How much beneficial nutrition a food delivers relative to its calories.
What the evidence says
- Nutrient density scores a food by its beneficial nutrients (vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein) per calorie, letting foods be compared within and across food groups[1]
- The Naturally Nutrient Rich (NNR) score is built from the mean percentage daily values of 14 nutrients per 2000 kcal; it later evolved into the NRF9.3 index — 9 nutrients to encourage minus 3 to limit, per 100 kcal[1]
- The framework was proposed as an objective basis for nutrient claims and for identifying nutrient-dense alternatives to energy-rich, nutrient-poor processed foods[1]