The efficiency of indigenous foods in replacing milk in a feeding program-a study in Barangay San Antonio, Tondo, Manila

ABSTRACT

A study on 323 children belonging to the second and third degrees of malnutrition was done to test the effectivity of indigenous food supplements in replacing milk in a feeding program in Tondo. The subjects were divided into three groups of around a hundred each and were given different food supplements as specified under Cycles I, II, and III. Cycle I served as control in which the diet contained 20 g powdered milk per child. Cycle II had as diet with 10g milk and indigenous food items to supply the protein and other nutrients of 10g milk, and Cycle III had a diet with no milk but with indigenous foods supplying protein and other nutrients equivalent to 20g milk. Our results in Cycle II were equivocal, but those from Cycle III, showed a marked superiority of the indigenous foods in rehabilitating the childrens nutriture in terms of body weight gains. Since there were other extraneous factors that came, into play during the conduct of cycle III, another feeding cycle with the same dietary supplements as in cycle III was conducted which confirmed our results in Cycle III. It is concluded that indigenous protein-rich foods can effectively take the place of milk in feeding programs for rehabilitating malnourished children, provided that the nutrient content of the total diet is taken into consideration in relation to the needs of the children. (Auth)