The food composition table is unique and includes many ethnic and fast foods. It gives amounts for 23 nutrients. Vitamins and minerals are given as % of the Daily Values, as used on food labels instead of metric units. You can tell at a glance which foods are high or low in a nutrient: Is a food high in zinc if it has 15 milligrams (the daily recommendation)? When it's given as 100% of the Daily Value, you know it is. Having the nutrient values as they are on food labels also allows one to combine the label values with those in the book.
Many people take nutrient supplements simply because they don't know if they're getting enough, and often are surprised to find that the supplement has what they don't need and doesn't have what they do need. Some even find that their diet is better than they think, and decide to quit the supplement. We promote the idea that eating for health and pleasure can be the same.
