Nutrition software packages for dietitians offer a variety of reports that you can generate and make available to your clients. If you're going to deliver these reports electronically (as would be the case via the Internet), make sure your software will allow you to save your reports in text, word processor, or web page formats.

Power and Flexibility. Formatted Reports should be professional, include graphics, and offer a high degree of customizability. The software should allow you to control a wide variety of parameters, such as borders, dividers, charts, colors, shading, which nutrients are included in the report, and permit control over the actual components of the reports such as bylines, credentials, contact information, comments and recommendations, etc.

Headers. One thing you should insist on from your nutrition software package is the ability to automatically add a logo, contact information, and even a picture of yourself, if desired, at the top of every report you generate. This type of information is called a "header" and as strange as it may sound, not every nutrition software package provides this capability.

Here's an overview of some of the documents and reports you can generate, edit, save, print, transmit, post, or simply hand to your clients:

Forms - Some nutrition software packages allow you to print documents for your clients to complete and return to you. You should be able to edit these forms as desired to meet your particular requirements. They include:

Client Questionnaire - This form contains all the questions you need answered to log the client on to your nutrition software package. Look for the ability to edit your questionnaire in case you want to collect additional information. You should be able to simply click a button to print a new Client Questionnaire whenever you wish.

Intake Diary - This form allows your client to record a day's food log. As with the Client Questionnaire, you should be able to edit this form to satisfy your requirements. Clicking a button will print a new Intake Diary for you on demand.

Documents you can generate, edit, save, and/or print for your clients - You can never have too many handouts for your clients. Have a few of each document handy at all times keeps you prepared at all times. Imagine the impact when your client asks you what a good substitute for oil in a cake recipe and you hand her a list of Food Substitutions that tell her about a large number of common substitutions. Handing her a handout like this shows you're good at what you do, that you do it thoroughly, and that you're prepared for any question. And make sure your logo and contact information appears in the header of that report.

Food Substitution Lists - This document, which you should be able to print from your software, provides healthier food substitutions for use in your client's recipes and normal daily intakes. Look for the ability to edit this list as needed.

Measurement Conversion Charts - A handy printout that summarizes common conversions - metric and English - for your client.

Food Claim Terminology Overview - A document that explains the actual meaning of food label terms like "low fat," "light." and "good source." As with all forms, you should be able to edit this document to account for additions and changes.

"Ideal" Body Weight and Fat Charts - These documents - for men and women - can be printed and used as handouts for your clients to use in determining how they fare compared to the body weight and body fat percentages published by several different sources.

Motivational Quotations for Dieters - Tips like "Cut out those intimate little dinners for two unless there's someone with you." or "Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you diet." can be printed standalone or inserted into some or all of your reports to make them more interesting and helpful to your client. You should be able to choose from hundreds of these quotations and have the ability to add to your master list if you wish.

Dieting Tips - Give your weight loss clients a different "Dieting Tips Sheet" with each visit. Hundreds of tips are available and include such things as "If, during the course of your meal, you should find that you're no longer hungry, put your fork on the table and stop putting food into your mouth." You should be able to cut and paste these dieting tips into any report or document you produce for your client.

Toll Free Numbers for Food Makers - Does your client want to contact a food manufacturer for nutrient information, store locations, or for any other reason? Then print her a listing of several hundred food makers and their toll free phone numbers. Your name and contact information at the top of this handout remind her of your kindness.

Glossary of Foods - Need to explain a cooking term or food term to a client? Just print any of over 1,000 terms for her. If you prefer, just pick the definition you want and paste it into a report you have prepared for her.

Target Heart Rate Training - Are you going to put your client on an aerobic program? Print this document to provide a good understanding of what she's getting into and why. Of course, you may edit this essay to include additional information if you wish.

Daily Values - This brief article can be printed to explain the concept of Daily Values to your clients.

Reports you can produce for your clients - These are some of the types of reports you can produce with your nutrition software package. By listening to your client and by evaluating her needs, you can produce a package of forms, documents, and reports that thoroughly meet her ongoing and changing needs. (And that's what she hired you for in the first place, isn't it?)

