The Cookie Diet
Part 1
A. There are two different types of cookie diets, the original and the 10X plan, I will be
analyzing the original cookie diet. The original cookie diet consists of three phases.
For the first phase, you consult your physician to make sure you are able to begin the
diet. In phase two, it is recommended that you purchase a month’s supply of cookies.
The third step is when you put the diet into action. For the cookie diet, you are
expected to eat 1,000 to 1,200 calories a day. The 1,000 to 1,200 calories consists of
six cookies, and a dinner which should be 500 to 700 calories. There is no specific
time when the cookies should be consumed, that is just based on when you are
hungry, but never more than six in a day. It is recommended that you drink water or
zero calorie drinks, and stay away from fruit and grains with dinner.
B. If followed correctly, the diet claims that you will lose 10-15 pounds a month. It also
claims that the cookies help control your hunger.
C. On the website, there are various forms of quackery in an attempt to draw in
customers. The most abundant form of quackery found on the website is testimonials.
The first thing you see on the website is a video from Good Morning America where
they discuss the cookie diet and talk about success stories. At the top there is a link to
click for testimonials too. Also there is a claim on the front page that the cookie diet
has helped 500,000 people and counting lose weight. There are advertisements for
discounts and coupons all over the website as well.
Part 2
A. Adequacy- In this diet, it is evident that there is not an adequate amount of any food
group consumed, and total calories are not adequate. Although most vitamins are
under the amount, there is an adequate amount of vitamins A, and K consumed.
Balance- There is little to no balance in this diet. One example of how there is not
balance is the fact that under food groups, no fruit or dairy are consumed. There is
also no balance among vitamin consumption because only enough A, and K were
consumed.
Calorie Control- Since the goal is to lose weight, it is crucial that there is a deficit in
your calorie intake to calorie expenditure, and this diet does create that. Although that
may be a way that the diet meets calorie control, I believe that deficit is to high for
safe weight loss, so although the calories are controlled there are not enough being
consumed.
Moderation- In this diet, it is clear that there is plenty of moderation, possibly to
much. Under food groups none of the sections are over the DRI. There is also great
moderation in calories, which is one of the main selling points of the diet.
Variety- In this diet there is very little variety among the snacks you can have. Each
snack has to be a cookie, and the only variety you can get in them is a few different
flavors. There is a little variety in what you can eat for dinner, but it is limited by
calories.
B. One example of how this diet met the DRI is in the consumption of vitamin A, which
was 1000ug over the DRI. It also met the DRI for vitamin K, which is 1500ug over
the DRI. It was also 10mg over the DRI for iron, and 18mg over the DRI for
magnesium. Although it met those few requirements, it is under many vitamin and
mineral requirements, and does not meet the DRI for any food group.
Nutrient Analysis Table located on last page.
Part 3
A. I do not believe there are any safe benefits to this diet. One reason I do not believe
there are safe benefits to this diet is that you do not meet your DRIs of all vitamins,
and vitamins are essential to life. Another reason I do not believe there are not safe
benefits to this diet is because although to lose weight you need to consume less
calories than you burn, I do not think that there are enough calories consumed. A
third example of how this diet does not have safe benefits is due to the fact that you
do not meet any of your DRIs for your food groups, which is crucial in a diet. Lastly
you do not meet the DRIs for all of your minerals, which is also necessary for a
healthy diet.
B. One risk associated with this diet is vitamin deficiency. This can lead to improper
body functions and illness. Another risk associated with this diet is that you will not
meet all of your mineral intakes for the day, which can also be associated with illness
and improper bodily function. A third risk of this diet is that you may not be
consuming adequate calories and energy, so you may be tired, have a lack of energy,
and your body may resort to breakdown of muscle for energy.
Part4
A. I would not recommend this diet to anyone. With the nutrient table aside, one reason I
would not recommend this diet to someone is because although it claims that these
cookies will suppress hunger, I don’t believe that they will and you will most likely
be hungry often. Another reason I would not recommend this diet is because it does
not meet all of the DRIs for vitamins and minerals, which are essential for life and an
important part of a healthy diet. Also, even though a calorie deficit is necessary for a
diet I believe that less than 1200 calories is not enough. The last reason I would not
recommend this diet to anyone is because it does not meet any of the food group
DRIs, which is also a very important aspect to a healthy diet.
Reference- http://www.cookiediet.com/
NUTRIENT
Fiber
Cholesterol
Water
Food Groups
Grains
Vegetables
Fruits
Dairy
Protein
Energy
Protein
Carbohydrates
Total Fat
Calories
Minerals
Calcium
Potassium
Sodium
Iron
Zinc
Magnesium
Vitamins
A
D
E
K
C
DRI
OVER
UNDER
38g
<300mg
8 cups
12g
10oz
4 cups
2.5 cups
3 cups
7 oz
4oz
2 cups
0
0
4oz
10-35%
45-65%
20-35%
3000
1000 mg
4700 mg
<2300
8mg
11mg
400mg
900ug
15ug
15ug
120ug
90ug
OK
107mg
9 cups
20%
49%
34%
1044
556mg
2170mg
1065mg
18mg
6mg
418mg
1998ug
0
9ug
1788ug
35ug