Nutrient Density

Why is an apple a better choice than a bag of pretzels? They have roughly the same number of calories, but nutrients count, too. The apple provides fiber, vitamin C and potassium for an equal number of calories. Therefore, the apple has a higher nutrient density.

A serving of watermelon and a 12-ounce soft drink both have 150 calories. However, the watermelon is more nutrient dense, because it has vitamin C and fiber. The soft drink contains only simple sugars or “empty calories.”

What is Nutrient Density?

It is a measure of the nutrients provided per calorie of food, or the ratio of nutrients to calories (energy).

Foods that supply generous amounts of one or more nutrients compared to the number of calories they supply are called nutrient dense. Eggs, for example, have a high nutrient density, because they provide protein and many vitamins and minerals in proportion their calories.

Nutrient density is a way of evaluating the nutritional quality of a food by comparing the amount of nutrients supplied in relation to the amount of calories supplied. Table 1 compares the key nutrients found per 100 calories of certain representative foods.

Table 1. Nutrient Density of Representative Foods for Key Nutrients
Amount Supplied Per 100 Calories of Food

Calculated from USDA Composition of Foods – Raw, Processed, Prepared. USDA Human Nutrition Information Service. Agriculture Handbook Series (8-1, 1976; 8-9, 1982; 8-10, 1992; 8-11, 1984; 8-13, 1990; 8-14, 1986; 8-17, 1989; 8-18, 1992; 8-19, 1991).

Nutrient Dense Foods

The following foods are nutrient dense:

• fruits and vegetables that are bright or deeply colored
• foods that are fortified
• lower fat versions of meats*, milk, dairy products and eggs

(See Table 2 for examples of the most nutrient dense ethnic and regional foods.)

*A 3-oz. serving of meat provides about 160-200 calories plus significant amounts of many key nutrients such as protein, B-vitamins, iron, and zinc. By comparison, a snack food or soft drink with essentially the same number of calories per serving is very low or lacking in most nutrients (especially micronutrients) other than fat and/or carbohydrate.

Therefore, meat is a “nutrient-dense” food while the snack food is not.

Less nutrient dense foods may:

• be lighter or whiter in color
• contain a lot of refined sugar
• be refined products (white bread as compared to whole grains)
• contain high amounts of fat for the amount of nutrients compared to similar products (fat-free milk vs. ice cream**)

**Milk is denser than ice cream in calcium per calorie. A cup of fat-free milk has about twice the calcium as a cup of ice cream; however, the milk only contains 85 calories and the ice cream has more than 350 calories.

Table 2. Most Nutrient Dense Ethnic & Regional Foods 

Nutrient-Dense vs. Energy-Dense

Nutrient-Dense: These foods provide more nutrients and generally fewer calories per unit volume. They are loaded with the nutrients that we need to thrive (e.g. fruits, vegetables, whole grains).

Energy-Dense: These foods provide more calories (energy) per unit of volume than nutrient-dense foods. Although energy-dense sounds healthy, it is not, because these “empty calories” primarily come from refined sugars and fat.

The Better Choice: A nutrient-dense food is generally a better choice than a less nutrient-dense food or an energy-dense food with the same number of calories. If you have a certain number of calories to eat, try to choose the foods with more nutrients. For example, make these healthier food choices:

• a potato instead of potato chips
• a banana instead of a soda
• fruit instead of cake
• extra vegetables instead of a dinner roll
• vegetable snacks instead of candy and sodas
• whole grain bread rather than white bread

Make nutrient density work for you. Increase the amount of nutrients in the foods you eat OR decrease the energy (calorie) content Or both. Nutrient density lets you eat more food, so that you feel fuller for a longer time.

Summary

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming a variety of nutrient-dense foods and beverages as part of a healthful diet. Center your meals on foods of high nutrient density. Select whole grains, lower-fat dairy products, lean meats, seafood, eggs, beans, and nuts.

Choose foods within and among the basic food groups that also limit intake of saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, added sugars, salt, and alcohol. For example, many fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grain breads and cereals, are low in fat and packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables daily, since they are usually low in calories and are nutrient dense. Choose often the non-starchy vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, peppers, and tomatoes. Eat limited amounts of avocado and some starchy vegetables (potatoes, yams, corn), because they are higher in calories.

Avoid a diet consisting of mostly refined, processed foods that are less nutritious and contain added sugar and fat. Even when foods are fortified or enriched, the whole range of nutrients and non-nutrients lost in refining cannot be replaced. For example, a food’s original magnesium and chromium is milled out and is not replaced.

Shop around the perimeter of the supermarket. If limited on time, select nutrient-dense convenience foods like frozen vegetables, bags of ready-to-serve salads, and refrigerated prepared meats.

For more information on food labeling request:

• HGIC 4056, Reading the New Food Labels
• HGIC 4057, Determining Nutritional Value of Foods
• HGIC 4058, Food Labels: Fat and Cholesterol
• HGIC 4059, Food Labels: Carbohydrates
• HGIC 4060, Serving Sizes for Special Diets
• HGIC 4061, Nutrient Claims on Food Labels

Originally published 11/06