Recipe Trials to Improve Complementary Feeding: The Philippine Experience

ABSTRACT

Introduction: An effective participatory community nutrition programme to improve poor food intake and sub-optimal complementary feeding practices in the Philippines is wanting. The use of the recipe trial as an approach was explored. Methods: The protocol was conducted nine times in three communities in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Zamboanga del Sur among 83 caregivers of children 6-8, 9-11, and 12-23 months old. The protocol implemented followed these steps: (1) Preparatory activities; (2) Recipe Trial 1 (RT1); ( 3) Recipe Trial 2 (RT2); and (4) Follow-up visit. Results: The use of the modified RT to improve complementary feeding was evaluated in terms of the quality of the improved recipes and the overall feasibility of the RT technique. The RT1s identified rice porridge as complementary food usually prepared in the three areas across age groups, followed by cooked rice mixed with broth from the family pot. The RT2s facilitated the caregivers’ modification of the 12 complementary foods from the three communities. Nutrient content was improved while maintaining acceptability among caregivers and their children. The follow-up visits showed that the adoption of the recipes at the households was limited to a few caregivers. Conclusions: The modified RT protocol has good potential to help alleviate poor nutrition among infants and young children in the Philippines. Minor improvements, characterised by an increase in local adoption and provision of enabling mechanisms from the local government units should contribute to the success of its implementation.