All Real Plans recipes include a Nutrivore Score. We’ve joined forces with Nutrivore founder Sarah Ballantyne, Ph.D., to inspire smarter, more nutrient-dense choices for you and your loved ones.
Here is a breakdown on all things Nutrivore….
What is the Nutrivore Score?
The Nutrivore Score is a measurement of nutrient density, meaning how much nutrition a food or meal delivers per calorie. The higher the score, the more essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, healthy fats, and beneficial phytonutrients it contains relative to its energy content. You can think of the Nutrivore Score as a measurement of how opposite of an “empty calorie” a food is.
Importantly, the Nutrivore Score is just one tool in your nutrient density toolkit. It does not tell you which specific nutrients are present or how that food contributes to your unique dietary needs. That’s why it’s best to combine the Nutrivore Score with other nutritional context—such as the food group, variety in your diet, and how it fits with your personal preferences, health goals, and cultural traditions—when making food choices.
Learn more about nutrient density HERE.
How is the Nutrivore Score calculated?
The Nutrivore Score adds up the amounts of 33 important nutrients in a food, each compared to daily requirements, and then divides by the food’s energy density (calories per serving). This calculation creates a single number that reflects total nutrients per calorie—as a comprehensive, objective guide to making balanced, health-supportive choices.
Because nutrition databases aren’t always complete, some foods or recipes may have missing nutrient data, which can affect their score. When data is missing, the actual Nutrivore Score could be higher than what’s shown. This is why it’s best to view the score as a useful guide—not an absolute measure—and to combine it with other nutrition knowledge when making food choices.
Learn more about how the Nutrivore Score is calculated HERE.
What is considered a good Nutrivore Score?
Any food or meal with a Nutrivore Score over 150 contributes more nutrients than calories to your overall diet. That said, lower scores aren’t “bad” and often fill important nutritional niches—cheese, for example, averages a Nutrivore Score of 140 but is our most concentrated source of calcium. Instead of aiming for the highest possible score at every meal, focus on building a pattern of nutrient-dense choices over time.
Because the Nutrivore Score is only one measure of food quality—and may be influenced by incomplete nutrient data—it’s best to use it alongside other considerations like nutrient variety, food group balance, personal preferences, and cultural traditions. Nutrivore is about balance, variety, and meeting your nutrient needs across your whole diet—not perfection in every bite. Lower-score recipes can still be important for energy, comfort, cultural tradition, or simply enjoyment. When your overall meal plan includes plenty of nutrient-rich foods, there’s room for every type of food.
Learn more about how to use the Nutrivore Score HERE.
Help—my recipe doesn’t have a Nutrivore Score!
If a recipe doesn’t display a Nutrivore Score in Real Plans, it may be because:
- An ingredient in the recipe is missing nutrition data
- An ingredient quantity doesn’t match our database
- The entire recipe contains no calories
Once the missing or mismatched data is updated, the Nutrivore Score will calculate automatically
Can I use the Nutrivore Score for weight loss or calorie counting?
The Nutrivore Score is not a weight loss or calorie counting tool. It doesn’t measure portion size or track calories—it measures the quality of calories. So, the Nutrivore Score can be used to help ensure you’re getting the nutrients you need while in a caloric deficit, but doesn’t give you the necessary information to achieve the caloric deficit in the first place.
While the Nutrivore Score can complement other health goals, its purpose is to help you identify nutrient-rich choices, make simple swaps, and add nutrient-dense ingredients to meals you already enjoy. It’s also important to remember that the Nutrivore Score should not be the only metric you use to guide your food choices. It works best when combined with other factors—like variety, nutrient gaps, food group balance, and your personal preferences, budget, and cultural traditions—to support a healthy, enjoyable, and sustainable diet.
