Criteria Food groups diet design Nutrient balancing diet design Nutrient balancing adjustment
Need any specific tool No (just the list of food substitutes) Software that calculates the nutrients for the RDN A double-side software for both patient and RDN that provide self-monitoring, telemedicine and calculate the nutrients at the same time
The accuracy to provide the requirements Acceptable High High
Can consider macronutrients Yes Yes Yes
Can consider micronutrients No (or few) Yes Yes
Database requirement Not necessary required required
Need education Need to educate the list of food substitutes Don’t need any specific education Need to educate the nutrients and the way of using software
Duration of education 10-20 minutes Less than 5 minutes 10-20 minutes
Can consider mixed foods No Yes Yes
Freedom to choose the foods According to the list of food substitutes Between suggested foods Entirely
Can be used for special diets that require limitation in some nutrients No (the list of food substitutes will be changed) Yes Yes
Time to review patients record and design a 1-week diet 45-120 minutes (without using prepared diets) 45-120 minutes (without using prepared diets) 5-10 minutes
Best usage public health and healthy diet educations Designing diet for patients who are not able to choose between foods and need a fixed diet (elder population) Designing diet for patients who can choose between foods (younger population)