DASH Diet Scoring Calculator

The Scoring Formula:

Our DASH diet scoring tool assesses your dietary intake based on key components of the DASH diet. The goal is to provide you with a score that reflects how closely your eating habits align with the DASH principles. Here's how it works:

• Food Groups Evaluated: The tool considers your consumption of several key food groups, including:
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Low-fat or nonfat dairy
  • Whole grains
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Legumes (beans, lentils, peas)
  • Lean meats, poultry, and fish
  • Sweets and added sugars
  • Fats and oils
  • Sodium (if your input includes this data)
• Serving Sizes: Accurate serving size estimation is crucial. We provide guidelines and examples within the tool to help you estimate your portion sizes as accurately as possible. [**If your tool *actually* provides these guidelines, great! If not, adjust this sentence to reflect the user's input.**] For example, a serving of fruit is typically ½ cup of chopped fruit or a small whole fruit. A serving of cooked vegetables is also typically ½ cup.
• Scoring System: Each food group is scored based on how your reported intake compares to the recommended intake levels of the DASH diet.
  • Foods encouraged in the DASH diet (fruits, vegetables, etc.) receive higher scores when consumed in greater quantities.
  • Foods that should be limited (sweets, red meat, sodium) receive higher scores when consumed in smaller quantities.
  • [**Add a sentence here that describes the *range* of scores possible for each food group and how those points are assigned. For example:** "Scores range from 0 to 5 for each food group, with higher scores indicating better adherence to the DASH diet recommendations for that group."]
• Total Score Calculation: Your individual food group scores are then added together to calculate your total DASH diet score. The total score provides an overall indication of how well your diet aligns with the DASH eating pattern. [**Add a sentence here that describes the total possible score range. For example:** "The total DASH diet score can range from X to Y, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the DASH diet."]
• Interpreting Your Score: After calculating your score, we will provide you an interpretion of your results. [**Provide a brief description of the interpretion that will be given to the user. For example:** "We provide a general interpretation of your score based on categories such as 'Excellent Adherence,' 'Good Adherence,' 'Fair Adherence,' or 'Needs Improvement.' These categories offer guidance on areas where you're doing well and areas where you could consider making changes to better align with the DASH diet."]

It's important to remember that this tool provides a general assessment. Consult with a registered dietitian or healthcare professional for personalized dietary advice. Ready to see how your diet stacks up? Try the DASH Diet Scoring Calculator now!