Which principle focuses on nutrient density in planning meals?

• A. Nutrient density
• B. Calorie counting
• C. Fasting
• D. Texture balancing

Answer: (A)

Focusing on nutrient density means choosing foods that deliver the most vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial nutrients for the fewest calories. In meal planning, the goal is to maximize nutrients per calorie, so meals are rich in essential nutrients without excess energy.

Think of filling plates with color and variety: leafy greens, bright vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, beans or legumes, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and healthy fats. These choices provide a broad range of nutrients—iron, calcium, fiber, vitamin C, potassium—without relying on foods that are high in calories but low in nourishment.

This approach helps meet daily nutritional needs and supports overall health, energy, and well-being. It’s different from calorie counting, which focuses only on total calories without considering how nutrient-rich the foods are. It’s also unrelated to fasting, which is about when you eat rather than the nutrient quality of what you eat, and texture balancing, which centers on how foods feel rather than their nutrient content.