An Approach to Diet Cost Optimization for Different Age Groups Using Linear Programming

Linear Programming optimization is used in this paper to find minimum cost and quantity of food items for selection of proper diet containing sufficient nutrition elements over a week for three different age groups. For this purpose, first a linear programming optimization model is selected and then three data files defining the various food items with their corresponding cost and nutrition elements appropriate to three distinct age groups are constructed. Finally, the model files and the data files are solved to obtain output cost and amount of food items to be purchased. The optimal solution demonstrates distinct cost and amount of food for different age groups. It also shows different level of complexity while obtaining objective values for different age groups.