Best Feeding

WHOLESOME BABY FOOD RECIPES

from Asian homes to complement breastfeeding

Acknowledgments

This publication, Best-feeding: Wholesome baby food recipes

from Asian homes to complement breastfeeding was made
possible with financial support to Breastfeeding Promotion
Network of India (BPNI) from SAFANSI (South Asia Food and
Nutrition Security Initiative), a project managed by the World
Bank.
Authors, contributors and advisors:
Afghanistan: Dr. Homayoun Ludin
Bangladesh: Dr. S.K. Roy, Khurshid Jahan, Arda Jahan
Bhutan: Ugyen Dendup
Brunei Darussalam: Dr. Nur Ainiedza Idris,
Dr. Nurhaime binti Hj Suhaimi
Cambodia: Dr. Phannsy Sroeu
China, Hong Kong: Zhang Li
India: Dr. Arun Gupta, Dr. JP Dadhich, Dr. Shoba Suri,
Prerna Bhardwaj, Amit Dahiya, Nupur Bidla, Radha Holla

Indonesia: Farahdibha Tenrilemba, Nia Umar,

Rahmah Housniati, Jenny Ong
Japan: Amaya Sato
South Korea: Kim Jai Ok, Dr. Song Vo Kyung,
Lao PDR: Dr. Khamseng Philayong, Dr. Lavan Southisan
Malaysia: Siti Norjinah Abdul Moin, Wong Hui Juan
Maldives: Dr. Mohamed Saeed
Mongolia: Dr. Soyolgerel Gochoo, Dr. N.Uugantsetseg,
Dr. Bayasgalantai Bavuusuren
Myanmar: Ma Tint Tint, Dr. K.M. Zaw
Philippines: Ma. Ines Fernandes, Velvet Roxas
Sri Lanka: Amara Peeris
Taiwan: Dr. Patricia Ip
Thailand: Kanya Santisakul, Dr. Yupayong Hangchaovanich,
Dr. Meena Sobsamai, Dr. Kannika Bangsainoi,
Dr. Kusuma Chulsip
Vietnam: Dr. Quan le Nga, Dr. Nguyen Bich Van

Best
Feeding
Wholesome
baby food recipes

from Asian homes to

complement breastfeeding

Preface

ANY YEARS AGO a scientist working in UN asked me if International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN)
would have evidence to say that family foods or indigenous foods work for complementary feeding. I
began asking friends whether we need to work on this and asking myself why those children who eat
normal and diverse foods are doing well in India and are not undernourished. So the real question was between
those who have and those who don't have access to food.
Asia has been a huge repository of biodiversity, which has given rise to a variety of food cultures that have
survived for millennia, including cultures related to the feeding of infants and young children.
Today, these ancient food cultures are threatened with the relentless and aggressive marketing of baby
milks and foods. Baby food manufacturers devalue home cooked foods, and project their own foods as being
complete meeting all the nutritional needs of growing children. Often food companies have done it by methods
that are full of lies, e.g., by the use of unfounded health claims, use of health systems and medical advice, as well as
policy interference at high level. Industry uses science to tell people to consume their products.
Such marketing does not merely replace the diversity of the foods used to traditionally feed children with
uniformity, but it also makes the family dependent upon foods produced and processed outside their control.
Science also tells us that ultra-processed foods are harmful to human health.
Studies from several Asian countries have shown that dependency on purchased, processed baby foods
increases the health costs for the family as well as for governments. There is thus an urgent need at both the family
level as well as the national level to promote complementary feeding based on diversity of locally grown foods, to
devise recipes that will incorporate all the essential nutrients for infants and young children food that is
processed at the family level and not in factories. This is critical because early nutrition sets the trend for life
course.
Complementary feeding based on diversity of foods is also vital for giving a good foundation to healthy
eating habits. Health problems like obesity and non-communicable diseases like cancers, heart problems and
diabetes are increasingly being linked to the consumption of sugars and commercially processed foods.

02 BEST FEEDING

In addition, complementary feeding based on diversity allows for

the optimal development of the infant because it exposes him/her to
different colours, textures, tastes, smells, and shapes.
In the compilation of complementary feeding recipes from
across Asia, we have tried to combine traditional wisdom with the latest
scientific evidence on the nutritional needs of infants and young children.
Since these recipes come from the homes of families, I hope over
the years more will be added to these flavours and textures. We hope that
these recipes will make complementary feeding an exciting experience
for both parents and children, and guide governments and international
agencies into developing policies that encourage diversity-based feeding.
The book highlights what is best for future generations and will
hopefully serve as a guide for the whole world in its fight with the
commercial sector, whose ultra-processed products are competing with
natural family foods.
As years pass by, the book, I hope, would be an example to keep
up local foods from the family pot!
Dr. Arun Gupta
Regional Coordinator
IBFAN ASIA

PREFACE 03

Studies from several

Asian countries have
shown that
dependency on
purchased, processed
baby foods increases
the health costs for
the family as well as
for governments

The need for

this book

Good complementary
feeding helps the
child grow well as it
contains all the
nutrients needed for
good physical growth
and mental
development

DEQUATE AND APPROPRIATE complementary feeding of infants and young children has been recognized as a
crucial step in infant growth and development, and to prevent malnutrition. WHO and UNICEF have brought
out publications on complementary feeding.
So why is there are need for an IBFANAsia book on complementary feeding?
Asia, particularly South Asia, has the highest number of malnourished children in the world. Inadequate
breastfeeding and complementary feeding result in malnutrition.
The global food trade is finding a huge market in malnutrition. Driven by corporate money and power,
governments and international bodies are entering into public-private partnerships with food corporations to
find solutions for preventing and treating malnutrition. More often than not, these solutions are commercial
products fortified milks, baby foods, etc. However, malnutrition can be both prevented and treated with proper
use of locally available, locally grown foods, prepared and fed to the child in the right way.
Concerned at the increasing pressure globally and nationally to dilute laws that protect breastfeeding and
allow markets to determine infant feeding practices, participants from several Asian countries met in Mongolia at
the OneAsia Breastfeeding Partners Forum 8 organised by IBFANAsia in 2011 and expressed the need for a
compilation of recipes based on locally grown foods to counter the pressures of the food manufacturing industry.
The idea was taken forward at the World Breastfeeding Conference held at Delhi in 2012, and the OneAsia
Breastfeeding Partners Forum 9 at held at Laos in 2013. Participants from different countries contributed recipes,
which have been adapted where needed to ensure that they meet the nutritional requirements of the child.
The recipes have been compiled for four specific reasons:

TO PROMOTE PROPER GROWTH AND PREVENT MALNUTRITION IN INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN
Children need only breastmilk for the first six months of life. Thereafter, they need other nutritious foods along with
breastmilkto meet their evolving nutritional requirements and to fill the nutritional gap between the total needs of
the infant and the amount being provided by breastfeeding. They should receive nutritionally adequate and safe

04 BEST FEEDING

complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Complementary foods
should be adequate in amount, containing various food groups to provide sufficient energy, protein, and
micronutrients with optimum frequency as required for the age. Locally grown and available foods are inexpensive
and culturally acceptable, and can meet these requirements adequately if they are prepared appropriately at home.
Good complementary feeding helps the child grow well as it contains all the nutrients needed for good
physical growth and mental development. Inappropriate and suboptimal complementary feeding can lead to
malnutrition and increase vulnerability to diseases. This further weakens the child, and the vicious cycle of
malnutrition sets in.
This book has been developed to give guidance on how to prepare nutritious complementary foods from
locally grown and available food resources. Local recipes have been enriched where needed, so that they provide all
the nutrients that the child needs. It provides key strategies for the governments to ensure good complementary
feeding of infants and young children.
TO PROTECT ASIAN BIODIVERSITY AND KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS
Asia has a wide diversity of foods both cultivated and wild, including meats and fish. Asia also has a wealth of
knowledge of the healing and healthful properties of these foods, which has been accumulated over a thousand
years of discovery and study.
The foods of Asia have provided livelihoods to thousands of farmers, pastoralists and fisherfolk for
centuries. These foods have also contributed significantly to the nutrition of the people of these regions over
millennia. However, along with development, much of this diversity of foods and knowledge is being devalued.
As families stop using many of these foods, the wide diversity of foods in the region begins to shrink, leading
to the loss of livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk. As knowledge about these foods, especially wild foods, is lost, the
food basket of the family shrinks and contributes to the increase in malnutrition.
At the same time, global corporations are trying to take monopoly control over food resources and the

