How the Food Score Actually Works

A deep dive into the algorithm that measures nutritional completeness in your local food system

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The Big Idea: From Food Types to Essential Nutrients

Instead of just counting farms, we break down food into the 11 essential nutrients your body actually needs to thrive. Then we see how well your local farms can provide each one.

Why This Matters More Than Just "Number of Farms"

Having 20 vegetable farms doesn't help if you need protein or healthy fats. Our algorithm ensures you could actually build a complete, healthy diet from local sources, not just eat lots of lettuce.

The 11 Essential Nutrients We Track

Based on WHO and nutritional science, we organized nutrients into tiers by importance:

Tier 1: Critical Nutrients (Worth 3 Points Each)

Complete Protein

All 9 essential amino acids your body can't make. From: meat, dairy, eggs, beans+grains together.

Vitamin C

Immune system, collagen production. From: citrus, berries, peppers, tomatoes, leafy greens.

Complex Carbohydrates

Steady energy, brain fuel. From: grains, potatoes, root vegetables, fruits.

Essential Fats

Brain health, hormones. From: nuts, oils, dairy, meat, fish.

Tier 2: Important Nutrients (Worth 2 Points Each)

Calcium

Bones, muscle function. From: dairy, leafy greens, fermented foods.

Iron

Oxygen transport, energy. From: meat, leafy greens, legumes, grains.

Fiber

Digestive health, blood sugar. From: vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes.

B Vitamins

Energy metabolism, nerves. From: meat, dairy, grains, fermented foods.

Tier 3: Beneficial Nutrients (Worth 1 Point Each)

Antioxidants

From: berries, herbs, vegetables, fermented foods.

Vitamin K

From: leafy greens, herbs, nuts.

Omega-3 Fats

From: fish, oils, nuts.

How Food Categories Map to Nutrients

We've mapped 20 food categories to the nutrients they typically provide. This is where the science meets the real world:

Animal Products

Meat
Provides: Complete Protein, Iron, B Vitamins, Essential Fats
Dairy
Provides: Complete Protein, Calcium, Essential Fats, B Vitamins
Eggs
Provides: Complete Protein, Essential Fats, B Vitamins
Seafood
Provides: Complete Protein, Omega-3 Fats, Essential Fats

Plant Products

Vegetables
Provides: Vitamin C, Fiber, Vitamin K, Antioxidants, Calcium
Leafy Greens
Provides: Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin K
Fruits
Provides: Vitamin C, Fiber, Antioxidants, Complex Carbs
Legumes (Beans/Lentils)
Provides: Complete Protein*, Fiber, Iron, Complex Carbs
*When combined with grains
Grains
Provides: Complex Carbs, Fiber, B Vitamins, Iron
Nuts & Seeds
Provides: Essential Fats, Complete Protein, Vitamin K

The Scoring Math (Made Simple)

Step 1: Count Local Sources for Each Nutrient

We look within 5 miles (8km) and count how many farms provide each nutrient. For example:

Complete Protein: 2 dairy farms + 1 meat farm + 1 egg farm = 4 sources
Vitamin C: 3 vegetable farms + 2 fruit farms + 1 leafy greens farm = 6 sources
Complex Carbs: 1 grain farm + 2 root vegetable farms + 2 fruit farms = 5 sources

Step 2: Calculate Points for Each Nutrient

Each nutrient has an "optimal sources" target. We give full points when you reach that target:

Complete Protein: 4 sources ÷ 3 needed = 1.33 (capped at 1.0)3 × 1.0 = 3 points
Vitamin C: 6 sources ÷ 4 needed = 1.5 (capped at 1.0)3 × 1.0 = 3 points
Complex Carbs: 5 sources ÷ 3 needed = 1.67 (capped at 1.0)3 × 1.0 = 3 points

Step 3: Add It All Up

Total possible points: 23 points (when all nutrients meet their targets)
Your area's points: 18 points (example)
Final score: 18 ÷ 23 × 100 = 78
Result: "Strong Local Food Community" 🎉

What a Perfect 100 Score Actually Means

A score of 100 means your local area has enough diverse food sources to meet all optimal nutritional targets. Specifically, you'd need:

Critical Nutrients (Must Have)

  • • 3+ protein sources (meat, dairy, eggs, etc.)
  • • 4+ vitamin C sources (fruits, vegetables)
  • • 3+ carb sources (grains, root vegetables)
  • • 2+ fat sources (nuts, oils, dairy, meat)

Plus All Other Nutrients

  • • Calcium, iron, fiber, B vitamins
  • • Antioxidants, vitamin K, omega-3s
  • • Diverse, resilient food ecosystem
  • • Community could thrive independently

💡 Real Talk: A 100 score means you could theoretically eat a complete, nutritionally balanced diet using only local sources within 5 miles. That's extremely rare and represents an exceptionally robust local food system.

Important Limitations to Keep in Mind

We don't track quantities: The algorithm counts sources, not production volume. A small hobby farm counts the same as a large commercial operation.

Seasonal variation: Many farms are seasonal, so your score will change throughout the year. We're working on seasonal modeling.

Missing data: If local farms aren't on our platform yet, they won't count toward your score. Help us by suggesting missing farms!

Simplified categories: Real nutrition is more complex than our 20 food categories. This is a useful approximation, not medical advice.

Scientific Evidence & References

Our nutritional framework is built on peer-reviewed scientific evidence from leading health organizations. Here are the key sources that validate our approach:

Essential Nutrients Framework

Protein & Amino Acids (Tier 1)

Source: WHO/FAO/UNU Expert Consultation on Protein and Amino Acid Requirements in Human Nutrition

Citation: World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2007;(935):1-265. PMID: 18330140

Establishes protein quality standards and amino acid requirements for all age groups. This report provides the scientific foundation for our complete protein classification.

View on PubMed →

Micronutrients (All Tiers)

Source: WHO Health Topics - Micronutrients

Updated: 2024 - Current WHO guidance on vitamin and mineral requirements

Defines essential micronutrients including iron, vitamin C, calcium, and B vitamins. Establishes the health impact framework for our tier system weighting.

View WHO Resource →

Dietary Guidelines & Healthy Diets

Source: WHO updates guidelines on fats and carbohydrates (2023)

Published: July 17, 2023 - Latest WHO dietary recommendations

Provides evidence-based recommendations on fat quality, complex carbohydrates, and fiber intake. Supports our food category mapping to nutrient profiles.

View WHO News →

Food-Based Dietary Guidelines

Source: FAO Dietary Guidelines Framework

Coverage: 100+ countries worldwide with localized dietary recommendations

Establishes the framework for food-based dietary guidelines that map foods to nutrient outcomes. Validates our approach of using food categories as proxies for nutritional adequacy.

View FAO Guidelines →

Key Scientific Validations

  • Tier 1 Classification: Based on WHO identification of nutrients "critical for health" where deficiency causes severe health consequences (protein, vitamin C, complex carbs, essential fats)
  • Tier 2 Classification: Nutrients where deficiency is "important for health" with significant but less immediate health impacts (iron, calcium, fiber, B vitamins)
  • Food Category Mapping: Aligned with FAO food-based dietary guidelines used by 100+ countries for national nutrition policy
  • Scoring Methodology: Weighted approach reflects relative importance as established by WHO technical report series on nutrient requirements

Scientific Transparency

This algorithm synthesizes established nutritional science for practical application to local food systems. While based on peer-reviewed research, it's designed as a tool for community food planning rather than individual medical advice. Consult healthcare professionals for personal nutritional guidance.

Ready to Explore Your Local Food Score?

Now that you understand the science, head back to the map to see how your area measures up!

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