Optimization of baby food formulations using spreadsheets

Abstract

The development of product formulations for the nutrition of young children is a complex and laborious task, the solution of which involves the calculation of the nutritional value of both individual components and the whole product. The article shows a step-by-step way of solving a particular example of designing a product recipe for feeding young children using the standard add-on "Solution Finder"of the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet processor. A special place in the article is given to the formation of a table with the source data. Uncertain factors in the calculation of the formulation are the mass fractions of the raw materials, which should be determined taking into account the objective function and a number of restrictions. Restrictions on the ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and water were used as the main parameters for optimizing the formulations for the nutrition of young children, and the cost of the finished product was determined as a function of the goal. As a result of using the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet editor, the formula for the baby food with the specified properties was calculated taking into account the installed food components of the mixture, a number of limiting factors and the low cost of the finished product, equal to 98.9 RUB per 1 kg which corresponds to 1.4 Euro per 1 kg at the current exchange rate.