INTRODUCTION 05

knowledge associated with them by applying for patents and claiming intellectual property rights on them. A recent
example is Nestle's attempt to patent the healthful properties of fennel. These properties were identified to by local
people over millennia, and the knowledge about it kept alive through oral and written traditions, as well as
everyday use of the food.
The recipes selected for this book are intended to promote the use of locally found and grown indigenous
nutritious foods, preserve the knowledge of their healthful benefits in the public domain, and to contribute to the
livelihoods of farmers and fisher folk.

WHO CAN USE THIS BOOK?

Parents and caregivers can use this book to experiment with recipes for
complementary foods for their infants and young children.
Community programme personnel and ministries of health and nutrition
can adapt these recipes to meet local conditions to promote appropriate
and adequate complementary feeding.

TO PREVENT COMMERCIALIZATION OF INFANT FEEDING

Modernization is changing the lifestyles of families and often increasing the workload of women both in the home
and outside. Food manufacturing companies are taking advantage of this, and promoting their products as the best
foods for children, through attractive advertising, discounts and special offers.
Besides increasing the costs of infant and young child feeding, many of the commercial food products for children
have too much sugar, or salt or other chemicals that can cause harm. They can also become contaminated with
several disease causing germs and micro-organisms. Thus commercial foods also often lead to disease, resulting in
more expenses for health care.
This book addresses the needs of working parents, with recipes for nutritious mixes that can be made at
home with locally grown foods and stored for a few days or weeks.
ENERGY DENSE FOODS
Children who are sick or malnourished require energy dense foods. This book contains a section on foods that are
energy dense.

06 BEST FEEDING

INTRODUCTION 07

How to use
this book

To make it easy for the user, this book has been divided into several sections:
IMPORTANCE OF COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING
Why continued breastfeeding is important
Growth and development
Complementary feeding as a learning experience

The recipes in this compilation are only samples of the creative ways in
which parents across Asia use their local resources to prepare healthy and
nutritionally adequate foods for their children. IBFAN ASIA encourages parents to
try out these recipes and also experiment with new ones. IBFAN ASIA also
encourages governments and organizations working in the area of child health and
nutrition to localize these and other recipes so that children grow up well-nourished
and healthy.

HOW MARKETS INFLUENCE COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING DECISIONS

WHAT IS GOOD COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING
When to start complementary foods
Why starting complementary foods too early can be dangerous
Signs that a child is ready for complementary foods
What foods to give as complementary food
How to give complementary foods to
- Infants 6 months to one year
- Children one year of age and older
Encouraging young children to eat

Recipes for 6-9 months old infants

Recipes for infants and young children from 9 months onwards
Recipes for young children 12 months and older
Nutritious snacks
Nutritious mixes
Energy dense recipes
RICH SOURCES OF MICRONUTRIENTS

COMPLEMENTARY FOOD RECIPES

As many foods that can be used for complementary feeding and their preparation are common to several Asian
countries, we divided the recipes by age. The same recipes can be mashed thoroughly for feeding younger infants,
and small pieces left intact for older children. Even infants can be encouraged to try and feed themselves. The
recipes have also been listed by country.

08 BEST FEEDING

INTRODUCTION 09

Importance of
complementary feeding

OMPLEMENTARY FEEDING IS the gradual introduction of semi-solid and

solid foods to the infant's diet, along with continued breastfeeding,
till the child can fully feed herself/himself with ordinary family foods in
adequate quantities. This transitional period is when the child is most
vulnerable to malnutrition. The incidence of malnutrition rises sharply
during the period from 6 months to 18 months of age in most countries,
and the deficits acquired at this age are difficult to compensate for later
in childhood.
Health and nutritional status, responsive care, early
stimulation and active learning in the first three years are critical in the
development of intelligence, personality, social behavior and enhanced
lifelong learning capacity.
Research demonstrates that when children's earliest years are
affected by hunger, poverty, disease, or whose minds are not stimulated
by appropriate early developmental care at home and within the
environment, their future is compromised. Such children are unable to
develop to their full potential and productivity and thus contribute less
to national development.
The WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child
Feeding (IYCF)/WHA Resolution 55.25 May, 2002 recommends that
complementary foods should be
Timely meaning that they are introduced when the need for energy
and nutrients exceeds what can be provided thru exclusive
breastfeeding and frequent breastfeeding.

10 BEST FEEDING

Adequate meaning that they provide sufficient energy, protein and

micronutrients to meet a growing child's nutritional needs.
Safe meaning that they are hygienically stored and prepared, and fed
with clean hands using clean utensils and not bottles and teats.
Properly fed meaning that they are given consistent with a child's
signals of appetite and satiety, and that meal frequency and feeding
method- actively encouraging the child, even during illness, to consume
sufficient food. Using fingers, spoon or selffeeding are suitable for this age

Optimal infant and young child feeding means

Starting to breastfeed from the first hour after birth
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, whenever
the baby wants, and giving nothing else, not even water
Starting complementary feeding when the baby completes six
months of age
Continued breastfeeding with complementary feeding for at least
two years and more

WHY CONTINUED BREASTFEEDING IS IMPORTANT

Breastmilk continues to provide the infant with immuno-protective factors, like antibodies, which reduce the
likelihood that it will become sick.
The antibodies present in breastmilk continue to protect the infant against several common diseases, including
diarrhea and respiratory diseases.
At the beginning, the infant cannot consume enough complementary foods to meet its nutritional needs as its
stomach is small. Breastmilk continues to provide significant amounts of energy, proteins and micronutrients that
the baby needs.
Continued breastfeeding appears to lower the risk of obesity, diabetes and certain childhood cancers.
Sucking promotes normal tooth development, which bottle feeding cannot.
Women who continue to breastfeed have lower risks of getting breast and ovarian cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis,
heart disease and high blood pressure.
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
The first three years of life, beginning at conception are essential for growth and development; any shortfall in

CHAPTER 1 11

growth or in mental development during this period of time may never be regained.
Growth refers to increases in child's body size and changes in their proportion.
In the first two years after birth, height increases by 75%, and weight increases by four times. The brain
grows fastest during this period, doubling in size.
Development refers to the orderly process of change in a child's abilities towards increasingly more
complex ways of moving, thinking, speaking, feeling, and relating to people and objects in the environment.
Growth and development are interdependent; for a child to be able to develop, she has to be growing as well.
Children who are better nourished are less lethargic, more curious and ready to explore, and therefore
make better use of opportunities to learn how to solve problems and manipulate objects. Improving overall
nutrient intake during early childhood can result in improved cognition in childhood and adolescence. About half
of the adult's intelligence is inherited: about half is due to the environmental stimulation the child receives. Much

of the effect of the child's environment occurs in the earliest years of life.
Parents can evaluate their children's growth, health and development because they are constantly
interacting with their children. They can recognize signs of hunger and feed the child before crying begins. A
responsive parent understands what a child is trying to do and can provide support for learning attempts and
praise the child for what the child manages to do. They can detect the child's happiness or irritability. Parents may
not recognize that a child is short or undernourished, but they can recognize a child who is constantly crying or
unhappy. Support for parents and families can improve all aspects of care for growth and for development. .
COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE
The period of complementary feeding is full of learning experiences for the infant that are essential for
growth and development as well for optimizing the complementary feeding impact.
The infant learns the differences between various flavors, aromas, appearances and textures of food; its

When a child is not gaining weight or is gaining weight more slowly than
expected for more than one month in infants below four months of age,
or two months in older infants, it is a sign of growth faltering. It may be
the first sign of inadequate feeding in an otherwise healthy child. Growth
faltering should be picked up immediately and the cause should be
C H A R T
established. Growth Monitoring as a routine service using standards charts
like WHO growth standards charts may help in early detection of faltering.
The health/nutrition worker should analyze the underlying factors for growth faltering which may be
inadequate feeding or any acute illness, most commonly diarrhea and respiratory infections. Teething in the
second half of infancy may also lead to decreased food intake. To address inadequate feeding, the
health/nutrition worker must counsel the mother to exclusively breastfeed if the infant is below 6 months of age
and increase the intake of appropriate complementary foods along with continued breastfeeding in older infants
and young children.

