ABSTRACT
Nutritional intake can affect the immediate health and symptoms of patients as well as impact the incidence and severity of many long-term complications. Although many health care professionals have an innate ability to empathize and listen to their patients, they often lack the knowledge, skills, and techniques to affect change in the behaviors of their patients. Change is difcult, especially when it involves something as personal as diet. Except for a few circumstances, what a patient eats and drinks is an independent decision which may be based on habit, previous learning, or practices deep rooted in family, religion, and culture. Changing or modifying these behaviors in an effort to improve the nutritional health of patients is difcult and complex.
