Rival low-carb, high-fat books to batter parents

SOUTH Africa’s obsession with Banting is about to hit the playground.

Two rival children’s recipe books – both hailing the benefits of a low-carb, high-fat diet for children – are due to hit South African book stores in the next few months.

Due for release in August is Real Food for Healthy, Happy Children, which has raised eyebrows at its similarities to Tim Noakes’ 2013 bestseller, The Real Meal Revolution. It was penned by paediatric dietician Kath Megaw along with food writers Phillippa Cheifitz, JaneAnne Hobbs and Daisy Jones.

Meanwhile, Noakes and his The Real Meal Revolution co-author, Jonno Proudfoot, have parted ways with Quivertree, and will be publishing their new recipe book, Raising Superheroes, in September. It will also espouse the benefits of a high-fat, low-carb diet for children.

Noakes is facing unprofessional conduct charges by the Health Professions Council of SA after the Association for Dietetics in South Africa filed a complaint against him for advising a woman on social media to wean her child with a low-carbohydrates, high-fat diet.

Proudfoot said parents needed to be as informed as possible.

“I would advise parents to look at as many points of view before deciding how to raise or feed their kids.”

At a sneak preview in Cape Town yesterday, Megaw said the book was not a diet “per se” and was “low-carb” rather than “no-carb”.

Despite the similarities, she made a clear distinction between her book and The Real Meal Revolution.

“They wanted me to be a part of that and I said no,” Megaw said.

“I don’t think we should be Banting our kids. We should feed them good fats and unprocessed low-carb foods.”