2.0 KiB
2.0 KiB
Key Nutrition Concepts
- Most foods are mixtures of nutrients.
- Water is the major nutrient in most foods.
- All foods have some nutritional value
- Some food is healthier than others
- Nutrient dense food supplies more vitamins and minerals in relation to total calories. Examples inclue:
- Broccoli
- Leafy greans
- Fat free milk
- Oranges
- Lean Meats
- Whole grain Cereals
- Energy Density refers to the amount of energy a food provides per given weight of the food.
- Energy dense food has a kcal to weight ratio of 4.0 or higher.
- Fat supplies the most energy per gram
- Water supplies no energy for the body
- An empty calorie food supplies excessive calories from unhealthy types of fat, added sugar, and/or alcohol.
- Not all energy dense foods are empty-calorie foods.
- Examples of empty calorie foods include candy, snack chips, alcohol, or sugar sweetened drinks.
- People can add variety to their diets by choosing different foods from each of the 5 food groups
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Grains
- Protein
- Dairy
- Food is the best source of nutrients
- Economical
- Reliable
- Contains Phytochemicals
- It can be difficult to plan and eat nutritious foods daily; in these cases, take a supplement
Dietary Supplements
- A dietary supplement is a product that contains a vitamin, mineral, herb, or other plant product, an amino acid, or a dietary substance that supplements the diet by increasing total intake.
- The Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 allows manufacturers to classify nutrient supplements and herbal products as foods.
- They do not undergo rigorous testing before being marketed
Definitions
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Nutrient-dense | Nutrient-dense food supplies more vitamins and minerals in relation to the total calories. |