An overview of methodologies, proficiencies, and training resources for controlled feeding studies

Dietary intervention studies of human beings produce valu-able information regarding dietary effects on biological pro-cesses and risk factors for chronic diseases. Using the well-controlled feeding approach, participants consume only foods that have been precisely prepared in a research kitchen, whereas in behavioral counseling studies, participants self-select their foods within guidelines. Because controlled feed-ing studies meticulously control experimental diets, they are intellectually and logistically challenging to conduct. They afford exciting opportunities for dietetic professionals in de-signing protocols, developing budgets, and collaborating in multidisciplinary research teams. Research dietitians use food composition data and chemical analysis of menus to pre-pare research diets with precision. They determine the en