Method and system for providing dietary information

Abstract

An apparatus, method and data structure for procuring, analyzing, and communicating dietary information, particularly information regarding the research, evaluation and selection of dietary products. The system provides a comprehensive combination of dietary information in a format that facilitates analysis, decision-making, and procurement of various dietary products based on factors, including an individual's medical nutritional needs, current medication(s), cooking skills, budgeted food expense, food preferences, food allergies, life stage, and lifestyle.

1 . A method of communicating dietary information between a user and a database comprising: 
 storing dietary information on a database;    searching the database to identify specific dietary information meeting user criteria;    manipulating the information to provide a table of information; and    transmitting specific dietary information from said table of information accessible to the user from the database.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein transmitting specific dietary information further comprises transmitting evaluations of the dietary information.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein manipulating the information further comprises evaluating the interaction between the dietary information and medication information.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus communicating dietary information between a user and a database comprising: 
 a data network;    a plurality of databases operably connected to said data network; and    a computer operably connected to said plurality of databases via said data network, said computer having a storage area, wherein said computer searches said plurality of databases to identify information relating to a plurality of factors as specified by a user of said computer, said databases transmit said identified information to said storage area of said computer via said data network, and said computer manipulates said transmitted information to provide a summary of appropriate dietary information.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said server computer transmits a location in said storage area containing said dietary information to said user computer.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said storage area comprises a personal data question template.  
   
   
       7 . In a system for communicating dietary information between a user and a database, a computer-readable memory for storing data for access by an application program comprising: 
 a data structure stored in said computer-readable memory, said data structure including information used by said application program and including: 
 a plurality of personal data fields;  
 a plurality of anthropometrics fields;  
 a plurality of special metabolic needs fields;  
 a plurality of food preferences fields;  
 a plurality of health status fields;  
 a plurality of food allergies fields;  
 a plurality of life stage fields;  
 a plurality of dietary prescription fields;  
 a plurality of cooking complexity fields;  
 wherein said fields have values and said application program determines a menu plan based on the manipulation of said plurality of fields by employing a nutritional and medication databases.  
   
   
   
       8 . The data structure of said computer-readable memory of  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of personal data question fields.  
   
   
       9 . The data structure of said computer-readable memory of  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of evaluation fields to permit evaluation of said application program.  
   
   
       10 . The data structure of said computer-readable memory of  claim 7  further comprising an address field for sending the user an address location of said dietary information fields.