What is a characteristic of empty calorie foods?

Empty calorie foods are characterized by being high in calories while lacking essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. These foods often contribute to an individual's total caloric intake without providing significant nutritional benefits, which can lead to poor dietary habits and health issues if consumed in excess. Foods like sugary snacks, sodas, and highly processed items often fall into this category, providing energy predominantly from sugars and fats rather than wholesome nutrients.

The other options highlight attributes that are not typical of empty calorie foods. For instance, being high in vitamins or dietary fiber would indicate that a food has nutritional value, which contradicts the definition of empty calories. Similarly, low sugar content does not align with the nature of these foods, which frequently contain significant amounts of sugar that contribute to their caloric content.