Our Nutrition Methodology

Science-Based Nutrition Information

Every nutrition value on our site is grounded in data from the USDA FoodData Central, the authoritative source for food and nutrient information in the United States. We don't guess or estimate—we calculate based on scientific data.

100% USDA-Grounded Data

All nutrition calculations use verified USDA food codes and laboratory-analyzed nutrient values. Each recipe includes citations you can verify yourself.

How We Calculate Nutrition

1. Ingredient Analysis

For each ingredient in a recipe, we:

  • Identify the specific USDA food item and code
  • Retrieve nutrition data per 100g from USDA FoodData Central
  • Calculate based on the actual quantity used in the recipe
  • Account for cooking methods when applicable

2. Portion Calculation

We calculate per-serving nutrition by:

  • Summing nutrition for all ingredients
  • Dividing by the number of servings
  • Rounding to appropriate precision
  • Displaying "Per 1 serving" values

3. Quality Assurance

Every recipe must pass our quality gates:

  • Minimum protein thresholds by category (e.g., 25g+ for protein bowls)
  • Title consistency - claimed protein must match calculated values
  • Complete nutrition - all macros and key micros included
  • Reasonable portions - servings between 1-12

Our Data Sources

USDA FoodData Central

The gold standard for nutrition data, containing:

  • 300,000+ foods analyzed
  • Laboratory-verified nutrient profiles
  • Standardized food codes
  • Regular updates and validation

Performance Optimization

For speed and accuracy, we cache:

  • 106+ common ingredients
  • 239+ ingredient variations
  • 80%+ cache hit rate
  • Real-time API for rare items

Example Calculation

Mediterranean Chicken Bowl (1 serving)

Ingredient USDA Code Amount Protein
Chicken breast 171061 150g 46.5g
Quinoa, cooked 168874 100g 4.4g
Chickpeas 175195 50g 4.5g
Total per serving 55.4g

Each ingredient links to its USDA entry, ensuring complete transparency and traceability of our nutrition data.

Trust Indicators

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Lab-Verified Data

All values from laboratory analysis, not estimates

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Transparent Citations

Every recipe shows USDA codes you can verify

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Quality Gates

Automated validation ensures accuracy

Important Notes

Variations May Occur

  • • Actual nutrition may vary based on specific brands used
  • • Cooking methods can affect final nutrient content
  • • Portion sizes should be measured for accuracy
  • • Optional ingredients are not included in calculations

Continuous Improvement

We continuously improve our methodology through:

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Regular cache updates - Adding new ingredients based on usage patterns
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Algorithm refinement - Improving portion and cooking adjustments
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Quality threshold tuning - Ensuring recipes meet nutritional goals
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User feedback integration - Addressing accuracy concerns promptly

Questions About Our Data?

We believe in complete transparency about our nutrition calculations. If you have questions or spot an issue, we want to hear from you.

About Our Team