Adding what to food will always make food less nutrient dense and why?

• A. Sugar and saturated fats, because both add Calories without adding other nutrients.
• B. Fiber and water, because both add mass and volume without adding Calories.
• C. Oils, because fats and oils have the highest energy densities of any foods.
• D. Vitamins and minerals, because they add no Calories.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of nutrient density: Nutrient density refers to the amount of essential nutrients (like vitamins, minerals, protein, etc.) a food provides relative to its calorie content. Foods with high nutrient density provide more nutrients per calorie, while foods with low nutrient density provide fewer nutrients per calorie.
2. Analyze the impact of sugar and saturated fats: Adding sugar and saturated fats increases the calorie content of food without contributing significant amounts of essential nutrients, thereby reducing nutrient density.
3. Consider the role of fiber and water: Adding fiber and water increases the mass and volume of food without adding calories. While this does not reduce nutrient density, it can dilute the concentration of nutrients per unit of food.
4. Evaluate the effect of oils: Oils and fats are energy-dense, meaning they provide a high number of calories per gram. Adding oils to food increases calorie content significantly, which can lower nutrient density if not balanced with essential nutrients.
5. Examine the addition of vitamins and minerals: Vitamins and minerals do not contribute calories. Adding them to food does not affect calorie content but can increase nutrient density if the food was previously lacking in these nutrients.