How is "nutritional density" defined?

Nutritional density refers to the amount of essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein, relative to the number of calories a food contains. This concept is crucial in assessing the quality of food choices, as foods with high nutritional density provide a greater quantity of nutrients for fewer calories, promoting better health without excessive calorie intake. For instance, foods like leafy greens and berries are considered nutritionally dense because they are rich in essential nutrients while being low in calories.

In contrast, focusing solely on the total amount of energy in food doesn't take into account the nutritional benefits or the specific nutrients present. The weight of food items in a serving does not provide insight into their nutritional value relative to calorie content. Lastly, while the ratio of carbohydrates to proteins can be important for dietary considerations, it does not directly relate to the overall nutrient-to-calorie ratio that defines nutritional density. Thus, the definition embraces both the necessity of nutrients and the balance with calorie content, which is accurately captured by the chosen response.