A 4-year-old boy has a history of seizures and has been started on a ketogenic diet. Which of the following food selections would be most appropriate for his lunch?

Question

A) Fried eggs, bacon, and iced tea
B) A hamburger on a bun, French fries, and milk
C) Spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread, and a cola drink
D) A grilled cheese sandwich, potato chips, and a milkshake

Answer 1

A
Feedback:
The ketogenic diet involves a high intake of fats, adequate protein intake, and a very low intake of carbohydrates, resulting in a state of ketosis. The child is kept in a mild state of dehydration. Eggs and bacon are high in fat; the tea does not contain any carbohydrates. Therefore, this is the best choice. The hamburger is fat and protein, the bun is a carbohydrate, and the French fries and the milk both contain fat and protein, but both contain a lot of carbohydrates. The pasta and the sauce for the spaghetti are carbohydrates, the meatballs are protein, and the garlic bread is a carbohydrate, as is the cola drink. The grilled cheese sandwich has the fat and protein from the cheese, but the bread and chips are primarily carbohydrates, and the milkshake has fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Only the selection in A contains a ketogenic meal.