'nutrient-poor' is a compound word formed from 'nutrient' and 'poor', where 'nutrient' refers to a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life, and 'poor' indicates a lack or deficiency.

The term 'nutrient-poor' evolved from the combination of 'nutrient', which has been used in English since the 17th century, and 'poor', which has been in use since the Middle English period.

Initially, 'nutrient-poor' simply described a lack of nutrients, and this meaning has remained consistent over time.