GROW

12 BEST FEEDING

TH

CHAPTER 1 13

A responsive parent
understands what a
child is trying to do and
can provide support
for learning attempts
and praise the child for
what the child
manages to do

food preferences in later life are strongly influenced by learning and experience at this age. For example, feeding
children only with sweetened foods may often lead to a preference for sugar that could result in problems of
obesity and non-communicable diseases in adulthood.
Infants may take time to get used to the new flavors and textures of food. Some may need several
exposures to a certain food over a period of time, with gaps between each exposure. Studies have shown that
breastfed infants get adapted to new tastes and textures sooner than artificially fed infants, because they are
already used to several flavors and odors transmitted through their mothers' milk.

Malnutrition and illness their impact on learning

Malnutrition refers to the child's condition when too few
nutrients are being used to replenish tissues for growth. Food
shortage is a simple explanation, but many other factors
contribute. The child who has an episode of severe
malnourishment may have a lower IQ, and may
never completely recover. Even children with
mild to moderate malnutrition, or who have
deficiencies of certain nutrients such as iron
or iodine will run the risk of lower IQ. These
effects are particularly strong prenatally and
in the first two years of life.
Unlike malnutrition, illnesses do not have a direct effect on
a child's ability to learn, but if illnesses are chronic or severe,
the child's interest and opportunity to learn and explore will be
limited. Over a long period of time, the cognitive, social, or
emotional development of the child could be affected.

14 BEST FEEDING

INTERACTIVE FEEDING
Caregivers can turn feeding time into intensive learning times,
by talking to the infant/child, making eye-to-eye contact,
stimulating their verbal and intellectual development. Feeding
times should be periods of encouragement rather than force.
Studies have shown that with increased stimulation, infants and
children consume more food.

CHAPTER 1 15

How markets influence

complementary feeding decisions

VER SINCE THE emergence of humankind, parents, especially mothers, have fed their infants and young children
with foods that were needed to maintain their health both breastfed them and given them other foods to eat
as they grew older. The existence of humans till today is evidence of this. For millions of years such foods included a
variety of life forms. Insects to larger animals like lizards, frogs, rats and snakes, birds and fish, shellfish, large
mammals, as well as wild plants, roots, fruits and seeds provided growing children with adequate nutrients to meet
their increasing needs. In many indigenous food cultures, foods from the wild continue to contribute significantly
to infant and young child feeding.
Breastmilk was the primary source of energy. The infant was fed on demand, which enabled it to meet its
entire energy needs. As many indigenous cultures show, breastfeeding continued well beyond two years of age,
even up till the seventh year of life. In many cultures, including ancient Greek and several Asian cultures, infants
were exclusively breastfed till the first teeth appeared, after which other foods were introduced.
Women mostly chewed the complementary food well before feeding the baby in the era of the hunter
gatherer, as at this time there were few foods, if any, that could be easily fed to the baby. Most infections that could
have passed from the mother to the baby were neutralized by the antibodies in breastmilk, as the mother
continued to breastfeed her child. This is still being practiced in several parts of Asia today.
The development of agriculture introduced cereals into complementary feeding, and domestication of
animals introduced animal milk. The shift from a hunter-forager society to an agricultural and a pastoral, and then
to an industrial society has been an important reason for the decreasing period of breastfeeding. Today, the global
norm for breastfeeding is exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding for
two years and beyond. However, across the world, breastfeeding rates, especially exclusive breastfeeding, are low.

Breastmilk was the

primary source of
energy. The infant
was fed on demand,
which enabled it to GROWTH OF COMMERCIAL INDUSTRY AROUND COMPLEMENTARY FOODS
meet its entire Industrialization especially favoured the employment of women, who were willing to work for lower wages in
energy needs unhealthy conditions for longer hours. This led not just to shortened periods of breastfeeding and early

16 BEST FEEDING

introduction of complementary foods, but also to the development of the processed food
industry. The historical processes by which people secured food energy hunting,
gathering and agriculture were replaced in the industrialized world by food industry.
Nutricia in Netherlands and Gerber Products (then called Fremont Canning
Company) in the US were among the first companies to produce commercial
complementary foods. They were soon joined by companies like Nestle, which were
already manufacturing breastmilk substitutes, H.J. Heinz and several others.
By the 1920s, infant foods, which had grown to encompass ready-made baby cereals,
fruits and vegetables, were promoted aggressively as convenience items, as well as
superior to those made at home, and more scientific. In this, they were greatly helped
by the growing science of nutrition, and the involvement of the health system.

An 1880 advertisement by Mellins Food

in Boston Daily Globe, April 11
The Duty of Every Mother and especially those who are
charged with the delicate and great responsibility of rearing
hand-fed children, is to investigate the merits of the best
artificial food for the preservation of infant life. The universal
testimony of our most skillful physicians, and of thousands
of mothers who have practically tested it, demonstrated
beyond a doubt that Mellins Food for Infants is the best,
and contains exactly the ingredients necessary to insure
the life and health of the little ones to develop them in body
and mind, and secure robust health in childhood, manhood
and womanhood."

CHAPTER 2 17

Societal information on feeding and care of infants and young children became increasingly devalued, as did
the resources used traditionally for this. The baby food industry has taken advantage of this, and presented its
products as having all the nutrients that a growing child needs. With the growth of both nutrition as a science as
well as market economies, well-to-do families and the educated class have begun to look down on both breastfeeding
as well as the use of locally found and grown foods for complementary feeding.
In many countries, sourcing food no more means a trip to a tiny kitchen garden or the adjacent forest, where
the woman has a choice between a variety of plants growing not just satisfying hunger, but providing all the
micronutrients needed. More and more, it means a trip to the supermarket to buy tins of manufactured baby food
processed and powdered cow's milk and grains to which chemicals in the form of micronutrients have been added.
The marketing techniques of baby food manufacturers are increasingly convincing people that meeting
one's nutritional needs from such products is better than meeting them through consuming a diversity of natural
foods.
THE BABY FOOD INDUSTRY IN ASIA TODAY
Today, the baby food industry is a thriving billion-dollar industry globally, dominated by Abbot, Mead Johnson, Nestle
(which has bought out Gerber Foods) and Numico (Danone). In the U.S. alone, the average infant consumes 600
jars of baby food by its first birthday, in Europe about 240 jars.
In April 2014, Esther Renfrew, Market Intelligence Director at Zenith International, the specialist food and
drink industry consultancy, assessed the global market for complementary foods at over US$ 50 billion, predicted to
grow at 8-9% annually in the next five years. The fastest growing regions, according to Renfrew, will be China at
19%, Indonesia with its high birth rate, and Japan. This is predicted to happen in spite of the declining fertility rates.
These markets cannot grow unless more and more parents shift from homemade foods to industrially manufactured
complementary foods.
The baby food industry thus spends huge amounts of money to attract parents both directly and through the
health system. According to reports from retail industry, the advertising expenditure of Kraft Foods in the US alone

18 BEST FEEDING

was US$ 747 million for the year in 2012-2013. According to another report by AdAge, Nestle globally spent
$2.99billion in 2012 in advertising its products.
HOW THE BABY FOOD INDUSTRY LURES PARENTS
Baby food manufacturers aim their promotion mainly at two targets the parent and the health system.
Parents are bombarded with advertisements that project industrially processed foods as the best scientific
nutrition that they can give their children.
The companies make health claims, stating that their products contain specific ingredients that will enhance the
infant's growth or intelligence, or eyesight, etc. Often these claims may not be completely accurate.
Baby food manufacturers display their products attractively in shops and malls, so that parents are attracted to
them. They also often have tie-ups with the shops and malls to provide incentives to promote their products.
The internet provides baby food companies several ways of attracting parents either directly or indirectly.

