Have you heard the term “nutrient dense”? This often means something very different than calorie dense.

A food or beverage that is nutrient dense is a good source of nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fiber. 

A food that is calorie dense is a good source of calories- but usually not a good source of nutrients, or the nutrients may be overwhelmed by the amount of fat, sugar and sodium.

Here are some examples:

Nutrient dense               

  • Apple
  • 3 oz cooked baked chicken
  • Baked potato
  • 8 oz glass of milk

Calorie Dense

  • Apple Pie
  • Fried chicken nuggets with sauce
  • French fries
  • 12 oz sugar-sweetened soda

Make more of your choices NUTRIENT dense – rather than CALORIE dense!

Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian

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800-334-4936