Dietary Reference Intakes Calculator from Health Canada:

An interactive tool to calculate daily nutrient intake recommendations

Last updated: 2025-10-14

About the tool

This tool will calculate daily nutrient recommendations based on the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for:

Energy (calories)
Water
Macronutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate)
Micronutrients (vitamins and minerals)

Learn more about DRIs

DRI values refer to average daily nutrient intake over time. Day-to-day variation in nutrient intakes is normal and expected. An individual may have physiological, health, or lifestyle characteristics that would require tailored recommendations in consultation with a healthcare professional.

Following Canada's food guide can help meet nutrient needs. Applying Canada's Dietary Guidelines provides additional information to support health professionals and policy makers when developing policies or programs that help support nutrition adequacy. Professionals can refer to Applying dietary reference intakes for further guidance.

Definitions

AI:: Adequate intake
CDRR:: Chronic disease risk reduction intake
DFE:: Dietary folate equivalents
g:: gram
kcal:: kilocalorie
L:: litre
Macronutrients:: Includes carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids.
Maximum Intake per day:: In the table above, this column provides either the Tolerable upper intake level (UL) or the Chronic disease risk reduction intake (CDRR) which was developed for each nutrient. The UL is the highest level of continuing daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects in almost all individuals in the life-stage group for which it has been designed. As intake increases above the UL, the potential risk of adverse effects may increase. The CDRR characterizes nutrient intakes that are expected to reduce the risk of developing a chronic disease.
Micronutrient:: Includes vitamins and minerals
mcg:: micrograms
mg:: milligrams
ND:: Not determined
NE:: Niacin equivalents
RAE:: Retinol activity equivalent
Recommended intake per day:: In the table above, this column provides the Recommended dietary allowance (RDA) or the Adequate intake (AI) value that is available for each nutrient. The RDA is the average daily dietary intake level that’s sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98 percent) individuals in a particular life-stage and sex group. The RDA is the goal for usual intake for an individual. The AI is the recommended average daily nutrient intake level based on observed or experimentally determined approximations or estimates of nutrient intake by a group (or groups) of people who are assumed to be maintaining an adequate nutritional state. An AI is derived if there isn’t sufficient scientific evidence available to establish an EAR on which to base an RDA.
UL:: Tolerable upper intake level

References

Institute of Medicine. 2006. Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements. Washington, DC:The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/11537.
Institute of Medicine. 2011. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC:The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/13050.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Dietary Reference Intakes for Sodium and Potassium. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25353.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26818.

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Date modified:: 2025-10-14

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Dietary Reference Intakes Calculator from Health Canada:

About the tool

Learn more about DRIs

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