This is because if you do put especially the food near the litter box, the cat may feel confused and unclear about what to do. The natural instinct for cats is to eliminate far away from their nest, to keep predators away from their babies and from themselves when they are vulnerable. You will also want to think about selecting a location in your home for her food and water that is going to allow her to enjoy her meals in a calm atmosphere, which will also encourage her to drink plenty of water. Her mealtime should be a time of peace and quiet, so that she can enjoy eating. With a little creativity and thought, you'll be able to come up with an ideal feeding spot, and when you do, it is important not to switch locations.
Cats definitely are creatures of habit, and prefer their environment to be very consistent.
Remember too, that as your kitty gets older, or if she becomes injured in some way, you will need to be sure that her eating area is easily accessible to her and doesn't require special physical agility or going up stairs, etc. If you have dogs and cats in the same house, or even have cats with separate dietary requirements, you will want to feed them separately, and take the time to be sure that each animal is eating and drinking. Dogs and cats have very different nutritional needs, and their food needs to be kept separate. We always recommend using filtered or bottled water for drinking water - for humans and for pets. Water that comes from wells and even some municipal water can contain traces of parasites such as Giardia, which can make both people and animals quite sick.