Assessing the Nutrient Status of Low Carbohydrate, High-Fat (LCHF) Meal Plans in Children: A Hypothetical Case Study Design

There is well-established evidence for low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diets in the management of chronic health conditions in adults. The natural next step is to understand the potential risks and benefits of LCHF diets for children, where they may have useful applications for general health and a variety of chronic health conditions. It is vital that any diet delivers sufficient micronutrients and energy to ensure health, wellbeing, and growth. This descriptive study assesses the nutrient and energy status of LCHF sample meal plans for children. We designed four meal plans for hypothetical weight-stable male and female children (11 years) and adolescents (16 years). Carbohydrates were limited to ≤80 g, protein was set at 15–25% of the total energy, and fat supplied the remaining calories. Using FoodWorks dietary analysis software, data were assessed against the national Australian/New Zealand nutrient reference value (NRV) thresholds for children and adolescents. All meal plans exceeded the minimum NRV thresholds for all micronutrients; protein slightly exceeded the AMDR recommendations by up to three percentage points. This study demonstrates that LCHF meal plans can be energy-, protein-, and micronutrient-replete for children and adolescents. As with any dietary approach, well-formulated meals and careful planning are key to achieving the optimal nutrient status.