Crossword puzzles aren't just fun — they're a scientifically validated form of cognitive exercise. Research consistently shows that puzzle-solving strengthens memory, sharpens focus, and reduces mental fatigue — all essential qualities for high-stakes exam performance.
Studies published by UPMC Health Beat confirm that regular crossword puzzle activity strengthens neural pathways related to vocabulary retrieval and pattern recognition. Research from All Seniors Care further demonstrates that puzzles improve working memory and sustained attention — both critical for multi-hour board exams. And Progress Lifeline notes that puzzle-solving actively builds new cognitive connections, making information easier to retrieve under pressure.
40%
stronger memory retention with active recall vs. passive re-reading (cognitive research)
500+
clinical nutrition terms covered across all RD exam knowledge domains
5.0★
average verified rating from dietetics students on Amazon
$24.99
one of the most affordable and unique RD exam prep tools available
Supporting Research
UPMC Health Beat
"Crossword puzzles stimulate the brain similarly to how physical exercise keeps the body fit — regular engagement builds stronger recall and sharper cognitive connections."
Read the research →All Seniors Care
"Puzzles improve working memory and sustained attention — cognitive skills that directly impact performance on high-stakes assessments and complex clinical tasks."
Read the research →Progress Lifeline
"Solving puzzles consistently builds new neural pathways, helping learners retrieve information more efficiently when under the cognitive demands of an exam environment."
Read the research → Study Smarter
How Does It Stack Up?
See why crossword-based active recall outperforms the most common RD exam study habits.
| Study Feature | ✏️ This Book | Flashcards | Re-reading Notes | Video Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Recall | ✓ Strong | ~ Moderate | ✗ | ✗ |
| Screen-Free & Portable | ✓ Yes | ~ App-based | ✓ | ✗ Needs device |
| RD Exam Domain-Aligned | ✓ Fully | ~ Varies | ~ Varies | ~ Varies |
| Reduces Study Burnout | ✓ Yes | ✗ | ✗ | ~ Somewhat |
| Written by a Credentialed RDN | ✓ Yes | ✗ Varies | ✗ Varies | ~ Some |
| Under $15 | ✓ $24.99 | ~ Varies | ✓ Free | ✗ Often $49+ |
Reader Reviews
What Dietetic Students Are Saying
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"A creative and genuinely effective study tool. I use it alongside my traditional RD exam review books and I actually look forward to this one. The clinical clues are surprisingly well-aligned with what actually shows up on the exam."
🎓 Dietetic Intern
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"I was skeptical that crosswords could actually help me study. The MNT section alone covers terminology I'd been blanking on in practice tests. The fact that it's written by a real RDN makes a noticeable difference — the clues actually sound clinical."
📚 Nutrition Student
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"Bought as a gift for a friend in her dietetic internship and she absolutely loved it. Such a thoughtful and genuinely useful exam prep resource. Breaks up the monotony of studying in the best way. Will be buying copies for our entire cohort."
🎁 Gift Purchase
Beyond the Exam
From RD Student to
From RD Student to
Confident Clinician
Passing the RD board exam is a milestone — but real nutritional mastery happens when you apply that knowledge in practice. At Live Nourished Today , we bridge the gap between textbook knowledge and real-world client care through evidence-based, personalized nutrition counseling.
Whether you're a new RD looking to deepen your clinical skills, or a client seeking expert guidance, our team is here to support every step of your nutrition journey.
🥗
Personalized Nutrition Counseling
Expert 1-on-1 nutrition sessions tailored to your unique health history, goals, and lifestyle — the clinical side of everything this book teaches.
📚
Browse All Nutrition Books
Explore the full collection of nutrition workbooks, puzzle books, and educational resources authored by Merisa Martinez, RDN.
🍳
Explore Our Recipe Library
Apply your nutrition knowledge in the kitchen — browse dietitian-approved recipes that put the principles from your study sessions onto the plate.
Nourish While You Study
Fuel Your Brain the RDN Way
A well-nourished brain studies better. You're memorizing nutrients — why not eat them too? Our dietitian-approved recipe collection is packed with brain-supporting foods: omega-3s, antioxidants, B vitamins, and complex carbohydrates — the exact micronutrients you'll be answering clues about.
Questions Answered
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Puzzle Your Way to RD Success designed for?
This book is designed for dietetics students, dietetic interns, and anyone
preparing to sit for the RD or NDTR board exam. It works best as a supplementary
active-recall tool alongside a comprehensive review guide. It also makes an excellent,
thoughtful gift for any future dietitian in your life.
What RD exam topics does this book cover?
The puzzles cover all major domains: Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT),
clinical nutrition, biochemistry, vitamins and minerals, food science, community nutrition,
nutrition counseling, enteral and parenteral nutrition, nutrition assessment, and
nutrition across the lifecycle. Every puzzle topic maps to a recognized RD exam knowledge area.
Can I use this as my only RD exam prep resource?
Puzzle Your Way to RD Success is designed as a highly effective supplementary study tool
— not a standalone replacement for comprehensive
review materials. Think of it as the active recall layer of your study stack:
use it alongside a structured review guide for the most complete exam preparation.
If you're also looking for practical clinical support, nutrition counseling
can bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.
Is this a good gift for a dietetics student?
Absolutely. At $24.99 and travel-sized, it's one of the most affordable, thoughtful, and
practically useful gifts for anyone navigating the dietetic internship or preparing for
their board exam. Check out our digital store
for additional books by Merisa Martinez, RDN to pair with this one.
Does the book include an answer key?
Yes — a complete answer key is included at the back of the book. Immediate
self-correction is a critical component of the active recall method: knowing
right away whether you retrieved a term correctly is what drives lasting memory
consolidation and confidence going into exam day.
Where can I buy Puzzle Your Way to RD Success?
The paperback is available on Amazon (ASIN: B0DFQKYYBN)
for $24.99 with Prime shipping. Search "Puzzle Your Way to RD Success Merisa Martinez"
to find it directly. You can also browse all books
from Live Nourished Today.
Ready to Study Smarter?
Your RD Exam Prep
Your RD Exam Prep
Just Got a Lot More Enjoyable
Join the dietetics students and interns who've discovered a better way to prepare for the RD board exam. Written by an RDN who has been exactly where you are — and came out the other side with credential in hand.
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👩⚕️ Written by a Licensed RDN
✅ Answer Key Included
⭐ 5.0 Amazon Rating
💳 $24.99 Paperback