CDM study guide
CDM · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM, CFPP) credential is awarded by the Certifying Board for Dietary Managers (CBDM) to food and nutrition services professionals who have the education and experience to ensure food safety, manage menus, purchase and prepare food, apply nutrition principles, document nutrition information, and manage employees. Candidates prove these competencies by passing the nationally recognized CDM, CFPP Credentialing Exam, then keep the credential current through ongoing continuing education. The CDM study guide has 5 sections and about 1,460 words.
01Foodservice Systems Management
Foodservice is a system of inputs (food, labor, equipment, money), transformation (production and service), and outputs (meals, satisfaction, costs). Candidates should distinguish the four production systems: conventional (food prepared and served on site, short holding), commissary (central production transported to satellites), ready-prepared or cook-chill/cook-freeze (food cooked, rapidly chilled or frozen, reheated later), and assembly-serve (purchased pre-prepared items, minimal production).
282 words, about 1 min02Nutrition and Medical Nutrition Therapy
Review energy-yielding nutrients (carbohydrate 4 kcal/g, protein 4, fat 9, alcohol 7), digestion and absorption, and requirements across the lifecycle. Nutrition screening identifies risk; assessment estimates intake, weight history, laboratory values, and physical findings.
276 words, about 1 min03Sanitation and Food Safety
Know the big six: Norovirus, Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli O157:H7, plus Listeria and Bacillus cereus.
318 words, about 2 min04Personnel and Human Resource Management
Understand recruitment (sourcing), selection (interviewing, reference and background checks), orientation (policies, culture, safety), training (task skills), and development. Job descriptions define duties and qualifications; performance appraisals should be objective, behavior-based, and documented.
290 words, about 1 min05Business Operations and Financial Management
Operating budgets cover recurring revenue and expenses; capital budgets cover major equipment and long-lived assets, often depreciated over time. Forecasting uses census, meal counts, and historical trends.
294 words, about 1 min