A Quick Guide to the Vegan Curator Food-Rating Model

How We Turn a Nutrition Label into a Simple, Honest Score

At Vegan Curator, we’ve built a transparent food-rating system designed to decode the Nutrition Facts label into a single score ranging from –4 to +5.5. That score places the food into one of five simple tiers—from 🟢 Staple to 🔴 Treat—so you can assess fully plant-based products with clarity and confidence, no nutrition degree required.

How the Score Works

1. Subtract for Nutrients to Limit

Certain nutrients—like saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars—can contribute to chronic health issues when overconsumed. Products are penalized when these nutrients appear in excess.

Saturated Fat: Points are deducted if the % Daily Value (DV) exceeds 10%. However, if saturated fat makes up less than one-third of total fat, a small point bonus is awarded.
Sodium: Foods with more than 10% DV receive point deductions. A bonus may apply if potassium content meets or exceeds sodium.
Added Sugars: Even small amounts of added sugar reduce the score, with more significant penalties applied above 10% DV.

2. Add for Nutrients to Encourage

We reward foods that support digestion, metabolism, energy, and satiety—especially those that offer fiber, protein, and essential micronutrients.

Dietary Fiber: Points are awarded for either providing at least 10% of the Daily Value (%DV) for fiber or having ≥1g of fiber per 10g of carbohydrates.
Protein: Foods gain points when protein reaches or exceeds 10% DV per serving.
Micronutrients (Iron, Calcium, B12, etc.): Only the highest %DV among listed vitamins and minerals is credited. Because micronutrients represent a diverse group of nutrients—each with distinct functions and varying levels of significance—we apply a more conservative scoring approach.

3. Reward for Minimal Processing

Ingredient quality matters. We favor foods that are close to their natural form—minimally refined, transparently labeled, and free from unnecessary additives.

Products made with a short list of recognizable, whole-food ingredients are rewarded. Those with longer lists may still earn credit if the majority of ingredients are whole and unrefined. Conversely, highly processed items, especially those containing artificial or flagged additives, are penalized.

This step recognizes foods that retain their integrity from source to shelf—where what you see is what you get.

4. Total and Translate

Once positive and negative points are tallied, the food receives a final score and corresponding tier:

🟢 Daily Staple (+3 to +5.5)
Foundational foods that consistently nourish and support everyday wellness. These highly nutritious and wholesome choices serve as daily essentials—ideal for building balanced, plant-based meals.

🟡 Weekly Support (+1.5 to +2.5)
Nutritious and beneficial foods that complement your staples with added variety and balance. Well-suited for weekly meal rotation, they’re reliable contributors to a well-rounded diet.

🟠 Monthly Option (0 to +1)
Nutritionally supportive but context-dependent. These foods offer unique value—such as healthy fats, bold flavors, or niche benefits—but are best enjoyed a few times per month. Use them purposefully rather than by habit.

🟤 Occasional Extra (–2 to –0.5)
Lower in nutrients but still enjoyable. These items add flavor or convenience, yet they belong on the fringe of your routine. Best used once or twice a month—whether as a flavorful accent or a practical fallback, not a dietary mainstay.

🔴 Rare Treat (–4 to –2.5)
Highly indulgent and energy-dense, these foods are rich in sugar, salt, or fat but offer minimal nutritional benefit. Best reserved for special occasions, celebrations, or moments of conscious indulgence.

Using the Rating in Real Life

This rating system reflects sound nutritional science: it rewards fiber, protein, and essential micronutrients; penalizes excess saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars; and favors minimally processed foods with transparent ingredients. By using % Daily Values, it stays consistent across serving sizes and product types.

At the same time, it’s designed for real-world eating. Every product rated is processed to some extent, so anchoring your meals in whole plant foods—like fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds—is key to a healthy foundation. The category assignments offer best-case guidance for how often to include processed items, but they’re not rigid rules. Portion size and food combinations matter too—lower-rated foods can still be part of a balanced diet when eaten in smaller amounts or paired with more nutrient-dense staples.

This tool is here to help you make informed, flexible choices—so you can enjoy more of what you love while still supporting long-term health.

Built for Plant-Based Foods

This model was developed specifically for vegan foods. Unlike general scoring systems, it acknowledges their unique nutritional and ethical advantages.

We chose not to use Nutri-Score, for instance, because it evaluates food per 100g rather than per serving, and favors animal-based benchmarks—like using protein as a proxy for calcium. This approach can misrepresent plant-based options while giving dairy-based products an unfair advantage. For a deeper dive, read our article: “Nutri-Score: Helpful Shortcut or Missed Opportunity?”

Final Thoughts

This score is more than a number—it’s a tool for smarter, more intentional eating in a world of marketing noise. By focusing on nutrients, processing, and ingredient integrity, we help you build a more balanced plant-based diet one product at a time.

Want to see how your favorite food stacks up? Let us know—we’re happy to rate it.

Your Next Step to Balanced Eating

This system helps you assess individual foods — but how they fit into your overall diet matters just as much.

Learn more in The Food Group Playbook: Eat with Purpose — https://vegancurator.com/nutrition/food-groups
And explore how to build well-rounded meals in our companion guide,The Anatomy of a Balanced Meal — https://vegancurator.com/nutrition/balanced-meal-anatomy