Food consumed helps to define who we are during our lifespan. In any culture, food nurtures both the physical and emotional process of “growing up”. Food, eating, and nutrition have significant implications that not only affect the process of growth and development but also shape the whole person. Habits, attitudes, and experiences with foods, starting from birth, affect health throughout the lifespan. Nutritional needs are specific to the age group during infancy, childhood, and adolescents. It is important to monitor clients in each stage to ensure they are meeting developmental milestones. Nutrition plays a key role in development and when milestones are not met the nutritional status of the client is one of the first things that are assessed.
