PositivelyMe Satiety Score

The PositivelyMe Satiety Score is our in-house, estimated measure of a recipe’s fullness potential. It is designed to give you a consistent way to compare recipes based on protein, fiber, and calorie density.

Important: This is an educational estimate, not a medically validated score, and it does not predict exactly how full any individual person will feel.

How the score is calculated

Every recipe is scored using the same four components. The final result is rounded to the nearest whole number and reported on a 0–100 scale.

40% — Protein density: protein relative to calories. 10 g protein per 100 calories reaches the maximum for this component.
30% — Fiber density: fiber relative to calories. 2.5 g fiber per 100 calories reaches the maximum for this component.
20% — Protein amount: 30 g protein per serving reaches the maximum for this component.
10% — Fiber amount: 10 g fiber per serving reaches the maximum for this component.

The formula

Protein density component = min((protein g ÷ calories) × 10, 1)

Fiber density component = min((fiber g ÷ calories) × 40, 1)

Protein amount component = min(protein g ÷ 30, 1)

Fiber amount component = min(fiber g ÷ 10, 1)

Final Score = round(100 × [(0.40 × protein density) + (0.30 × fiber density) + (0.20 × protein amount) + (0.10 × fiber amount)])

Why these factors?

Protein and fiber are both associated with greater feelings of fullness and improved appetite control. Calorie density is incorporated through the density components, so a recipe that provides more protein or fiber for fewer calories is rewarded.

There is no universally accepted 0–100 satiety formula for individual recipes, so PositivelyMe uses this transparent, reproducible formula rather than presenting a subjective number as scientific fact.

What the score does — and doesn’t — mean

Higher score: greater estimated fullness potential based on the recipe’s protein, fiber, and calorie density.
Lower score: less estimated fullness potential based on those same factors.
The score does not mean a recipe is “good” or “bad,” nor does it measure taste, cravings, enjoyment, portion size, or how difficult a food is to stop eating.
Actual hunger and fullness vary from person to person.

A note about nutrition estimates

Because the Satiety Score is calculated from recipe nutrition values, changes to ingredients, brands, preparation, serving size, or nutrition estimates can change the score. Recipe nutrition is approximate.

We use the same Satiety Score formula across PositivelyMe recipes and the Meal Planner so the number remains consistent wherever you see it.