A 7-year-old on a ketogenic diet requires 1500 kcals. What is an appropriate macronutrient breakdown?

In a ketogenic diet, the macronutrient distribution typically emphasizes high fat intake, moderate protein intake, and very low carbohydrate intake. The goal is to achieve a state of ketosis, where the body utilizes fat as its primary source of energy instead of carbohydrates.

To analyze the appropriate macronutrient breakdown for a 7-year-old requiring 1500 kcals on a ketogenic diet, it is essential to first understand the general macronutrient ratios commonly recommended for such diets. A typical ketogenic diet may consist of around 70-80% of total calories from fat, 15-20% from protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates.

With these percentages in mind, let’s calculate the caloric contribution from each macronutrient in the selected option. In choice B, consisting of 145g of fat, 25g of protein, and 25g of carbohydrates, we can calculate the total caloric energy:

• Fat: 145g of fat contributes 1,305 kcals (since fat provides 9 kcals per gram).

• Protein: 25g of protein contributes 100 kcals (since protein provides 4 kcals per gram).

• Carbohydrates: 25g