Introduction I. Introduction Good food and good health go together.
Adequate nutrition is vital to maintaining health and enhancing quality of life.
Members of the health care team must be aware of the physiologic, social, economic, and cultural issues that influence an individual's nutritional status. Our uniqueness becomes more apparent as we grow older. We age at different rates based on our genetic makeup, lifestyle habits, cognitive ability, and the state of our health. Therefore, physiologic age does not coincide necessarily with chronological age. Food preferences are influenced by culture, family customs and traditions, religious beliefs, and income.