**8. Assessment of diet, nutrition and feeding problems**

One of the most important indicators of suitable and adequate nutrition is normal growth. Therefore, prolonged food refusal, even due to non-organic causes can result in impaired growth. Regular weight and height measurement is therefore necessary. Taking a detailed diet history is also an important part of growth assessment (HMSO, 1992). Diet questions should include a food diary describing all food and drink consumed, with details of meal pattern, location of eating time and supervision received(HMSO, 1992). There are different types of diaries available. Food frequency tables are one type which includes information about frequency of consumption as well as the type of foods usually eaten. Details of nutrient intake can be made by analysis of the type and amount of reported foods, but reporting problems can make such analysis unreliable.
