1. Low‐carbohydrate, healthy‐fat eating: A cost comparison with national dietary guidelines
- Author
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Caryn Zinn, George Henderson, Katie Donovan, Chloe Muir, and Sylvia North
- Subjects
Male ,Adolescent ,030309 nutrition & dietetics ,Food prices ,Carbohydrates ,LCHF ,Schofield equation ,Body Mass Index ,Nutrition Policy ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Environmental health ,cost ,Dietary Carbohydrates ,Analysis software ,Medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Low carbohydrate ,education ,Child ,Metabolic health ,Original Research ,0303 health sciences ,Meal ,education.field_of_study ,national nutrition guidelines ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,Cost comparison ,business.industry ,Nutritional Requirements ,Dietary Methodology ,Middle Aged ,low‐carbohydrate ,Diet ,healthy‐fat ,Costs and Cost Analysis ,Female ,Diet, Healthy ,business ,Body mass index ,New Zealand - Abstract
Aim A low-carbohydrate, healthy-fat (LCHF) dietary approach has been demonstrated as an effective strategy for improving metabolic health; however, it is often criticised for being more expensive than following a dietary approach guided by the national, Ministry of Health nutrition guidelines. This study compared the cost of these two nutritionally replete dietary approaches for one day for a family of four. Methods In this descriptive case study, one-day meal plans were designed for a hypothetical family of four representing the average New Zealand (NZ) male and female weight-stable adult and two adolescent children. National documented heights, a healthy body mass index range (18.5-25.0 kg/m2 ), and a 1.7-activity factor was used to estimate total energy requirements using the Schofield equation. Total daily costs were compared based on food prices from a popular Auckland supermarket. Meal plans were analysed for their nutritional adequacy using FoodWorks 8 dietary analysis software against national Australian and NZ nutrient reference value thresholds. Results The total daily costs were $43.42 (national guidelines) and $51.67 (LCHF) representing an $8.25 difference, or $2.06 per person, with the LCHF meal plan being the costlier option. Conclusions We consider this increased cost for an LCHF approach to be negligible. In practice, less costly food items with similar nutrition qualities can be substituted to reduce costs further should this be a goal. The LCHF approach should therefore not be disregarded as a viable dietary approach for improving health outcomes, based on its perceived expense.
- Published
- 2019