Nutrient density calculation

Nutrient Density Assignment

The purpose of this lab is to learn which foods contain a lot of nutrients but not very many calories. This is known as ‘nutrient density.

For example: non-fat milk is more nutrient dense than whole milk because it only has 90 calories a serving instead of 150, but both milks have similar nutrients in them. Thus, you get more nutrition for less calories by drinking nonfat milk.

1. To complete this assignment, you must go to a grocery store to collect the following information for three foods from each of the following seven food categories below.

Breads, Cereals, etc

Item Name

Calories/

serving

$/

container

#servings/

container

% DV

Vit A

% DV

Vit C

%DV

iron

%DV

Ca

%DV

fiber

g Pro/

serving

Gourmet rolls

200

3.99

6

0

10

10

8

8

8g

Whole grain white

140

3.49

10

0

5

30

12

3g

5 speed enriched bread

100

1.99

10

0

6

10

12

4g

Fruits

Item Name

Calories/

serving

$/

container

#servings/

container

% DV

Vit A

% DV

Vit C

%DV

iron

%DV

Ca

%DV

fiber

g Pro/

serving

Yellow cling peach

60

1.59

1

2

100

0

0

8

1

Red grapefruit

100

1.59

1

30

130

0

2

8

1

Mango chunks

100

1.59

1

15

150

0

2

8

1

Vegetables

Item Name

Calories/

serving

$/

container

#servings/

container

% DV

Vit A

% DV

Vit C

%DV

iron

%DV

Ca

%DV

fiber

g Pro/

serving

Brussels sprouts

35

2.99

4

15

120

6

4

12

3

carrts

35

1.99

5

120

10

2

2

8

1

Russet potatoes

110

1.69

12

0

45

6

2

8

3

Dairy

Item Name

Calories/

serving

$/

container

#servings/

container

% DV

Vit A

% DV

Vit C

%DV

iron

%DV

Ca

%DV

fiber

g Pro/

serving

Iucerne yogurt fat free milk

90c

2.99

16

10

4

0

30

0

9

Phil adelpha regular

80

3.99

15

6

0

0

4

0

2

kraft

45

3.99

16

6

0

0

20

0

4

Meat/Protein foods

Item Name

Calories/

serving

$/

container

#servings/

container

% DV

Vit A

% DV

Vit C

%DV

iron

%DV

Ca

%DV

fiber

g Pro/

serving

Iviac cheese

370

1.19

3

15

0

8

16

7

6

Chicken nuggets

160

8.59

11

0

0

6

2

0

12

Buffalo stripsf

190

9.99

8

0

0

0

4

0

14

Convenience Entrée’s

Item Name

Calories/

serving

$/

container

#servings/

container

% DV

Vit A

% DV

Vit C

%DV

iron

%DV

Ca

%DV

fiber

g Pro/

serving

hamburger

280

2.49

5

2

0

10

4

3

3

Herb chicken

250

3.59

1

20

15

6

4

24

16

Italian sausage

330

4.49

1

35

60

8

10

20

16

“Junk Foods”

Item Name

Calories/

serving

$/

container

#servings/

container

% DV

Vit A

% DV

Vit C

%DV

iron

%DV

Ca

%DV

fiber

g Pro/

serving

Chips ahay

90

4.19

20

0

0

2

0

0

1

oreo

100

4.79

18

0

0

4

0

2

1

sandies

170

4.99

11

0

0

4

0

3

2

2. Go to the course web page and click on the file labeled “Nutrient Density Spreadsheet”.

3. Type the values you recorded above into the spreadsheet. The spreadsheet will calculate for each food the cost per 100 Calories and the average Nutrient Density for that food. In addition, the spreadsheet will also calculate for each food group the average cost per 100 Calories and the average Nutrient Density for that food group.

4. Write a short 1-2 page essay that summarizes your findings with regard to nutrient density and types of foods.

Your essay should address the following areas:

Nutrient Density(5 points): Which food groups tend to have the highest nutrient density? Which food groups tend to have the lowest Nutrient Density? What factors contribute to foods having high or low Nutrient Densities? Are there any specific foods with surprisingly high or low Nutrient Densities for that food group? Are there any other findings you want to comment on?

Cost per 100 Calories(5 points): Which food groups tend to be the most expensive per 100 Calories? Which food groups tend to be the least expensive per 100 Calories? What factors contributes to foods having low costs per 100 Calories? Is there any association between cost per 100 Calories and Nutrient Density?

Conclusion(5 points): Overall, what are “the take home messages” from this assignment?

Submit through Blackboard:

· 1 Nutrient Density Spreadsheet

· 1 Essay summarizing your finding

Notes on the average Nutrient Density calculation:

The calculation used in this spreadsheet is based on the average %DV for vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, dietary fiber, and protein. These nutrients were selected because their values are required on virtually all Nutrition Facts labels. The conclusions one reaches using this calculation will be biased since only these nutrients were considered.

Nutrient Density is a measure of how well a food provides ones needs for essential nutrients compared to the Calories it provides to meet your energy needs. Nutrient Density is calculated using this equation:

Nutrient Density = (average %DV for the 6 nutrients)/(% energy needs met per serving)

The calculation assumes that typical energy needs are 2000 Calories per day and that the protein RDA is 55g per day.

A Nutrient Density = 1 indicates that the food provides the same average amount of essential nutrients to meet ones needs as it does Calories to meet ones energy needs.

A Nutrient Density > 1 indicates that the food provides more than the average amount of essential nutrients to meet ones needs as it does Calories to meet ones energy needs. For example a food with a Nutrient Density = 2.0 provides, on average, twice as many essential nutrients to meet ones needs as it does Calories to meet ones energy needs.

A Nutrient Density < 1 indicates that the food provides less than the average amount of essential nutrients to meet ones needs as it does Calories to meet ones energy needs. For example a food with a Nutrient Density = 0.5 provides, on average, half as many essential nutrients to meet ones needs as it does Calories to meet ones energy needs.