Many people mistakenly think that a dietitian is just the “food police.” Actually it is a combination of looking at the patient/resident as a whole (medical diagnoses, medications taken, anthropometrics, dietary history, surgical history, any food allergies or intolerances, skin integrity, laboratory values, any chewing or swallowing problems, etc. All of these factors plus collaboration with other relevant members of the interdisciplinary team determines their nutritional regimen.