Recipe Macronutrients

Edition: 2017-07-31

I’m not actually sure this is open for debate, but what do people want in the way of macronutrient, or even micronutrient data for program recipes?

Possible Ballot Choices

(In case HH wants to set this up as a poll)

1. None
   But perhaps need some resource-wide statement of recipe design targets such as max net carbs
2. Exception Only
   None, plus caveats on potential provocations
3. Basic
   Fat, Protein, Total carb, Fiber Carb
4. FDA Basic
   Basic plus Sat.Fat and Sodium
5. FDA NF Panel
   To Nutrition Facts standard
6. Net Carbs only
   Because math is so hard
7. Program Key
   Net carbs and prebiotic fiber carbs
8. Program Comprehensive
   Program Key plus core micronutrients (iodine, Mg, ω3, Vitamin D) and common extended/limited micros (B12, Fe, folate, potassium, Vitamin Ks, Zn, ω6LA)
9. Other
   Because polls always have flawed choices.

There’s a further sub-question of: where does any macro or micro info need to appear? Possibilities might include but not be limited to:
   recipe footnote
   book appendix
   open-access website
   subscription website

Web hosting of macro/micro data has the advantage of being able to both revise the numbers as new data arises, and evolve the presentation as new elements need to be considered.

The Challenges as I see it

The program suggests counting two things:
1. net carbs (to max)
2. prebiotic fiber carbs (to target)
3. imprecise recipes

(1) NC may be presumed to be 15 grams or less for program recipes, but where the recipe is for only one element of a meal, that may not be sufficient data.

(2) Prebiotic fiber carbs are a major nuisance to determine. NF panels are close to useless on this as the "Fiber Carb" number is just an upper bound, and the prebiotic fraction can easily be zero. Resources for ingredient content are hard to come by, and almost always involve highly-error-prone units conversions and scaling math.

(3) Recipes offering a choice of ingredients, or amounts thereof, would result in needing a range for macro/micro data. "Sweeten to taste", "use almond or coconut flour", "blueberries optional"; that sort of thing.

Program History

The original Wheat Belly book did not include macros for the recipes. People complained on the blog, and the two cookbooks that followed include macros. Two recent books do not have macros, nor do recent blog recipes, and people are once again complaining (example, example, example, example).

• 2011-08: Wheat Belly
  No macros.
• 2013-01: Wheat Belly Cookbook
  Has basic FDA macros.
• 2013-12: WB 30-Minute (Or Less!) Cookbook
  Has basic FDA macros
• 2014-05: Cureality Official Recipes
  No macros.
• 2014-08: Wheat Belly Total Health
  No macros.
• 2015-11: WB 10-Day Grain Detox
  Has basic FDA macros.
• 2017-01: Wheat Belly Slim Guide
  No macros.
• 2017-05: Undoctored
  No macros.

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Bob Niland [disclosures] [topics]