Diet

The term diet encompasses two definitions: (a) the [Page 618]types of food or foodstuffs that an individual habitually eats and (b) the restriction of food for weight loss or medical reasons. The energy and nutrient needs of an individual change over the life span. The need for nutrients is greatest during the particular periods of body growth including pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence; in older adulthood, the needs for some nutrients are reduced while other nutrient needs may be increased. Thus, nutritional needs will vary from one life stage to another. An individual’s nutritional status through different life stages will have an effect on overall quality of life; accordingly, recommended nutrient intakes (RNIs) will change from infancy through adulthood.

Good nutrition does not depend on a single ...