Basic Intake Analysis Report - This type of report provides an overview of the basic nutrients in a client's intake. It is "quick and dirty" and can be produced on the spot as needed. Your software should be capable of producing extremely detailed in-depth reports too.

Basic Recipe Report - This report provides a quick overview of the basic nutrients in a recipe. You should be able to save this recipe report in text, RTF, or HTML (web page) format. The HTML format makes it convenient to support a "Recipe of the Day" column on your web page. And of course, your software should be capable of producing far more detailed in-depth reports too... in fact you should be able to generate recipe reports in which you can select the nutrients analyzed and obtain numbers for the entire recipe, a single serving of the recipe, and for every ingredient in the recipe if desired. >Body Chemistry Report - A Body Chemistry report provides information regarding your client's body chemistry information (white blood cell count, uric acid, etc.)

Calorie Expenditures Report - This report shows how many calories a selected client will expend in performing any of several dozen exercises for 30 minutes. The calorie expenditures are based on the client's body weight. Use this report to help clients determine what they need to do to burn the calories you prescribe to them. A list of over 80 activities provides variety and entertainment compared to having them do the same thing over and over every day.

Client-Specific Information Report - This type of report provides a custom document containing personal information, nutrient and exercise goals, estimated calorie requirements, etc. It shows the client where she is now.

Compact Recipe Report - This type of report provides a quick "recipe card" report that omits the nutrient overview. This compact report is suitable for use in the preparation phase of your recipes.

Compose an Intake - This composition analysis report sorts the food items in a client's intake in descending or ascending order based on their values for a selected nutrient. The report not only puts the food items in sorted order, it shows you how much of that nutrient it contains and what percentage of the intake total it contains. This lets you know where all that cholesterol, sodium, or fat is coming from in your client's intake.

Compose a Recipe - This composition analysis report sorts the ingredients in the selected recipe in descending or ascending order based on how much of a selected nutrient it contains. The report not only puts the food items in sorted order, it shows you how much of that nutrient it contains and what percentage of the recipe total it contains. This tells your client how to improve or "fix" her recipe.

Custom Initial Assessment Report - Your software should be able to produce a custom, multi-page Initial Assessment Report for you.... instantly. You can customize your final report by editing a "template file" for the desired report. This template uses "macros" (a fancy name for "placeholders") in place of the client-related variables you want to include in your final report. The results give the impression that you spent hours in creating a custom report for that client.

Exercise History Report - This report shows what activities she's engaged in and how many calories she's expended on a day-by-day basis.

Frequent Activity List Report - This report provides a listing of frequently performed (popular) exercises your client can choose from. Their associated data (like the activity's "calorie per pound per hour" factor) is included.

Infrequent Exercise Report - This report provides a listing of infrequently performed exercises your client can choose from. Their associated data (like the activity's "calorie per pound per hour" factor) is included.

Intake Report - An intake report provides a nutrient analysis for a client's intake and includes basic nutrient information for the entire day's intake, plus every individual meal and snack. Look for the ability to select days by cherry picking them from a calendar or by selecting a range of dates. Look for total control over which nutrients you analyze, which meals, snacks, or totals you to include, and which factors, percentages, averages, etc. you what to analyze for. >Meal Plan Summary Report - This report provides a "road map" for your clients to follow by organizing every food item they will eat by meal and snack, then by day, for up to four weeks. Look for the ability to insert page breaks between days and the ability to use a checklist format that permits the client to mark off the foods as they are eaten.

Measurements Report - This type of report provides information regarding your client's measurements (waist, blood pressure, resting heart rate, bicep, etc.).

Miscellaneous Information Report - This type of report provides information regarding your client's miscellaneous information (alcohol, cigarettes, ovulation, periods, etc.).

Personal Food Item Listing - This report provides a simple listing of all the food items you have added to the nutrient database.

Personal Food Item Report - This report provides a nutrient analysis of the selected new food item that you've added to the database.

Recipe Nutrient Report - This report provides a nutrient analysis for the selected recipe.

Recipe Listing Report - This is a simple listing of the recipes you have at your disposal.

