Multiclinic Observations on the Simplified Diet in PKU

Table 1

Example of counting phenylalanine using the traditional counting method and the Simplified Diet¹.

Food eaten	Traditional counting method	Simplified diet
Apple Jacks® Cereal^2, 1/2 cup	40 mg	40
Low protein bread, 2 slices	30 mg	Free
Low protein cheese, 2 slices	30 mg	30 mg
Pringles®^2, 3 each	15 mg	15 mg
Apple, 1	10 mg	Free
French fries	120 mg	120 mg
Low protein pasta, 1 cup	20 mg	Free
Green beans, 1/2 cup	35 mg	Free
Medical food, 24 ounces	0	0
Total	300	205

In this example, the patient’s phenylalanine tolerance is 300 mg/day; the patient counts 210 mg from food and is allowed unlimited “free foods” (defined as those containing <75 mg phenylalanine/100 g food as well as low protein foods with less than 20 mg Phe per serving). ²Kellogg Company, Battle Creek, MI, USA.