This help file is provided to assist the user in navigating through the forms and displays associated with searching the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. It is assumed that the user has a basic understanding of the use of a web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer) for navigating the World Wide Web.

Enter up to 5 keywords which best describe your food item. You can exclude food items by placing the word "not" in front of a keyword.

Example: Entering "apples not canned" will produce a list of food items containing the keyword "apples" but not the keyword "canned".

Choose food group to search by clicking on the "Select food group" Menu.

Example: Fruit and Fruit Juices.

Click the Submit button.

The database is searched and list of food items is display which best match the search keywords entered by the user.

Click on the round "button" next to the item of interest.

Click on a Submit button.

A set of weights and measures appropriate to the selected food item is displayed. The user may select up to 5 weights, or the user may select 100 grams and up to 3 weights

Click on the check boxes preceding the weights to be reported. If you select 100 grams, then sample count and standard error will also be displayed. You may select up to 5 weights, or you may select 100 grams and up to 3 weights. Nutrient values can be calculated for any desired gram weight by clicking on the amount field for the weight to be reported and enter a decimal multiplier to calculate the desired weight.

Click on the Submit button.

Example: If the gram weight is 100 and you would like a report of the nutrient values for 75 grams, simply enter .75 in the amount field for 100 grams.

For help with the decimal values for some common fractions click on the Fraction Tips button.

A report containing the nutrient values for each measure/weight selected is displayed.