A food that provides many calories but few micronutrients is best described as

A food that provides many calories but few micronutrients is best described as

• A. Nutrient-dense
• B. High protein-dense
• C. Low carbohydrate
• D. Energy-dense but not nutrient-dense

Answer: (D)

Energy density is about how many calories are packed into a gram of food. Foods high in fat or added sugars tend to be energy-dense, giving a lot of calories in a small amount of food. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. If a food provides many calories but few micronutrients, it has high energy density but low nutrient density. That combination is exactly described by “energy-dense but not nutrient-dense.” In contrast, nutrient-dense would mean plenty of vitamins and minerals relative to the calories, high protein-dense emphasizes protein content, and low carbohydrate speaks to macronutrient makeup rather than micronutrient content.

Energy density is about how many calories are packed into a gram of food. Foods high in fat or added sugars tend to be energy-dense, giving a lot of calories in a small amount of food. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. If a food provides many calories but few micronutrients, it has high energy density but low nutrient density. That combination is exactly described by “energy-dense but not nutrient-dense.” In contrast, nutrient-dense would mean plenty of vitamins and minerals relative to the calories, high protein-dense emphasizes protein content, and low carbohydrate speaks to macronutrient makeup rather than micronutrient content.