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The denominator problemPer 100g vs per 100 calories
The single choice that moves rankings more than any ingredient: what you divide by. Neither denominator is "correct" — they answer different questions.
What each denominator rewards
- Per 100 grams rewards calorie-dense foods and single-nutrient standouts. A spoonful of oil or a clove of garlic looks heroic.
- Per 100 calories (our default) rewards foods that deliver a lot of nutrition per unit of energy. Leafy greens run away with it; nuts and oils pay full price for their calories.
Foods that climb per 100 calories
| Food | Rank /100 kcal | Rank /100 g | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Guys Cheeseburger | #20 | #47 | +27 |
| Wendy's Baconator | #22 | #49 | +27 |
| Whopper | #23 | #50 | +27 |
| Subway 6" Tuna | #15 | #37 | +22 |
| Chipotle Chicken Burrito | #7 | #27 | +20 |
| Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate | #14 | #34 | +20 |
Foods that fall per 100 calories
| Food | Rank /100 kcal | Rank /100 g | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Popeyes Mashed Potatoes with Cajun Gravy (Regular) | #53 | #22 | -31 |
| Popeyes Coleslaw (Regular) | #48 | #23 | -25 |
| Starbucks Grande Caffè Latte (2%) | #46 | #24 | -22 |
| Chick-fil-A Mac & Cheese | #45 | #26 | -19 |
| Gatorade (Cool Blue) | #32 | #13 | -19 |
| Gatorade (Lemon-Lime) | #33 | #14 | -19 |
Ranks are within each food’s own category, computed with the identical formula — only the denominator changes. This is why garlic can look like a superfood per 100 g and ordinary per 100 calories: nobody eats 100 g of garlic, and 100 calories of garlic is a pile.
A note before you eat your screen: grades are computed from published nutrition data with a transparent formula. They are a starting point for thinking about food, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about your diet.