During critical illness, optimal oral food intake is essential to prevent the occurrence of malnutrition and.ifs complications. Numerous factors related to the patient, his illness and the hospital environment can be responsible for the lack of adequate food intake. Nevertheless no effort should be left undone to encourage, maintain or re-establish oral food intake whenever possible ; that is for ail patients who are conscious, are not of risk for broncho-aspiration of food, and are capable to ingest and digest food. Various aspects of food intake are discussed.