Nutrition is well-recognized as a necessary component of educational programs for physicians. This is to be valued in that of all factors affecting health in the United States, none is more important than nutrition. This can be argued from various perspectives, including health promotion, disease prevention, and therapeutic management. In all cases, serious consideration of nutrition related issues in the practice is seen to be one means to achieve cost-effective medical care. These modules were developed to provide more practical knowledge for health care providers, and in particular primary care physicians. This module is designed to assist physicians in learning how to determine what should be known about a patient's social history and how to ask the right questions in order to obtain this information. This information is important in order to maximize the potential effects of treatment. Included are learning goals and objectives, a self-check of achievement with regard to goals, and references. Appendices include questionnaires, a "Guide to Good Eating," a chart of the recommended daily dietary allowances, and a suggested food pattern for preschool children. (CW)