The process by which humans take in and utilize food; also the study of diet as it relates to health.

Good nutrition in childhood lays the foundation for good health throughout a person's lifetime. With the proliferation of fast food restaurants, the number of junk food commercials on television, and the increased trend toward eating out, it is more difficult than ever for parents to ensure that their children maintain a nutritious diet. In recent decades, increasing affluence and the widespread availability of vitamin-enriched foods have shifted the focus of nutritional concerns in the United States from obtaining minimum requirements to cutting down on harmful elements in one's diet. According to a 1988 report from the office of the U.S. Surgeon General, health problems are more likely to be caused by nutritional excesses and imbalances than by deficiencies. In other words, parents need to be as concerned about...