Enticing
parents
with health
claims
(Left) Display in a
supermarket in India
(Right) In Thailand,
the supermarket
Tesco gave incentives
on purchases of
Mead Johnsons baby
foods

Gerber Graduate Yogurt Melts for

toddlers in Singapore, Nov. 2012,
which offered one free for every
three purchased - was open only
to members of Nestle Baby Club.

CHAPTER 2 19

Reaching parents through

challenges, schools and books

How Wyeth truth or dare

challenge increased its sales
in Hong Kong

Gain School Advance

winning mothers' confidence
in Philippines

Nestle Baby and Me

No. 1 bestseller
in India

Despite having a brand awareness of

99%, Wyeth Gold had been declining
for three years in Hong Kong, as the
product caused 'digestive problems'
resulting in constipation in infants.
Leveraging the insight that
knowledge-sharing happens in
conversations between mothers, the
brand created a truth or dare
challenge to have non-user mums
'dare' other mums to try Wyeth Gold
for 14 days and share their
experiences of the product. As a
result of the campaign, Wyeth Gold
increased its market share by 3.3%.

Gain School Advance, a nutritional

milk brand from Abbott Laboratories
aimed at children, targeted mothers
to increase market share in the
Philippines. A key challenge was the
strict regulatory environment which
did not allow direct advertising of
formula milk. The campaign used the
insight that mothers were concerned
with their children' school
performance and launched a print,
digital and on the ground strategy to
help mothers understand their child's
learning style. This included a
workbook distributed in fee-paying
metropolitan schools, visits to preschools to conduct seminars with
mothers, and a website with
information and worksheets for
children. The campaign delivered a
20% increase in market share, ahead
of the 12% growth experienced
across the category.

With this campaign, Nestl launched

'Nestl Baby and Me', a book for
expecting and lactating mothers in
India. The campaign addressed the
lack of knowledge about nutritional
needs in pregnancy and offered a
credible source of information. Nestle
integrated information about Nestl
nutrition brands into existing formats
by partnering with a publisher. Nestl
launched a book featuring ads,
promotional inserts and a branded
bookmark, all of which made a
strong impact on consumers, in
terms of recall and connectivity with
the brand. The branded book sold
over 300,000 copies during the initial
couple of months of the campaign.

20 BEST FEEDING

Enticing
parents
with health
claims
Display in a mall in Sri Lanka
has a picture of a person in the
white coat of a health provider,
giving the impression that
these products are being
recommended by him. The
display also stocks colourful
books for young children,
another point of attraction.

HOW BABY FOOD MANUFACTURERS USE THE HEALTH SYSTEM TO PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCTS
Baby food manufacturers use the health system extensively to promote their products. As early as in 1934, the
Wall Street Journal examined the nexus between the health professionals and the industry and noted that
Competition from cheaper infant food products has been growing, but the quality of Mead-Johnson's products and
the goodwill of the medical profession which has been painstakingly developed and retained, places the company
in a position from which it cannot easily be dislodged.

CHAPTER 2 21

Health professionals and workers are given gifts and other incentives by baby food manufacturers to
promote their foods. These companies also often sponsor doctors, especially pediatricians for meetings,
workshops, foreign trips, research opportunities and lecture opportunities. In addition, they offer continuing
medical education to health professionals. Health professionals who benefit from the various incentives provided
by the industry often end up promoting the company's products. Suggestions by health workers and health
professionals are important influences on feeding decisions.
SHOULD YOU TRUST THE BABY FOOD INDUSTRY WHEN MAKING FEEDING DECISIONS
FOR YOUR INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD?
No. It is important not to be misled by the commercial promotion or health claims made by the food companies.
It is important to remember that commercially processed complementary foods may not contain the
diversity of nutrients in the quantities that the growing infant requires. Also the high price of such foods leads
many parents to dilute the preparations so that the tins can last longer. Children fed with extra-dilute milks and
foods do not get enough nutrients and become malnourished. The problem becomes worse without access to
adequate amounts of clean potable water or proper sanitation. Studies have shown that a family's health care costs
often increase if the infant is fed on formula and over-processed industrially manufactured foods.
When infants and young children get used to commercial foods it would be hard for them to adapt to family
foods. The growing infant has to become accustomed to eating diverse foods. Family foods, appropriately
prepared in ways the infant can handle, and fed in adequate quantities, can meet all its nutritional requirements.
Communities all over the world have grown and thrived on family foods. In addition, the different flavors, textures
and colors all provide learning opportunities to the infant.

22 BEST FEEDING

COMMERCIAL NUTRITION
Structured
Take things apart and looks at pieces
Reduced nutrients to smaller parts
Treats symptoms but not the causes
Unending need of micronutrient supplements
Attractive food but inadequate nutrition

TRADITIONAL NUTRITION
Means whole foods, healthful & energy giving
Promotes health and harmony in balance
of yin and yang
Functional foods in proper combination
with consideration to:
Season Color Flavor Therapeutic
process Traditional wisdom

CHAPTER 2 23

What is good
complementary feeding

FTER COMPLETING SIX months of age, the infant requires more energy, more protein, and more micronutrients
like iron, zinc, and vitamins than is provided by breastmilk alone. Good complementary feeding means the
addition of these nutrients through introducing semi-solid and solid foods, along with continued breastfeeding.
During the period of complementary feeding, a baby gradually starts to get used to eating family foods. At the end of
this period (which could be around the age of two years or more), breastmilk is usually fully replaced by family
foods. However, breastfeeding can be continued for beyond two years if the child wants it.

WHEN TO START COMPLEMENTARY FOODS

Complementary feeding should start when the infant has completed six months of age. Fig. 1 shows the gap
between the energy requirements of the infant and the energy supplied by breastmilk from six months onwards. If
this energy gap is not met, the child stops growing or grows slowly, leading to malnutrition.

Similarly, Fig. 2 shows the gap in the amount of iron an infant needs, and what is supplied by breastmilk.
While breastmilk supplies very little iron to the infant in the first six months, a full-term baby is born with enough
iron to cover its needs in the first few months. Thereafter, it needs external sources of iron. The gap is larger in the
first year, as this is the period of faster growth, when the infant makes more new blood. Other micronutrients like
calcium, zinc and vitamins also show gaps as the infant continues to grow.
Generally, except for iron and calcium, the nutrient gaps increase as the infant grows older and becomes
more active. This is especially true of the energy gap. Complementary foods need to fill these gaps, so that the
infant's growth and development takes place optimally, and it does not become malnourished.

