ndi

The Nutrient Density Index (NDI) is an internal informational score for estimating how much micronutrient value a food appears to deliver relative to its calorie load. It is not peer-reviewed, clinically validated, or a medical rating.

NDI assigns each food a 0-100 score. Higher scores generally mean the food shows more favorable nutrient density, balance, and composition signals per 100 kcal.

- Fiber per 100 kcal - Protein per 100 kcal - Micronutrient density across the vitamins and minerals tracked in the app - Micronutrient spread, meaning how many nutrients contribute meaningfully per calorie - Standout nutrients when sugar and sodium density are still reasonable - Potassium-to-sodium balance - Small bonuses for strong protein-plus-fiber combinations and very low-calorie, micronutrient-rich items

- Added sugar density - Excess sodium density - Low protein-plus-fiber satiety floor - Refined starch load with weak protein and fiber support - Hyper-palatable fat-plus-carb combinations when protein and fiber are low - Higher-calorie foods with weak micronutrient contribution

The model uses reference-style nutrient targets and established nutrition concepts rather than guessing blindly. In practice that means it looks at nutrient density per calorie, contribution toward vitamin and mineral targets, and a few balance or caution signals like sodium density, potassium-to-sodium balance, added sugar density, and protein/fiber support.

Reference concepts behind the score include U.S. Daily Value and Dietary Reference Intake-style targets for vitamins and minerals, the Dietary Guidelines emphasis on nutrient-dense foods, and common nutrition heuristics around sodium, fiber, and added sugar. NDI is best used as a transparent comparison aid, not as a final judgment that a food is simply "good" or "bad."