Tag: Dietary quality

Created in 2002 as an alternative to the original Healthy Eating Index (HEI), the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) was designed to better predict chronic disease risk. This article explains the key difference between Ahei and Hei, breaking down the purpose, components, and scoring of each nutritional assessment tool.

The Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range for protein is 10-35% of total energy intake, according to the Institutes of Medicine. Understanding what is the energy to protein ratio is a powerful tool for optimizing your dietary quality and supporting specific health and fitness goals.

Research has highlighted that the source of calories is not interchangeable, and focusing on quality is a key part of promoting health. This challenges the simplistic "calorie is a calorie" view and addresses the critical question: Does it really matter where your calories come from? The answer, for overall health, is a resounding yes.

According to the USDA's Healthy Eating Index (HEI), the average American adult diet scores around 58 out of 100, indicating that most people do not align with recommended dietary guidelines. A good nutrient balance score represents an optimal intake of essential nutrients relative to energy, reflecting a diet that supports health and longevity. This score quantifies dietary quality by balancing nutrient-dense foods with those containing excessive fats, sugar, and sodium.

According to research on Taiwanese preschoolers, over half of young children were identified by parents as picky eaters. While it's a common concern among parents, the idea that all picky eaters are thin or underweight is a widespread misconception with more complex truths lurking beneath the surface.