Here are the answers to a few of the more common questions that my friends and family ask me about RoboShake. I will probably be updating this as I learn more and refine the algorithms.
Q: I don't trust the government to tell me what to eat. I think your shakes have too many carbs / too much protein / some other deficiency. You should read so-and-so's nutrition advice.
I hear ya. There's a ton of nutrition advice out there, and much of it makes good sense depending on your perspective. My vegan friends think that the FDA over-emphasizes protein, and my athletic friends think it doesn't recommend nearly enough.
I have two thoughts on the subject: 1. Nutrition advice follows trends that come and go very quickly. The newer theories haven't had enough time to be fully vetted by the scientific community or the public at large. 2. As far as individual nutrients, protein being the most prominent example, there are people who think the FDA recommends too much, and people who think the FDA recommends too little. That leads me to believe that they've achieved a somewhat of a balance.
Q. Your shakes sound gross.
I'm not trying to make Jamba Juice here! My recipes are intended to be efficient fuel. Some taste better than others, but for the most part you adapt to the rawness and bitterness of raw plants and don't miss the sugar and concentrated flavors. That said, never, ever, ever put onions in a smoothie. My wife and I did that once and felt nauseous for days.
Q. What sort of nutrition data are you taking into account, and what are you ignoring?
RoboShake makes shakes based on the FDA's Reference Daily Intake values, based on a list of input foods consisting mainly of raw fruits and vegetables. It also uses the highest recommended daily allowance to prevent overdose.
There are many factors that the RoboShake algorithm does not (yet) consider:
- Glycemic index / load
- Amino acids
- Special kinds of fats (like omega-3), except for saturated fat which has an upper limit
- The affect of various ingredients on nutrient absorption
Q. Isn't a 5 pound shake ridiculously huge?
Remember, the shake recipes produced by RoboShake are food for an entire day. They vary in weight between 1 and 6 pounds, depending on the ingredients. This is not as crazy as it sounds. USDA data indicates that the average American eats over 5 1/2 pounds of food per day.
Q. So are you going to stop eating normal food and only drink RoboShakes?
I have a plan that's a bit more complex than that, which I'll be explaining in an upcoming post. But at some point, yes, I do intend to stop eating traditional meals, and replace them with RoboShakes.
Q. Are you trying to sell anything or make money off of RoboShake in any way?
No. This is just for fun.
Q. Are you a nutritionist? Why should I listen to you?
No, I'm a video game developer, trained in computer programming. I have no training in nutrition science, though it is something I've been interested in for quite awhile. My objective is not to "re-write the book" on nutrition. It's simply to use a computer to help me choose what to eat.
I am providing this blog in hopes that it will be interesting to you, not in order to promote the drinking of RoboShakes. Do so at your own risk! :)
Q. How does the RoboShake algorithm work?
At its core, RoboShake uses a genetic algorithm to produce optimized shakes. The primary inputs are:
- Table of FDA's recommended daily intake values
- Table of foods with nutrition data
- The number of foods allowed in each shake
Q. Can you design me a special shake that's high protein / low calorie / has a special ingredient?
Possibly in the future, but I want to experiment on myself first. Message me on Facebook if you're really serious about it.
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