Understanding Calorie Density: The Key to Sustainable Eating Calorie density is a fundamental concept in nutrition, yet it remains widely misunderstood. Defined as the number of calories per gram of food, calorie density determines how much energy a particular food provides in relation to its weight. Foods with high calorie density, such as fried foods, processed snacks, and oils, pack a large number of calories into a small volume. In contrast, foods with low calorie density—like fruits, v...