Which term is used to measure the energy content of food?

Which term is used to measure the energy content of food?

• A. Joules
• B. Kilocalories
• C. Calories
• D. Watt-hours

Answer: (C)

Energy content of food is described using Calories. In nutrition, a Calorie is actually a kilocalorie—the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius. Food labels use Calories (with a capital C), so when you see a value like 200 Calories, that represents 200 kilocalories. Joules and watt-hours are general energy units used in physics and electricity, not the standard terms used to express how much energy foods provide. So Calories is the term you’d use to describe the energy content of food.

Energy content of food is described using Calories. In nutrition, a Calorie is actually a kilocalorie—the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius. Food labels use Calories (with a capital C), so when you see a value like 200 Calories, that represents 200 kilocalories. Joules and watt-hours are general energy units used in physics and electricity, not the standard terms used to express how much energy foods provide. So Calories is the term you’d use to describe the energy content of food.