Below is an infographic created by The Real Meal Revolution that attempts to show that the Banting lifestyle need not be any more expensive (in fact, it can be cheaper) than the typical diet recommended by South Africa's Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Read: The Ocean View community in the Cape tries out the Banting on a budget lifestyle. See how they fare.
On the Tim Noakes/Banting diet, focus is on a high intake of fats, and a low intake of carbohydrates.
Typically, a Banter would eat eat eggs, bacon, sausage for breakfast or cheese, yoghurt and the previous night's fat/protein meal. For lunch you could snack on cheese, nuts, biltong and for dinner one of the delicious meals from Real Meal Revolution with lots of vegetables/salads.
Once you get the addictive sugar/carbs out of your diet, Noakes maintains, your brain will automatically regulate the number of calories that you need so that your body weight eventually becomes the weight it is meant to be.
Read: 10 golden rules of Banting and What Tim Noakes eats
The Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSF) recommends we go for a traditional Mediterranean diet which is an example of a diet that is relatively high in fat, yet lowers the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Most of the fat in this diet is from plant sources (olive oil, nuts, seeds – also recommended by Prof Noakes), but saturated fat content is low.
The diet is also rich in vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, wholegrains, and some cheese and yoghurt.
In comparison, the westernised diet (that they advise against), is high in kilojoules, bad fat, sugar and salt, and is low in fruits and vegetables, wholegrains and healthy fats.
Read: The HSF says we eat and drink too much, and don't move around enough and Heart Foundation's open letter to Tim Noakes
Take a look at a comparison between Banting and the Heart & Stroke Foundation's diet - what you can eat and what it would cost you. Source: The Real Meal Revolution.
Read more:
On low carb diets
What a high-fat diet can do for your hair, skin and nails
More on carbohydrates and finding out if you are carbohydrate resistant
Watch: Talking about the documentary Cereal Killers with ex-athlete turned documentary filmmaker Donal O'Neill
The 10 golden rules of Banting
Is your low-carb diet causing constipation?
On Food costs
Junk food costs you more
Healthier meals cost families more
Food prices affect eating
Buying organic food on a budget