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Nutrition practice questions for the CCMA exam

Nutrition is part of Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science, which is 15 of the 150 scored questions on the CCMA exam. Try 5 free questions below; open each one to see the answer, why the other options are wrong and the sources.

Question 1

One serving of a snack bar contains 8 g fat, 20 g carbohydrate, and 5 g protein. Using standard calorie factors, how many calories does one serving provide?

  1. 132 calories
  2. 172 calories
  3. 197 calories
  4. 231 calories
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. 172 calories

Fat 8 g x 9 = 72, carbohydrate 20 g x 4 = 80, protein 5 g x 4 = 20; 72 + 80 + 20 = 172 calories.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. 132 calories: 132 counts fat at 4 calories per gram instead of 9.
  • C. 197 calories: 197 counts protein at 9 calories per gram instead of 4.
  • D. 231 calories: 231 multiplies all 33 g by 7, a factor that applies to none of these nutrients.

Sources

Question 2

A patient with lactose intolerance wants to keep some dairy in her diet for calcium. Which choice is generally lower in lactose and easier to tolerate?

  1. Ice cream
  2. Milkshake
  3. Chocolate milk
  4. Swiss cheese
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Swiss cheese

NIDDK notes that yogurt and hard cheeses such as cheddar or Swiss are lower in lactose than other milk products.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Ice cream: Ice cream is a milk product with more lactose than hard cheese.
  • B. Milkshake: A milkshake combines milk and ice cream, both high in lactose.
  • C. Chocolate milk: Chocolate milk is still milk, a major lactose source.

Sources

Question 3

Since January 1, 2023, which food has been required to be declared as the ninth major food allergen on U.S. packaged food labels?

  1. Lupin
  2. Mustard
  3. Corn
  4. Sesame
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Sesame

The FASTER Act added sesame as the 9th major food allergen, effective January 1, 2023, joining milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Lupin: Lupin is not one of the nine U.S. major food allergens.
  • B. Mustard: Mustard is not one of the nine U.S. major food allergens.
  • C. Corn: Corn is not one of the nine U.S. major food allergens.

Sources

Question 4

Which patient is at greatest risk for vitamin B12 deficiency?

  1. A vegan patient who uses no fortified foods or supplements
  2. A patient who eats fish and dairy products several times a week
  3. A patient who eats eggs daily and drinks milk with every meal
  4. A patient who eats fortified breakfast cereal every morning
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A. A vegan patient who uses no fortified foods or supplements

Vitamin B12 occurs naturally in animal foods and is absent from plant foods unless fortified, so a vegan diet without fortified foods or supplements carries a high risk.

Why the other options are wrong

  • B. A patient who eats fish and dairy products several times a week: Fish and dairy are natural sources of vitamin B12.
  • C. A patient who eats eggs daily and drinks milk with every meal: Eggs and milk both supply vitamin B12.
  • D. A patient who eats fortified breakfast cereal every morning: Fortified cereals are a good B12 source.

Sources

  • Vitamin B12 · MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

Question 5

A patient who takes mealtime insulin asks why the dietitian wants her to count carbohydrates. Which explanation is accurate?

  1. Counting carbs is meant to remove all carbohydrates from her diet
  2. Tracking carbs helps her know how much insulin to take with meals
  3. Counting carbs replaces the need to check blood glucose
  4. Carbohydrates contain more calories per gram than fat
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Tracking carbs helps her know how much insulin to take with meals

NIDDK explains that carbs are turned into glucose and that, for people who take insulin, carb counting helps them know how much insulin to take.

Why the other options are wrong

  • A. Counting carbs is meant to remove all carbohydrates from her diet: The goal is to track and plan carbs, not eliminate them.
  • C. Counting carbs replaces the need to check blood glucose: Carb counting does not replace glucose monitoring.
  • D. Carbohydrates contain more calories per gram than fat: Carbohydrates give 4 calories per gram and fat gives 9.

Sources

Nutrition terms

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