During a humanitarian trip to an underdeveloped country a senior nursing student is assessing a 6-year-old boy who has a protuberant abdomen, dry hair, and wrinkled skin. The child's heart rate is 59 beats per minute, blood pressure 89/50, and temperature 95.1°F (35.1°C). The student should assess the child for:

A diet deficient in both protein and calories.

Explanation:

The balanced diet is important for all the living organisms as it contains the appropriate amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, mineral, vitamin and fibers.  The deficiency of these substance can cause disease.

The deficiency of protein can cause kwashiorkor disease in children. This condition causes malnutrition that slow the children growth. The children has swollen or protuberant abdomen with wrinkled skin. They have abnormal blood pressure as well.

Thus, the answer is the diet deficient in both protein and calories.