Recipe health scores
A clear grade on every recipe - and why it earned it.
Each recipe gets a score from 0-100 and a letter grade (A+ to F) for one serving. The score is a practical cooking signal, not a diagnosis: it helps you compare mains, spot lighter options, and balance a week alongside price and time.
Informed by UK public-health nutrition guidance (NHS Eatwell, SACN and front-of-pack labelling). It is general food education - not personalised medical advice.
A+
90-100
Excellent balance for a main-meal portion.
A
80-89
Strong nutrition profile with few amber flags.
B
70-79
Good everyday choice with minor trade-offs.
C
60-69
Fine occasionally; watch saturates, sugar or salt.
D-F
Below 60
Heavier on energy, fat, sugar or salt - enjoy mindfully.
What we measure (per portion)
Scores start from a neutral baseline, then move up for helpful nutrients and down for amounts that are high relative to typical UK per-serving guidance. Tap any recipe to see the factors that moved its grade.
Protein per portion
Higher protein (around 20 g+) supports fullness and muscle maintenance. Very light mains score lower.
Fibre
Wholegrains, beans and veg bump the score. UK adults are advised to aim for about 30 g fibre a day.
Fruit & veg (5-a-day)
We estimate portions from ingredients (see our five-a-day guide). More colour per serving helps the grade.
Saturates, sugars & salt
We use UK-style traffic-light bands per portion - similar thinking to front-of-pack labels on supermarket food.
Calories
Very energy-dense portions (above ~750 kcal) score lower; lighter mains (under ~450 kcal) can score a small boost.
Why this approach?
Diet quality is about patterns across the week, not one meal. Letter grades make trade-offs visible: a “B” curry might still fit a balanced week if you pair it with veg-heavy sides. We deliberately align saturates, sugars and salt with traffic-light thinking so the score feels familiar on shop shelves.
Protein and fibre are rewarded because UK intakes are often low, especially fibre (~30 g/day target for adults). Fruit and veg portions follow NHS 5-a-day rules - one 80 g portion is roughly a handful of veg or a piece of fruit.
Read our five-a-day guide
Best nutrition for your money
Quick wins
Letter grades reflect protein, fibre, 5-a-day and UK-style limits per portion.
Compare recipes in browse - sort or filter by health score when planning.
Scores update when better nutrition data arrives for a recipe.
Build a week around this advice
Written for Meal Pilot by Dr James, MBBS - a practising NHS GP in the United Kingdom. The information below reflects UK public-health guidance (including NHS Eatwell principles and SACN reference intakes). It is educational, not a personal prescription: always follow advice tailored to you by your own GP, practice nurse or registered dietitian.
Reviewed by
Meal Pilot editorial team with GP review
Important
Health scores are automated from recipe nutrition and ingredients. Some recipes use estimated data until full nutrition is loaded - the score may update when better data arrives. Scores do not replace professional dietary advice.