1200

1.2

1000

Figure 1

Energy required
(top line) and the
amount from
breast milk

800

600

400

Absorbed iron (mg/day)

Figure 2

Energy (kcal/day)

Absorbed iron
needed (top line)
and the amount
from breast milk
and body stores
at birth

1.0

0.8

0.6

Iron required

0.4

Energy required
200

Energy gap
Energy from breast milk

0
0-2

3-5

6-8
Age (months)

9-11

12-23

Source: WHO. Complementary Feeding: Family foods for breastfed children

24 BEST FEEDING

Iron gap
0.2

Iron from birth stores

Iron from breast milk

0
0-2

3-5

6-8
Age (months)

9-11

12-23

Delaying the
introduction of
complementary
foods after the
infant finishes its
sixth month makes
it vulnerable to
malnutrition,
micronutrient
deficiency and
illnesses.

Source: WHO. Complementary Feeding: Family foods for breastfed children

CHAPTER 3 25

Why starting
complementary foods
too early can be
dangerous
An infant needs only breastmilk for the first six months of life. Exclusive breastfeeding
gives immunity to the infant from several illnesses. Breastmilk contains 50+ known
immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown.
Introducing complementary foods before the infant has completed six months of age can
be dangerous.
The infant's digestive system cannot digest the food properly, causing unpleasant
reactions like digestive upset, constipation, gas, etc.
It exposes the infant to the risk of developing allergies.
It may induce iron-deficiency anaemia. When iron supplements and iron-fortified foods
are introduced too early, they can reduce the efficiency of the infant's iron absorption.
It can lead to future obesity and increase the risk of developing noncommunicable
diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in adulthood.
The European Food Safety Authority's Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and
Allergies, in its scientific opinion holds that introducing complementary feeding too early
increases the infant's risk of developing celiac disease and type 1 diabetes mellitus.
The Panel also considers that early introduction of complementary feeding increases the
risk of infectious morbidity.

26 BEST FEEDING

SIGNS THAT A CHILD IS READY FOR COMPLEMENTARY FOODS

At the end of six months, an infant's reflexes, skills and physiology has
matured enough to help it consume foods other than breastmilk (see Table 1).
An infant who is ready to be introduced to solids will
Hold its head up and maintain a steady, upright position.
Sit well when supported.
Make chewing motions. The baby can move food to the back of the mouth
before swallowing.
Has gained weight appropriately. Most babies double their birth weight by
the time they have completed six months of age.
Is interested in what others are eating. The baby will eye the meals others
are eating, will reach out to try the foods that others are moving from their
plate to their mouth.
Age (months) Reflexes/skills present
06

Suckling/sucking and swallowing

47

Appearance of early munching,

Increased strength of suck;
Movement of gag reflex from mid to posterior third of tongue

712

Clearing spoon with lips;

Biting and chewing; Lateral movements of tongue and
movement of food to teeth

1224

Rotary chewing movements

Jaw stability

Sources: Stevenson RD, Allaire JH. The development of normal feeding and swallowing. Pediatric clinics of North
America, 38: 14391453 (1991); Milla PJ. Feeding, tasting, and sucking. In: Pediatric Gastrointestinal disease. Vol. 1.
Philadelphia, B.C. Decker, 1991, pp. 217223.

Table 1:
Neurological
development
of infants and
young children
related to
feeding

CHAPTER 3 27

WHAT FOODS TO GIVE AS COMPLEMENTARY FOOD

Foods that are appropriate and that meet the
growing infant's nutritional needs must be given as
complementary foods.
APPROPRIATE COMPLEMENTARY FOODS
Appropriate complementary food is food that is made
from locally grown and available ingredients to suit the
infant's developmental age and needs. Food that is
appropriate to the climate and culture is best suited to
the baby. The wholeness of the food in terms of
nutrients and its healing properties fits the growing
needs of the baby and her/his sensitive body. Such
food also ensures that the family enjoys food security.
Experts suggest that foods can be divided into
five groups, as shown in Fig. 3. One food from each
group should be used in every preparation. Adding
some oil or fat to the food will enrich its energy value.
Vary the food selected every day, so that the infant can
get used to several odors and flavors.

28 BEST FEEDING

WHEN INFANT
FORMULA OR
ANIMAL MILK
CAN BE
DANGEROUS

In many parts of the world,

particularly in Southeast Asia,
infants are often allergic to animal
milk. Such infants should not be
given animal milk, either fresh or in
powdered or formula. The only milk
such infants need is breastmilk.
Expressed breastmilk can be used
for cooking purposes also.

FOODS THAT NOURISH

Cereals like rice, wheat, maize and millet are the primary source of energy. Meat or flesh food is an extremely
important source of protein and micronutrients like iron and zinc and several enzymes. The protein from meats is
readily absorbed by the infant. Asian culture has sourced meat from a variety of animals cow, buffalo, goat, lamb,
deer, rodents, birds including chicken and a variety of jungle fowl, many varieties of snakes, frogs, snails, slugs, crabs
and insects. While some of these sources may not be favored today by some people, they continue to form an
important part of the diets of many communities, providing them with much required nutrients. The various
sources of meat can replace one another in the given recipes.
Figure 3
Source: FAO. Complementary
feeding for children aged 6 to
24 months a recipe book for
mothers and caregivers

Fish is an excellent source of protein, vitamin D and other nutrients. The protein in egg is best absorbed by the body.
Eggs are a rich source of energy, protein, iron, vitamins (except Vitamin C) and several other nutrients. Some
infants may be allergic to egg whites; it is best to start them on egg yolks, and gradually introduce egg white while
noting whether there is any allergy or not.

CHAPTER 3 29

Good
complementary
feeding ensures that
the infant gets foods
from at least 5
categories every
day. A mix of diverse
foods in adequate
quantities will ensure
that the infants and
young children get all
the nutrients required,
including
micronutrients.

Lentils and beans are of various kinds lentil, mung bean, chickpea, bengal gram, pigeon pea, cow pea, soya bean,
kidney beans, etc. Though they are not as easily absorbed by the body, they form an essential source of proteins and
nutrients, particularly for vegetarians. Some beans may need to be soaked for some time, and then washed before
using. The green beans of lentils, especially bean varieties, are used as vegetables. In many cases, the leaves can also
be used for cooking. Soya bean is used to make a milk substitute which can be curdled to give tofu, or set as yoghurt.
It forms a very important part of East and Southeast Asian food culture. Many baby food manufacturers promote
soya milk as a substitute for infant formula. It is important to remember that the only milk a child under two years
needs is breastmilk.
Seeds and nuts like groundnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, and walnuts are excellent sources of proteins and
micronutrients. Adding some nuts to the food makes it energy dense, as they are rich sources of oil.
Dairy products are also good sources of protein. But as the baby requires only breastmilk as milk until two years of
age, these products can be used in cooking or as cheese.
Vegetables and fruits provide essential nutrients and fiber. Starchy vegetables like potatoes, yam, sweet potatoes,
taro, are excellent sources of energy and fiber. Red and yellow vegetables and fruits like carrots, pumpkin,
tomatoes, and fruits like mango, banana and papaya are good sources of vitamin A and fiber. Green leafy
vegetables like spinach, amaranth leaves, moringa leaves, chenopodium leaves, ipomea leaves, coriander, pumpkin
and gourd leaves, leaves of lentils and bean plants, are also a rich source of Vitamin A, in addition to iron and fiber.
Fruits like banana and papaya are also rich vitamin C and iron; guava, lime and other citrus fruits are particularly
rich in vitamin C, which is helps in absorbing iron.

