In diet planning, which of the following statements best describes the concept of “nutrient density” when choosing foods?

Introduction / Context:
Modern nutrition guidelines emphasise not just how many calories you eat, but also how many useful nutrients you get from those calories. The term “nutrient density” is used to compare foods based on how rich they are in vitamins, minerals, fibre and other beneficial substances relative to their energy content. This question asks you to identify which statement most accurately captures the meaning of nutrient density in practical diet planning.

Given Data / Assumptions:

We are choosing among several statements about healthy eating. The key concept is nutrient density, not just variety or fat reduction. One option emphasises nutrients per kilocalorie, while others mention variety or general healthy habits. We assume standard definitions used by nutritionists and dietary guidelines.

Concept / Approach:
A food is called nutrient dense if it provides a large amount of vitamins, minerals, fibre and other beneficial components relative to the number of calories it contains. For example, vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean proteins are usually more nutrient dense than sugary drinks or fried snacks. The defining idea is “more nutrition for fewer calories”. Variety in the diet, while important, is a separate principle and does not by itself define nutrient density. Similarly, focusing only on reducing fat or eating from all food groups does not fully capture the concept if nutrient content per calorie is ignored.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the option that explicitly mentions nutrients relative to calories. Step 2: Notice that option b states that you should consume foods that have the most nutrition for their kilocalories. Step 3: Recognise that this matches the core definition of nutrient density used in nutrition science. Step 4: Understand that option a (eat a variety of foods) is a general healthy eating guideline but does not define nutrient density. Step 5: See that option c (choose different foods within a group) and option e (only reduce fat) also describe other aspects of diet, not nutrient density itself, so option d, which says all the above, cannot be correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this definition by looking at common textbook examples. A glass of orange juice and a glass of sugary soft drink may have similar calories, but orange juice provides vitamin C and other nutrients, so it is more nutrient dense. Leafy greens give many vitamins and minerals for very few calories, making them highly nutrient dense. In contrast, sweets with lots of sugar and fat but few vitamins are energy dense but nutrient poor. These examples all use the idea of nutrients per calorie, confirming that option b best describes nutrient density.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a encourages variety across food groups, which is good advice but does not express the nutrient per calorie concept. Option c encourages variety within a food group, also beneficial but still not a definition of nutrient density. Option d (all of the above) cannot be correct because options a and c are only indirectly related. Option e focuses solely on reducing fat, which might reduce calories but says nothing about improving vitamin or mineral intake; some low fat foods may still be low in essential nutrients. Therefore, only option b clearly and directly captures the key idea behind nutrient density.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to equate “healthy eating” in general with nutrient density and choose “all of the above” whenever several statements sound positive. Another pitfall is focusing only on calories and fat without considering vitamins, minerals and fibre. To avoid this, remember that nutrient density always involves a ratio: nutrients divided by calories. The higher this ratio, the more nutrient dense the food is. This simple mental formula helps you identify the correct definition even when options are worded in different ways.

Final Answer:
Nutrient density means choosing foods that provide the most vitamins, minerals and beneficial nutrients for the fewest kilocalories.