Goal programming nutrition optimization model

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to develop a goal programming nutrition optimization model to meet daily nutrients needs of the reference woman and the reference man subject to the available household budget. Objective function in the model is designed in a way to minimize deviations from the defined micronutrients and macronutrients needs as well as from the food cost. The nutrients needs are determined according the World Health Organization (WHO) standards and are incorporated in the model constraints. The sample in this research consists of 55 most frequently used food items as decision variables which are selected based on a survey of 50 households in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the result, the solution of the model is optimal selection of the food intake, subject to minimize deviations from the defined goals.