30 BEST FEEDING

Oils and sugars provide energy. Molasses and jaggery are also rich sources of calcium and iron, because of their
processing A teaspoon or more of oil added to the food will make it energy-dense and help prevent malnutrition.
In areas where iodine deficiency diseases are prevalent, iodized salt should be used instead of any other kind of
salt.
MILLETS FORGOTTEN FOODS OF ASIA
Several types of millets have been grown and consumed historically all across Asia. However, in many
countries, millets have been replaced in diets by rice and wheat, and now they are almost forgotten.
Milletvarieties found in Asia include:
Eleusine coracana (Ragi, Mandua, nachani, dhidho, kurakkan, canzi, gyar, thre, sampica, susu,
shikokubei, etc.);
Pennisetum typhoideum or pearl millet (bajra, sajje, kambu, yugu, etc.);
Setara italic or foxtail millet (syowk, t'juu, sabog, kulasan, bulakot, kural, kauni, navane, rawla, tenai, etc.);
Echinochloa spp. or barnyard millet (samuk, diirh, rumay, tvau, jhangora, kuthiravaali, etc.);
Panicum spp. or little or common millet (pfan, baraga, pinj, sama, save, kutki, cheena, etc.);
Paspalum scrobiculatum or kodo millet (koda, kodra, rebu bawang, rumput kinangan, suket krisik jaringan,
kumpai batu, pala belang, sabung-sabungan, bias-biasin smau 'nnchien, ya-sakhorbik, co' san tru'[n]g,
co' tru'[n]g).
Sorghum or great millet (jwar, jowar)
Millets are extremely nutritious grains. Besides energy, they provide a significant amount of protein,
and are very rich in micronutrients including iron and calcium. They are also extremely hardy, growing easily
even in areas where there is less water available for agriculture. They can thus form the foundation of food
security for the entire household.
Millets can be soaked, germinated and dried before being used. This increases their nutritional
value. They can also be popped before being used either as they are, or as a powder.

CHAPTER 3 31

THESE ARE NOT GOOD COMPLEMENTARY FOODS

Teas
Artificially sweetened fruit juices (Freshly squeezed juices can be given, but it is better to
give the fruit as a snack)
Biscuits
HOW TO GIVE COMPLEMENTARY FOODS
Introducing complementary foods
Ensure the food is well cooked and soft, and thick in consistency.
Start by giving two or three tablespoons twice a day.
Continue breastfeeding on demand.
Increase the number of feeds, thickness and quantity in each feed gradually.

AGE

TEXTURE

FREQUENCY

AMOUNT AT EACH MEAL

6 months

Soft porridge, well mashed;

vegetables, fruit plus frequent
breastfeeds

2 times per day

2-3 tablespoonfuls

7-8 months

Mashed foods plus frequent

breastfeeds

3 times per day

Increasing gradually to 2/3

of a bowl

9-11 months

Finely chopped or mashed foods

and foods that baby can pick up

3 meals plus 1 snack between

meals plus breastfeeds

3/4 of a 250 ml bowl

12-24 months

Family foods, chopped or

mashed if necessary

3 meals plus 2 snacks between

meals plus breastfeeds

A full 250 ml bowl or more

ENCOURAGING YOUNG CHILDREN TO EAT

A one year old child needs at least half the quantity of food that an adult requires.
A healthy child who is growing well, is fed frequently and is encouraged to eat usually has a good appetite. If the
appetite decreases, it is a sign that something is wrong. Maybe the child is not feeling well, or is unhappy for some
reason. The child could also be seeking extra attention, or is just plain being fussy. Or maybe the diet is monotonous. If
the child's appetite does not improve, there is risk of malnutrition.
Supervise the child's meals.
Encourage the child to eat.
Do not force feed.
Be patient with the child.
Avoid feeding when the child is sleepy

32 BEST FEEDING

CHAPTER 3 33

A one year old child

needs at least half the
quantity of food that
an adult requires.

Points to remember
1. Breastfeeding for at least two years of age helps a
child to grow strong and healthy.

2. Children who start complementary feeding at six

months grow well.
3. A growing child needs family foods with a thick,
soft consistency: foods that stay easily on the spoon
nourish and fill the child.
4. Animal foods are special foods for children.
5. Legumes peas, beans, lentils and nuts are also
good source of nutrients.
6. Vitamin C rich foods help body to absorb iron.
7. Dark green leafy vegetables and orange and yellow
coloured fruits and vegetables help the child to have
healthy eyes and fewer infections.
8. A growing child needs frequent meals and snacks:
give a variety of foods.
9. A growing child needs increasing amount of food.

34 BEST FEEDING

M
E
E
N
L
TAR
P
M
O
C Baby Food Recipes Y

Afghanistan

Points to
remember
when preparing
or feeding
infants and
young children

36 BEST FEEDING

Practise good hygiene when preparing complementary foods.

Wash your hands well with soap and water before preparing the
food. Wash utensils well. Wash ingredients thoroughly.
Cook the foods till they are soft enough for the infant.
The food should be of the right consistency. It should be thick and
not runny. When a spoon filled with the food is tilted, it should not
run off the spoon, but stick to it.
Start by feeding two or three tablespoons twice a day and gradually
increase the amount. By the 7th and 8th month, the infant should be
consuming at least half a bowl of the food every day, given in three
feeds.
Increase the quantity as the infant grows older. By the time a child is
one year old, it requires half the amount of food an adult consumes.
While the first foods may need to be thoroughly mashed, leave diced
vegetables and meat pieces without mashing as the infant grows
older. This will help the infant get familiar with textures and tastes of
different foods.
An 8- or 9-month old infant can easily pick up finger foods and eat
them.
Add a spoon of oil to increase the energy content of the food.
Encourage infants to feed themselves.
Use iodized salt in areas with iodine deficiency disease.
Continue breastfeeding on demand.

RE
MEASU S USED
1 teaspoon
5ml liquid, 5 g solids

1 tablespoon
15 ml liquid, 15 g solids

1 cup
150ml

1 glass
200ml

1 bowl
14 tablespoons
approximately 210 g

Throughout Asia, rice is usually

the first grain fed to the infant.
Rice is cooked very soft, in
water or meat stock, and
mashed very well before feeding.
Soft cooked rice is variously
called Congee, Conjee, Borbor,
Jook, and so on. Both ordinary
and glutinous rice is used for
making this porridge. Often
vegetables, fish, and meat are
added during cooking and then
mashed.
In many parts of Asia, wheat
flour and semolina are also
given as a first complementary
food. These flours are usually
available locally.
Millets are also used in parts of
Asia for preparing the first foods
for infants. Various varieties can
mostly be substituted for one
another in recipes.
The recipes given here make
approximately half a bowl of
porridge for the 6-8 month old
infant. The ingredients can be
doubled for older infants.

Recipes for
6-8 months
old infants*
Wheat with Milk Porridge
(improved Halwagak)

Rice Soup
Ingredients
2 tablespoons rice
cup water
cup milk
2 teaspoons of mashed carrots or
pumpkin and/or green leafy
vegetables
Salt to taste
Method
Put the rice, milk and water in the
pot and cook.
Cover the pot and cook until soft.
Options: add grated/mashed
carrots, pumpkin.
Note: this recipe is also good for coping with
lack of appetite, nausea /vomiting, and colds.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon wheat flour
(germinated or plain)
cup milk
cup water
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon pounded leafy
vegetables or mashed carrots
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt to taste (preferably one light
2-finger pinch of salt)

*All nutritive values are

approximate, calculated for
dry ingredients; the values of
stocks and soups are not
included. Nutritive values of
ingredients have been, taken
from Nutritive Value of Indian
Foods, by Gopalan et al
(2007), National Institute of
Nutrition, India.

