How can you know whether a food is nutritious or not?

Determine whether a specific food is nutritious based on the amount of fat, cholesterol, sodium and vitamins it contains. The Federal Drug Administration names the most nutritious foods as those that are high in dietary fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamins and low in saturated fat, trans fat and sodium.

The percent daily values and number of servings on food package nutrition labels reveal foods' nutritional content. A DV of 5 percent or less indicates a low amount of a certain nutrient, and a DV of over 20 percent signifies a high amount. Consuming nutritious foods reduces the risk of common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension and cancer.