Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

76 ALICE CALLAHAN, PHD, HEATHER LEONARD, MED, RDN, AND TAMBERLY POWELL, MS, RDN
Figure 1.25. Typical versus nutrient-dense foods.
Keep in mind that empty calories are not always a bad thing. In fact, empty calories
can help promote eating more nutrient-dense foods. Adding a little fat and/or sugar to
nutrient-dense foods can add flavor, making the food more enjoyable. A teaspoon of sugar
in oatmeal, or a teaspoon of butter on steamed veggies is a great way to include empty
calories. In these cases, the calories come packaged with other nutrients (since they are
added to whole foods), whereas the empty calories in soda come with no other nutrients,
only added sugar.