Method
Mix wheat flour with milk.
Add water, mix and put it on fire
to cook (10-15 minutes).
Add oil and sugar.
Add pounded vegetables and
cook for 2-3 minutes
Add salt.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

158.5

27.82

122.55

12.2

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

4.53

3.24

3.11

6.815

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.35

86.9

0.866

61.65

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

99.5

0.4

55.85

0.343

Wheat with
milk porridge

RECIPES 37

Bangladesh
Egg Suji
Wheat with Beans Porridge

Wheat with
beans porridge

Ingredients
1 tablespoon wheat flour
tablespoon bean flour
1 teaspoon oil
1 cups water
1 teaspoon pounded leafy
vegetables or mashed carrots
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt to taste (preferably one light
2-finger pinch of salt)
Method
Put the 1 cup of water and bean
flour into the pot, mix well, bring to
boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
Make a paste of wheat flour with the
remaining cup of water and add
it to the beans mixture in the pot.
Mix well and cook the mixture for
10 minutes.
Add oil and sugar.
Add pounded vegetables and cook
for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt.

38 BEST FEEDING

Potato and Milk Mash

Wheat with Egg Porridge
Ingredients
1 tablespoon wheat flour
1 egg
1 teaspoon oil
cup water
1 teaspoon pounded leafy
vegetables or mashed carrots
1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Salt to taste (preferably one light 2finger pinch of salt)
Method
Put the water into a pot and add the
wheat flour, mix well, bring to boil
and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the egg, oil and sugar
(optional) and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the pounded vegetables and
cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt.

Ingredients
1 medium size potato (about 100g)
or cup of chopped pieces of
potatoes
cup milk
cup water
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon pounded leafy
vegetables or mashed carrots
Salt to taste
Method
Peel potato, cut it into small pieces
and cook in water until soft and the
water is almost finished.
Mash potato pieces.
Add milk and mix well.
Cook for 3-5 minutes.
Add oil.
Add the pounded vegetables and
cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt.

Potato and Egg Mash

Ingredients
1 medium size potato (about 100g.)
or cup of chopped pieces of
potatoes
1 egg
- cup water
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon pounded leafy
vegetables or mashed carrots
Salt to taste
Method
Peel potato, cut it into small pieces
and cook in cup water until soft
and the water is almost finished.
Mash potato pieces.
Add the egg and the remaining
cup of water and mix well.
Cook for 3-5 minutes.
Add oil.
Add the pounded vegetables and
cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt.

Potato and Bean Mash

Ingredients
1 Medium size potato (about 100g.
or cup of chopped pieces of
potatoes)
tablespoon bean flour
1 teaspoon oil
1 - 1 cups water
1 teaspoon pounded leafy
vegetables or mashed carrots
Salt to taste
Method
Peel potato, cut it into small pieces.
Put cup of water and bean flour
into a pot, mix well, bring to boil.
Add the remaining water and the
potato pieces and cook for 20
minutes.
Add oil and pounded vegetables
and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon semolina
egg
1 small piece ash gourd (can be
replaced by green papaya) finely
chopped
1/5 of a small carrot or a small piece
of pumpkin finely chopped
1 teaspoon sugar / molasses /
jaggery
1 teaspoon oil
glass water

Potato and egg mash

Method
Heat a flat pan, and roast semolina,
add water to it.
Add finely chopped vegetables and
stir continuously till it is thick and
the vegetables are well cooked.
Add egg, stir quickly till well mixed.
Add oil and sugar/molasses.
Continue to cook till well mixed.
The quantity should be
approximately half a bowl.
Note: This recipe can be used to feed children
who are malnourished with good results.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

122.45

14.8

270.45

10.55

160.05

23.84

316.3

22.74

170.96

27.09

96.65

21.66

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

3.71

5.375

15.21

18.585

2.5

6.155

15

18.43

3.38

5.52

2.0275

0.18

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

1.121

48.9

2.891

41.85

0.611

384

2.636

340.5

1.226

348.96

0.539

104.2

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

20.15

0.568

70.85

0.343

43.65

0.543

73.65

0.543

18

0.543

21.3

0.05

Egg suji

RECIPES 39

Brunei
Darussalam

Bhutan

Vegetable and Cheese Puree

Suji Porridge

Rice flour
and milk
babchi

Rice Flour and Milk Babchi

Ingredients
cup (160g.) rice flour
2 cups (300ml.) water
1 cup (150ml.) milk
2 tablespoons oil
Salt to taste
Method
Cook the rice flour with 2 cups of
water for 10-15 minutes.
Add milk and continue to cook for
5minutes, stirring well to mix
thoroughly.
Add salt to taste.

Vegetable and
cheese puree

40 BEST FEEDING

Ingredients
Ingredients
cup wheat flour (can use rice
flour instead if preferred)
1 glass water
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup finely chopped dark green
leaves (spinach, amaranth, ipomea,
pumpkin leaves, moringa leaves,
turnip leaves, etc.)
Salt to taste
Method
Clean, wash and finely chop leaves.
Cook wheat flour with water and oil,
stirring to mix it thoroughly, for 1015 minutes.
Add leaves and continue to cook for
5 minutes.
Add salt.

Cambodia

Nutritious Congee

Chicken and Carrot

Rice Porridge

Ingredients
1 cup finely chopped carrot
cup lentils
1 cup finely chopped potato
1 slice cheese
cup coriander leaves
2 tablespoons oil
2 -3 glasses water
Salt to taste

Ingredients
1 tablespoon uncooked rice
1 teaspoon raw minced chicken
teaspoon chopped raw carrot
cup chicken, beef, or fish broth
teaspoon cooking oil

Method
Clean and wash lentils.
Wash and finely chop vegetables.
Clean, wash and chop coriander
leaves.
Cook vegetables, lentils with water
for 25-30 minutes.
Add coriander leaves and cheese
and cook for 2 minutes.
Puree or mash the mixture well, and
add salt.
Use within 24 hours.

Method
Wash and clean rice.
Mix the rice and minced chicken
with the broth and boiled until
cooked. Add more water if
necessary.
Add chopped carrots until soft.
Add cooking oil.
Blend the mixture, ensuring the
consistency is smooth (porridge
should be thick, stick to the spoon
and not runny).

(one portion)

Ingredients
2 tablespoons rice
1 tablespoon finely diced fish or
meat (this can be any kind of meat
that is eaten locally)
1 tablespoon dark green leafy
vegetables l
1 teaspoon oil
Method
Clean and wash the rice well.
Finely dice the fish or meat.
Wash and finely dice the dark green
leafy vegetable.
In a large utensil, add rice, meat,
fish or lentil, and vegetable and oil.
Add enough water to cook all the
ingredients till they are very soft.
When ready, the congee should fill
half a bowl.
While introducing the food, mash
it well.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

922.5

131.72

457

38.8

652.5

64.9

190.1

11.76

170.1

23.86

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

15.6

36.95

6.2

30.7

18.3

35.05

19.3

7.03

5.54

5.57

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.3

304.5

1.36

3015

5.23

754.75

0.75

74.6

0.2

76.5

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

188

2.24

44.5

0.13

219.5

2.03

14.25

0.22

14.2

0.4

Note:
As the infant gets older, very fine
pieces of vegetables and meat can
be left in the food without mashing,
so that the infant learns the texture
and taste of various foods.
The meat can be replaced by 1
tablespoon of lentils.

Nutritious
Congee

RECIPES 41

China, Hongkong and Taiwan

India
Wheat Gram Porridge
Almond Rava Mix
Ingredients
1 almond powdered
1/2-1 teaspoon rava (suji)
1 teaspoon wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon sugar or jaggery
1/2 cup milk
teaspoon ghee or oil

Ground Pumpkin and Liver

Ingredients
Small pieces of pumpkin
1 thin slice of chicken liver
Oil
Sugar to taste
Method
Boil or steam small pieces of
pumpkin till soft.
Grind with a spoon to make a paste.
Boil chicken liver till fully cooked
and grind to a paste with a spoon.
Mix pumpkin and chicken liver
paste with oil and sugar.

42 BEST FEEDING

Egg and Meat Soup Custard

Ingredients
1 egg
bowl meat soup
Few drops of oil
Method
Beat egg to mix yolk and white.
Mix well with the meat soup.
Put in a bowl and steam it for 10
minutes till it is set.
Put a few drops of oil on top.

