3.3.1. Introduction to MNT

Dietetics

The study or prescription of diets under special circumstances, such as metabolic or other illnesses, for the specific purpose of disease prevention and/or weight reduction.

Dietetics

A combined science and art of regulating the planning, preparation, and serving of meals to individuals or groups under various conditions of health and disease according to the principles of nutrition and management.

Dietitian

The translator of nutritional principles for food selection and use who may work in healthcare, administrative, business, industry, or community settings.

Diet prescription

The designated amount of nutrients required by an individual based on a thorough nutritional assessment, including the type, amount, frequency, and route of food ingestion.

Diet therapy

The branch of dietetics concerned with the modification of food and drink for therapeutic purposes.

Medical Nutrition Therapy

The use of specific nutrition services to treat an illness, injury, or condition.

Nutrition Support

The utilization of a variety of techniques used when the patient is unable to meet his/her nutritional needs.

Total Energy Requirement (TER)

The actual energy requirement of an individual, best measured through direct calorimetry or indirectly through indirect calorimetry.

Indirect Calorimetry

The gold standard method of determining heat production through measurement of oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production during respiratory gas exchange.

Indirect Calorimetry

Energy expenditure formulas may be used when this method of measuring energy expenditure is not possible.

Basal Energy Expenditure

The component of total energy requirement representing the energy expended by the body at rest.

Resting Energy Expenditure

The component of total energy requirement representing energy expenditure while at rest.

Diet-induced Thermogenesis / Thermic Effect of Food / Specific Dynamic Action

The component of total energy requirement resulting from the body's energy expenditure after food consumption.

Physical Activity

The component of total energy requirement involving energy expenditure from movement and activity.

Shivering Thermogenesis

Energy expenditure associated with maintaining body temperature in response to cold exposure.

Nonshivering Thermogenesis

Heat production that occurs without shivering and is considered to have little to no consequence in determining daily energy expenditure.

Stress from injury or illness

Increased energy expenditure resulting from physical injury or illness.

Liberalization

The principle of diet therapy stating that the diet should meet the body's requirements as generously as possible.

Simplification

The principle stating that the therapeutic diet should not vary unnecessarily from the individual's usual diet.

Individualization

The principle stating that the diet should be based on a patient's habits, preferences, and relevant environmental factors.

Attain and maintain desirable body weight

One objective of diet modification involving keeping body weight within normal limits, particularly because overweight and obesity are associated with chronic degenerative diseases.

Correct nutritional deficiencies

One objective of diet modification involving supplying nutrients that are not adequately provided in the diet because of disease or metabolic problems.

Provide rest to affected organs

One objective of diet modification that may involve supplying specific nutrients in increased amounts, reducing the workload of an organ, and providing relief from pain.

Provide a diet adapted to body's specific needs

One objective of diet modification in which the individual's medical history is considered to determine whether certain conditions require increased or decreased nutrient and energy requirements.

Achieve and maintain optimal nutritional status

One objective of diet modification involving meeting energy and nutrient needs by following a regular diet or adjusting energy or nutrient intake when necessary.

Consistency

A characteristic of the diet that may be altered by changing the physical form or texture of food.

Nutrient content

A characteristic of the diet that may be altered by changing the amount of calories, carbohydrate, protein, fat, or specific nutrients.

Flavor

A sensory characteristic that may be altered when modifying a diet.

Method of preparation or service

The way food is prepared or provided to the patient may be modified according to therapeutic needs.

Frequency of feeding

The number of times food is provided throughout the day may be modified.

Route of feeding

The pathway through which nutrition is provided may be altered according to the patient's condition.

High- or restricted-nutrient diet

A diet that is substantially more or less in a specific nutrient than normally required.

Restricted diet

A diet restricted when a normally consumed substance cannot be tolerated or controlled.

Nutrient-free diet

A diet in which a particular nutrient is eliminated from intake.

Nutrition counseling

The process of providing professional dietary advice to a patient to help him/her establish desirable eating habits; it involves intervention and a scheme for monitoring and evaluation.

Establish rapport

The first step in nutrition counseling that involves developing a positive professional relationship with the patient.

Gather data

The step in nutrition counseling involving obtaining information through personal interview or collecting secondary data.

Determine nutritional problems

The step that identifies the patient's nutritional problems and prevailing attitudes toward them.

Counsel the patient

The step involving choosing the appropriate diet, explaining the bases of dietary advice, including a meal plan, and incorporating everything into a teaching plan.

Document recommendation, progress, and compliance

The final step in nutrition counseling involving recording the patient's recommendations, improvement, and adherence.

Patient's medical record

The nutritional care process forms part of this and therefore must be documented.

Medical record

A legal, confidential document that is an ongoing collection of information documenting a patient's medical care.

Facilitate communication

One function of the medical record is to improve information exchange among members of the healthcare team.

Evaluation of care delivered

The medical record serves as a basis for determining the quality and effectiveness of the care provided to the patient.