According to a 2024 survey from the International Food Information Council (IFIC), most Americans strive to adhere to a specific eating pattern. However, criteria for what defines a healthy eating pattern varies from person to person. (1)
It’s vital for healthcare professionals to consider a patient’s individual health parameters, unique needs and dietary preferences when setting goals for healthy eating. When recommending a low-carbohydrate (low-carb) lifestyle, a personalized approach will consider how other individual dietary patterns may work in tandem with low carb-eating to be most beneficial for a person’s individual health needs and goals.
High Protein
High protein is among the most popular eating patterns in the United States, with 20% of IFIC survey respondents saying they follow a high-protein diet. Americans are increasingly aiming to include more protein foods in their diets each year. (1) Low-carb diets are naturally higher in protein and fat, with the popular ketogenic (keto) and carnivore diets included in the high-protein and low-carb category. The Atkins Nutritional Approach also emphasizes fiber intake, which may help with constipation that can be experienced when consuming higher-protein eating patterns.
When working with patients on incorporating lower-carb, higher-protein approaches, use the patient’s target body weight as the metric for determining protein intake, which can help them from overconsuming calories due to excessive protein goals. (2)
Mindful Eating
Mindful eating – focused awareness on sensations, thoughts, and feelings surrounding food and eating without any judgment – is practiced by 18% of respondents in the IFIC survey. (1, 3) The practice of mindful eating supports healthful food choices that promote patients’ well-being and is compatible with most other dietary patterns (3). Complementing a low-carb approach with mindful eating may help patients achieve goals around eating practices and behaviors.
Intermittent Fasting
The third most popular dietary pattern is intermittent fasting (IF), which encompasses methods like alternate day fasting (fasting every other day), 5:2 (fasting on two non-consecutive days of the week), and time-restricting eating (fasting for a particular number of hours every day). (1, 4) This dietary pattern can complement other dietary patterns, including a healthy low-carb approach. In fact, one study suggests low-carb eating paired with alternate day fasting can be effective in improving metabolic disease risk factors and weight outcomes in adults with obesity. (5) Another study explains how pairing a nutrient-dense low-carb diet with a 10-hour time-restricted eating window can enhance weight loss and reshape the gut microbiome in adults struggling with obesity. (6)
Gluten-Free
Another popular eating pattern Americans follow is gluten-free, (1) which removes gluten-containing foods, beverages, and ingredients, such as wheat, barley, and rye, from the diet. A low-carb approach can work alongside a gluten-free diet. Although gluten-free eating patterns can be trendy, a gluten-free diet may be medically prescribed for managing medical diagnoses like Celiac disease.
Mediterranean, DASH, and Plant-Based Diets
Other diets that are popular with Americans include the Mediterranean diet, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, and various versions of plant-based diets. All are compatible with a low-carb lifestyle, with Atkins Nutritional Approach meal plans for Mediterranean, DASH and vegetarian patterns and lower-carb approaches to plant-based eating.
A Versatile Low-Carb Lifestyle
Personalizing dietary recommendations is essential to help patients achieve their healthy eating goals. Set them up for success by taking an individualized approach, ensuring recommendations are realistic, sustainable, enjoyable, and align with personal preferences. Utilizing one of the three Atkins plans, including Atkins 20®, Atkins 40®, and Atkins 100®, can help guide and individualize a low-carb nutritional approach. Check out the Atkins Eating Personalities Guide, with questions on eating preferences and behaviors, to help determine which plan works best for each patient.