(P20-019-24) Determination of the Lowest Cost Diets Associated With Meeting Nutrient Needs Across the Lifespan: NHANES 2011–2018 Dietary Modeling Analysis

Objectives: To determine lowest cost diets when milk, milk alternatives, or no milk/dairy were included in the modeling to meet shortfall nutrient recommendations across the lifespan.

Methods: NHANES 2011-2018 24-hour dietary recall day 1 data for children age 2-18 years, adults age 19+ years and senior adults age 60+ years were used in the present analysis. Daily diets were examined to minimize price/cost while ensuring the intake adequacy for shortfall nutrients. The following dietary scenarios were used 1) unrestricted composite (no restriction on amount per food category); 2) milk composite (all milk including lactose free); 3) lactose free milk composite; 4) milk alternative composite; and 5) no milk or dairy composite. The WWEIA food groups 9 (alcohol), 10 (water) and 15 (others), and nutritional drinks/bars were excluded from the analysis and intake amounts within a category were limited to 75^th percentile of current intake. Dietary costs were estimated using CNPP 2001-2002 data base and adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index or Purchase to Plate National Average Prices (PPNAP; from 2011-2012, 2013-2014, 2015-2016, and 2017-2018 combined databases) for 2000 kcal diets.

Results: The optimized diets costs/day for children/adults/seniors were $4.78/$6.65/$6.12 for unrestricted composite, $4.84/$6.25/$5.72 for milk composite, $5.57/$6.99/$6.50 for lactose free milk composite, $5.70/$6.66/$6.17 for milk alternatives composite and $10.30/$10.04/$8.85 for no milk/dairy composite. In optimized diets for children/adults/seniors dairy and dairy products composites (including milk alternates) contributed 15%/9%/12% daily calories and 15%/7%/7% daily cost in unrestricted composite; 20%/19-20%/18% daily calories and 16%/12-13%/13% daily cost in milk composite; 18%/17%/17% daily calories and 26%/21%/22% daily cost in lactose free milk composite; and 12%/12%/12% daily calories and 21%/18%/18% daily cost in milk alternatives composite. All optimized diets included fish, eggs, cereals, oatmeal, beans/peas/legumes (only for adults and seniors), bananas (only for adults) and margarine (only for seniors).

Conclusions: The results indicate that diets with milk and dairy that meet the recommendations for shortfall nutrients are less expensive than diets without dairy or with milk alternatives.

Funding Sources: National Dairy Council