Single Food Item Report - This type of report gives you a complete nutrient profile for any food item in the nutrient database.

Weight History Report - This provides you with a formatted weight and body history report for your client. A graphical presentation is also desirable.

Analysis Reports- Your software should be able to produce virtually any type of customized report you may want to produce for your clients. Modern, customized analysis reports at a minimum should let you determine:

1. The report format (word processor or spreadsheet)...
2. which nutrients you want to analyze...
3. which meals and/or snacks you want to analyze...
4. which goals you wish to compare nutrient intakes to....
5. which percentages and/or averages you want to have calculated...
6. which dates the report will cover...
7. which totals you want to have calculated (entire recipe, single serving, every ingredient, etc.)

The following are samples of the type of reporting capabilities you should expect with today's nutrition software:

1. The ability to generate a report that is a single page or hundreds of pages in length.
2. Able to analyze intakes, recipes, exercise, meals, and Meal Plans.
3. Able to analyze intakes for individuals or for groups of individuals. You should be able to analyze and produce reports for clients or for client groups or for client groups and all the individual clients within the client group.
4. Able to produce reports formatted for word processors, spreadsheets, or databases.
5. Able to analyze nutrient intakes (daily intake, total intake, average daily intake, intake for every food item).
6. Able to analyze caloric intake ratios (daily, weekly, monthly, total).
7. Able to analyze percent of nutrient goals (daily, weekly, monthly, total).
8. Able to analyze any combination or number of nutrients supported your software.
9. Able to analyze for any number or combination of variables.
10. Able to analyze any number of combination of meals (All Foods, All Foods plus each individual meal and snack, All Foods plus selected meals and snacks, or just selected meal and snacks).
11. Able to analyze any dates (by cherry picking dates or by selecting a range of dates).
12. Able to include any number or combination of client information factors (which the software is smart enough to offer depending on the type of analysis you selected to perform).
13. Able to produce analysis reports containing any logical combination of the items listed above.

Report Types Reports come in two basic types and it's important you understand the differences. One type of report is very fancy to look at but inflexible in its format. The other type is very flexible in it's construction but isn't as fancy. One is also the clear choice for electronic delivery... very important if you want to deliver your reports to your clients via email, as an email attachment, or as a web page.

Report Generator Reports - These reports are precisely laid out. Each report is planned out well in advance and the appropriate data appears where the designer originally specified. These types of reports often have borders, columns, and boxes within the report. Fonts and point sized are pre-selected. Shadows may be used around selected boxes. These report generator reports are often nice to look at. But they have a major drawback... what you see is what you get. They are almost impossible to edit. Sometimes, you have the option to tweak reports by tweaking the template files that create the reports, but this is often excruciatingly complicated to do. Report generators are used to produce strictly formatted reports like Nutrition Facts Labels. They are nice for handing to clients in hard copy form.

Word Processor reports - Reports generated in word processing format are often not as pretty - they normally lack borders, boxes, drop shadows, and some of the other formatting features you can get with report generator-style reports - but they compensate by being far more flexible. You can select which nutrients will be included in the report, which meals are included, which days you wish to analyze, etc. You can specify all the components of the report before having the software generate the report. Look for the ability to save these reports as a text file (handy for inclusion in an email to a client), a rich text formatted file (which can be opened with any word processor), or as a web page (for posting information to your web site). The ability to save a report in RTF format means you can save it, then open it any time later with a commercial word processor like Microsoft Word.

Other Software Features that will Help You Serve Your Clients Backup and Restore - If your software is available in consumer versions, and if you can export and import meal plans, recipes, etc. between these versions, you can provide your clients with a customized Meal Plan to import, copy as an intake, and then follow electronically in their own software package. After following your four-week Meal Plan for say three weeks, they can select File | Backup to backup their data to a 3.5" diskette and bring the diskette to you for deep nutrient analysis with your professional level software.

