Eating at many restaurants and shopping at the grocery store in Ames is not what it used to be for one simple reason: the Atkins diet.

The change has come in options for lower-carbohydrate foods.

“In the year 2000, 20 to 25 new lower-carbohydrate products were offered. In the first six months of 2004 alone, more than 2,000 new lower-carbohydrate products were offered,” said Ruth Litchfield, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition.

But is the diet a passing fad?

Many in Iowa’s agricultural industry hope not.

“Atkins is having a broad positive effect on Iowa agriculture most simply because of the increased demand in proteins,” said John Lawrence, professor of economics. “There are two main areas in Iowa agriculture that are being affected by the Atkins diet: livestock producers and grain producers.

Livestock producers

Dick Thompson, a grain and livestock farmer from Boone, has tried lower protein diets for both himself and his livestock.

According to Thompson’s 2004 on-farm research report, the common feed lot food pyramid is 61 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent fats and 14 percent proteins. The U.S. Department of Agriculture food pyramid diet is 60 percent carbohydrates, 25 percent fats and 15 percent proteins.

“When we increased the starch in our heifers’ diets, they became extremely fat. So in January of 1999, when we heard that some doctors were saying in order to lose weight and improve your health we should eat more protein and less carbohydrates, we tried it,” Thompson said. “My wife and I lost more than 60 pounds.”

Thompson is not alone in increasing his meat consumption.

“The consumption of meat has been stable to even slightly down recently, but the demand for meat products has been up, particularly in pork,” said Lawrence, a spokesman for the Iowa Beef Center.

“The past four consecutive quarters have been the first quarters in 30 years where both supply and price together have increased for pork products. Record highs in beef, dairy and eggs have also been noted in past recent quarters. The Atkins diet, along with a strong economy, are having a definite impact for the demand of meat,” Lawrence said.

Grain producers

Robert Wisner, university professor of economics, agreed that Atkins is good for agriculture.

“Atkins is benefiting Iowa livestock producers, and in turn grain producers,” Wisner said. “To feed more livestock, we need more grain. And that increases the demand for Iowa grain production.”

According to an ISU Extension publication, the forecast for 2004 corn production in Iowa is 11 billion bushels, 8 percent above 2003’s production. Based on conditions as of Sept. 1, yields are expected to average 149.4 bushels per acre, 7.2 bushels above last year’s level. If those levels are realized, both production and yield would be the largest on record.

Although the demand for both meat and grain is dramatically increasing, wheat production has not.

“Wheat products make up the basis of what Atkins dieters are trying to alleviate from their diet,” Wisner said. “Breads and cereals, made from mostly wheat products, are full of carbohydrates.”

But local bakeries and grain processors are not worried about Atkins dieters’ eating habits.

Rachel White, manager of Dutch Oven Bakery, 219 Duff Ave., said lower-carbohydrate items are only a small percentage of sales.

“People are coming in and buying lower-carb items, but the same people are still buying full-carb donuts and muffins,” White said.

Lawrence said that, although Atkins may not be helping the wheat industry, it is not hurting it as much as many people believe.

“Only a third of the U.S. wheat consumption stays in the U.S. for domestic food consumption, anyway,” he said.