Which statement describes a nutrient-dense food?

Which statement describes a nutrient-dense food?

• A. Nutrient-dense foods provide many nutrients per calorie (e.g., spinach).
• B. Nutrient-dense foods are always low in fat.
• C. Nutrient-dense foods are the same as energy-dense foods.
• D. Nutrient-dense foods are high in added sugars.

Answer: (A)

Nutrient-dense foods deliver a lot of nutrients for each calorie they provide. Spinach is a clear example: it packs vitamins and minerals like A, C, K, folate, and fiber, while keeping calories relatively low. This is the idea behind nutrient density—the amount of beneficial nutrients per calorie. Being low in fat is not the defining feature of a nutrient-dense food, and some nutrient-dense foods contain healthy fats (like salmon or avocado) but still offer a strong nutrient profile per calorie. Nutrient density is not the same as energy density; energy-dense foods may have many calories per gram but aren’t necessarily rich in essential nutrients. Likewise, foods high in added sugars tend to add calories without delivering substantial micronutrients, so they aren’t considered nutrient-dense.

Nutrient-dense foods deliver a lot of nutrients for each calorie they provide. Spinach is a clear example: it packs vitamins and minerals like A, C, K, folate, and fiber, while keeping calories relatively low. This is the idea behind nutrient density—the amount of beneficial nutrients per calorie.

Being low in fat is not the defining feature of a nutrient-dense food, and some nutrient-dense foods contain healthy fats (like salmon or avocado) but still offer a strong nutrient profile per calorie. Nutrient density is not the same as energy density; energy-dense foods may have many calories per gram but aren’t necessarily rich in essential nutrients. Likewise, foods high in added sugars tend to add calories without delivering substantial micronutrients, so they aren’t considered nutrient-dense.