What characteristic of modern diets often results in nutrient-poor outcomes, contrasting with healthy eating goals?

Being energy-dense, nutrient-poor meals

A typical modern diet often presents a major obstacle to achieving optimal health because it frequently consists of meals characterized by being energy-dense while simultaneously being nutrient-poor. This means the foods consumed provide a high number of calories relative to the actual vitamins, minerals, and essential fats they deliver to the body. This pattern contributes to poor health outcomes, contrasting sharply with the goal of sound eating patterns, which focus on delivering necessary nutrients while keeping energy intake appropriate for maintaining a healthy body weight. Shifting away from these energy-dense, nutrient-poor options toward whole foods yields measurable, long-term metabolic health improvements.