ASK YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER...
Your health care provider is another important resource for information on nutrition. Here are some questions you may want to ask during your next visit:
- Do I have any dietary restrictions?
- Are my cholesterol and triglycerides at healthy levels?
- Are my other tests showing healthy results?
- How do the medications I'm taking affect my nutrition?
- Do I need to lose or gain weight to improve my health?
ARE YOU MALNOURISHED?
Take the quiz to check your level of nutritional risk.
| QUESTIONS (Total all the YES answers to get your score.) |
YES |
NO |
- I have a condition that made me change the kind and/or amount of food I eat.
|
+2 |
+0 |
- I eat fewer than two meals per day.
|
+3 |
+0 |
- I eat few fruits or vegetables, or milk products.
|
+2 |
+0 |
- I have three or more drinks of beer, liquor or wine every day.
|
+2 |
+0 |
- I have tooth or mouth problems that make it hard for me to eat.
|
+2 |
+0 |
- I don't always have enough money to buy the food I need.
|
+4 |
+0 |
- I eat alone most of the time.
|
+1 |
+0 |
- I take three or more different prescribed or over-the-counter drugs per day.
|
+1 |
+0 |
- Without trying, I have lost or gained ten pounds in the last six months.
|
+2 |
+0 |
- I am not always physically able to shop, cook, and/or feed myself.
|
+2 |
+0 |
YOUR NUTRITIONAL SCORE
Good! Re-check your nutritional score in six months.
You are at moderate nutritional risk. See what you can do to improve your eating habits and lifestyle. Use the USDA's My Pyramid Tracker to monitor your diet, contact your health plan provider to see if it offers any nutrition programs or counseling, and refer to the links listed in the right column for more tips. Re-check your nutritional score in three months.
You are at high nutritional risk. Bring this checklist the next time you see your doctor, dietician, or other qualified health or social service professional. Talk with them about any problems you may have. Ask for help to improve your nutritional health.
5/5/10