Client Contact Manager - If your software supports a client database, you can record contact information (address, phone, email, fax, etc.) for each of your clients. Use the resulting database to create a mailing list for sending targeted newsletters, monthly specials, etc. Since you know your client's situation, you can target your mailings to suite their interests. For instance, you would send your 5 foot tall, 400 lb. client a vastly different newsletter than your client whose primary objective is peak athletic performance. By the way, email newsletters are much more economical to deliver compared to professionally prepared hard copy newsletters.

Meal Plans - After you create a basic Meal Plan, edit them to suit your client's needs. Meal Plans lay out a specific, meal-by-meal course of action for your clients.

Meal Plans tell your client exactly what to eat for every meal and very snack for every day for up to four weeks. It's a good idea to review your Meal Plan recommendation with your client and tweak it as needed. Getting your client's endorsement for the plan will greatly increase her commitment to the plan that the two of you created.

Your software should be able to generate a Meal Plan Summary that you can print and give to your clients. A Meal Plan Summary should contain a day-by-day report that tells the client what to eat and when.

The software should provide a page break option (after each page) so you can produce a Meal Plan Summary suitable for posting (one day at a time) to the bulletin board in an institution. A page break after each page also makes it easier for your clients to carry one day of their Meal Plan with them as they go through their day.

Use the checklist format option, if available, so that the client can check off the foods as she eats them. The software should also offer to provide a comment field if desired so that your client can note any deviations from the foods or servings sizes you've recommended in the Meal Plan. At the end of some agreed-upon period of time (three weeks, perhaps), the client can return her annotated Meal Plan Summary sheets to you. Tracking and reporting to you encourages your client to be accountable for her intake.

Record the Meal Plan (in the software) to the client's intake on the day she started the custom Meal Plan. This ability saves you literally Edit the days that she reported deviating from the agreed-upon plan (on her hard copy of the Meal Plan). The analysis of this intake, plus the client's results (weight loss or gain, body fat change, inches lost or gained) and her comments ("I almost starved to death," or "You gave me too much to eat") will help you fine tune the next four week's Meal Plan for her.

Rankings - This function lets you make recommendations to your clients. For instance, you might want to know which fruit is contains the most Potassium. Or which breakfast cereal contains the most Total Dietary Fiber?

Queries - Use this function to answer client questions like: "Which of the five restaurants in my neighborhood serve foods with no more than 500 mg of Sodium, at least 2 grams of dietary fiber, and no more than 2.5 grams of Saturated Fat per serving?" Or "What is the world's richest food source of Potassium?"

Recipes - It's a good idea to print recipe reports for every recipe you include in your Meal Plan. You should be able to select the depth of information you wish to include.

Documents - Your software should provide a wide range of editable and printable documents that your clients will likely find useful. They can include: Motivational Quotations, Food Substitutions, Food Glossaries, Dieting and Nutrition Tips, an explanation of Food Claim Terminology ("low fat," "low sodium," etc.), and a number of other nutrition-related documents. If you edit these and wish to save them, use the Save As Button. You should be able to save your reports and documents in text format, word processor format, or as a web page.

Export Data - Use this option to export as much data as you wish for your client. You can even select data from the nutrient data display and export that if you wish. If, for instance, your client wanted to know the nutrient comparisons for tofu food entries, just conduct a Food Name Search on "TOFU." View your findings, then block in the data you wish to export to a file. Then click the Export Button. If they are only interested in a single food item, double-click on the food item to generate a single-item summary. Then click either the Export Button to export the information to a file or click the Copy Button to copy the information to the Windows Clipboard.

Compare Intakes to RDA, DRI, or RNI - Depending on where you work, what you believe, and what your client wants, your software should be able to compare your client's intake to the appropriate RDA, the new DRI's, or the Canadian RNI. These reports can be printed in text form (indicating the actual amount, the nutrient goal amount, and the percentage of goal number) or in graphical form. You should be able to edit the nutrient goals in the DRI's since they've not all been established at this printing.

Compare Intakes to 1/3 RDA, 1/3 DRI, or 1/3 RNI - This is handy if you're client is a Meals on Wheels or if you're only analyzing a single meal for your client. All of these are reports that you can use to service your clients. The more of these your software package will help you produce, the better. Use these reports - individually and in combination - to provide a wide range of services for your clients.