Streamlining and implementing nutritional assessment: the dietary approach.

Early methods of assessing food intake were developed to provide nutrition services for individuals in health care. Dietary methodologies increased in number and complexity as they were used in nutrition surveys of populations and as tools for nutrition research. Recent expansion of community health programs with nutrition components, and greater emphasis on nutritional assessment in health care require the use of streamlined methods of dietary inquiry and screening. The specialized knowledge and skills of the nutritionist/dietitian are best reserved for persons identified through screening as being at high risk for malnutrition.