Source of Data

Bites relies on established, peer-reviewed, and government-maintained sources for both its nutrition data and the dietary guidance that underpins its recommendations. This page describes where that information comes from.

Nutrition Data

Menu-level nutrition information in Bites is derived from restaurant-published nutrition disclosures, which U.S. chain restaurants with 20 or more locations are required to provide under Section 403(q)(5)(H) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, implemented by the FDA's final menu labeling rule (21 CFR 101.11). This regulation requires covered establishments to disclose calorie counts and make full nutrition information available upon request.

We supplement and cross-reference restaurant-published values against the USDA FoodData Central database, the U.S. government's primary repository of food composition data. FoodData Central integrates data from multiple USDA sources including the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR Legacy) and the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS), and is maintained by the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Our catalog currently covers 110+ chain restaurants and approximately 27,000 menu items. Each item includes, at minimum, calorie, protein, carbohydrate, and fat values. Additional nutrients (fiber, sugar, saturated fat, sodium, cholesterol) are included where the source data provides them.

Dietary Guidance and Goal Recommendations

The nutritional targets and goal frameworks in Bites (Cut, Maintain, and Bulk) are informed by the following sources:

• Mifflin-St Jeor Equation for estimating resting energy expenditure. Bites uses this equation to calculate daily calorie targets based on your weight, height, age, sex, and activity level. Mifflin, M.D., St Jeor, S.T., Hill, L.A., Scott, B.J., Daugherty, S.A., Koh, Y.O. "A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 51(2), 241-247 (1990). doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/51.2.241
• Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for macronutrients, as established by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine). The foundational reference is Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids (The National Academies Press, 2005). nap.nationalacademies.org
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, published jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations on calorie intake, macronutrient distribution, and dietary patterns. dietaryguidelines.gov
• International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) position stands on protein and exercise. Specifically: Jager, R., Kerksick, C.M., Campbell, B.I., et al. "International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: protein and exercise." Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 14, 20 (2017). doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0177-8
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source. A publicly available, evidence-based reference on macronutrients, protein, fats, and carbohydrates maintained by the Department of Nutrition at Harvard. nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheets and nutrient reference materials, published by the National Institutes of Health. ods.od.nih.gov
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) joint position statement with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Dietitians of Canada: "Nutrition and Athletic Performance." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 48(3), 543-568 (2016). doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000000852

Data Accuracy and Limitations

Nutrition values may change as restaurants update their menus, reformulate items, or adjust portion sizes. While we work to keep the data current, we do not guarantee that every value reflects the latest menu revision. Bites is intended as an informational tool and is not a substitute for professional dietary or medical advice.

If you believe a specific data point is inaccurate, please contact us so we can investigate and correct it.

Contact

Clinton St, Inc.
Email: contact@clinton.st
26 Clinton St APT 5A, New York, NY 10002-8705