Method
Heat oil in a pan and fry rava and
wheat flour till fragrant. Stir
continuously so that it does not
burn.
Take off the fire, and stir in milk and
mix well.
Add sugar.
Return to fire and cook, stirring, till
the mix is of required consistency.
Add powdered almond and cook for
one minute more.

Ingredients
1 teaspoons (5g.) roasted and
powdered wheat
teaspoon (3g.) Bengal gram
roasted and powdered
1/2 teaspoon (3g.) roasted and
powdered groundnut
1 tablespoons (5g.) sugar/jaggery
3-4 leaves of spinach or other green
leafy vegetables
Method
Mix the wheat, Bengal gram and
groundnut powders.
Make syrup of jaggery by dissolving
it in some water.
Mix the powders and syrup, to make
a thick batter.
Wash and boil spinach in water till
soft, mash and strain through a
clean cloth.
Add the vegetable juice to the batter
and cook for a few minutes with
continuous stirring till semisolid.

Toasted Millet Baby Cereal

Wheat Kheer
Ingredients
1 tablespoon whole wheat
2 teaspoons Bengal gram roasted
and powdered
1 teaspoon sugar
teaspoons of roasted and
powdered groundnut
1 cups water or milk (or mixed)
Method
Roast whole wheat and powder.
Add roasted Bengal gram flour,
sugar and crushed roasted
groundnuts.
Add milk to it.
Cook for five minutes or till the
desired consistency is reached.

Wheat Gram
Porridge

Ingredients
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon whole grain millet
1 cup boiling water
Method
In a large pan, heat oil.
Add millet and saut.
Stir the millet in the pan until it
begins to toast and turn brown.
Add boiling water.
Cover the pan and simmer 30
minutes or until liquid has been
absorbed.
Let stand for five minutes and then
fluff a bit.
Note: This the infant grows older, you may add
spices such as cinnamon, ginger and vanilla, and
also fruits, vegetables and/or other foods that are
age appropriate for your baby.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

101.1

2.3

218

355.45

26.15

318.25

59

418.85

65.88

184.65

10.44

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

10.7

5.29

13.3

18.3

18.61

19.525

8.975

5.135

14.91

10.685

1.84

15.645

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.22

62.5

2.1

37.5

3.11

579.75

3.101

32.95

3.93

110.8

0.42

117.3

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

15

0.19

60

82

0.4

30.25

0.675

214.77

0.66

4.65

0.36

Toasted Millet
Baby Cereal

RECIPES 43

Indonesia

Japan

South Korea

Lao PDR

Sweet Potato and

Groundnut Mash
Beef and Rice Porridge

Red Rice Porridge

with Breastmilk
Ingredients
1 tablespoon of red rice
2/3 cup (100 ml) drinking water
2/3 cup (100ml) breastmilk
2 teaspoons (10g) ripe banana mashed

Millet Carrot and Apple Stew

Ingredients
1 tablespoon diced carrots
1 tablespoon millet, uncooked
1 cup of water
1 tablespoon diced apples

Red Rice
Porridge with
Breastmilk

44 BEST FEEDING

Method
In medium saucepan, combine
carrots, water, the millet, diced
apples and water.
Bring the mixture to a boil then
reduce the heat to low.
Cover the pan and simmer for
approximately 20 minutes.

Pearl Millet and

Vegetable Porridge
Ingredients
2 tablespoons pearl millet
1 teaspoon broken groundnuts
1 tablespoon lentil or pigeon pea
2 tablespoons diced
carrot/pumpkin/sweet potato
Salt to taste
Method
Mix and cook all ingredients
together with water till soft.

Method
Grind the red rice first.
Boil it with water in a pan.
Stir it on low heat.
After the porridge is cooked, toss in
the mashed banana and cook for a
while.
Take the pan from heat and stir for a
minute or two.
Then add the breastmilk and mix.

Ingredients
10g. beef tenderloin
pear
1tablespoon rice
1 tablespoon finely cut vegetables
like carrot, potato, broccoli,
cauliflower, green leafy vegetables

Banana Rice Gruel

Method
Boil the beef till it is thoroughly
cooked.
Grind with 5-6 tablespoons of stock.
Cook the rice in the remaining stock
till it is very soft, adding more water
if needed.
Add the ground beef
Grate pear and add to rice and beef.
Add other vegetables and continue
to cook till very soft.

Method
Drain soaked rice.
Grind soaked rice without water to a
fine powder.
Finely grate banana.
Add ground rice to water and place
on fire.
When it boils, add grated banana.
Cook for five minutes.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon (15g.) rice soaked
2 teaspoons (10g.) banana (from
middle portion)
2/3 cup water

Note: The feces of babies fed banana rice gruel

may contain stringy material. This is normal and
not a cause for worry.

Ingredients
1 small size sweet potato (about 50
grams or 1/2 cup of chopped
pieces)
2 teaspoons groundnuts flour
1bowl (200ml) water
1 teaspoon pounded green leafy
vegetables
1 light two-finger pinch of salt

Beef and
Rice Porridge

Method
Peel potato, cut it into small pieces.
Put the sweet potato pieces in a pan,
add water and cook for 20 minutes,
or until the potatoes are cooked.
Add the groundnut flour and mash
the potatoes/groundnut to a smooth
paste with the back of the spoon.
Add pounded vegetables and cook
for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

65.7

14.01

193.65

34.18

100.2

13.27

95.85

19.29

62.85

14.42

118.3

16.91

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

2.005

0.75

9.01

3.445

1.67

4.68

3.715

0.465

1.14

0.105

3.32

4.16

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.669

28.4

2.42

66.92

0.336

7.8

0.53

297

0.086

7.8

0.46

70.45

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

10.15

0.369

31.5

1.17

34.6

0.015

17.75

0.254

2.45

0.215

34.34

0.45

Banana
Rice Gruel

RECIPES 45

Rice and Groundnut Mix

Ingredients
4 level teaspoons rice
2 level teaspoons pounded
groundnut flour
1 teaspoon pounded green leafy
vegetables
1 bowl (200ml.) water
1 light two-finger pinch of salt

Rice and
Groundnut
Mix

Method
Pound groundnut into flour and
measure 2 level teaspoons and
keep aside.
Mix rice with groundnut flour.
Boil the water and add the rice and
groundnut flour mix.
Reduce the heat and cook on low
heat for 30 minutes.
Stir from time to time to make sure
that the food does not stick at the
bottom of the cooking pan.
Add the pounded vegetables, mix
well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt to taste.
Note As groundnuts contain oil, there is no
need to add extra oil.
Raw groundnuts can be pounded and used to
get a different flavor.
The pounded groundnuts can be replaced with
bean flour made from dried beans. Add a
teaspoon of oil to the recipe.

46 BEST FEEDING

Sweet Potato and Egg Mash

Malaysia

Maldives

Ingredients
l small size sweet potato (about 50
grams or 1/2 cup of chopped
pieces)
1 egg
1 bowl (200ml.) water
1 teaspoon oil
1 teaspoon pounded green leafy
vegetables
1 light two-finger pinch of salt
Method
Peel sweet potato, cut it into small
pieces.
Put the sweet potato pieces into a
pan, add water and cook for 20
minutes, or until the sweet potatoes
are soft.
Mash the sweet potatoes into a
smooth paste with the back of the
spoon.
If too thick, add a little water to thin
the paste to the right texture or
consistency for the child.
Add the egg, oil and pounded v
vegetables and cook for 2-3
minutes.
Add salt.

Mongolia

Leek and Potato Soup

Ingredients
cup white portion of leek (100g)
cut into pieces
1 (50g) potato diced
1 handful (50g) peas
1 tablespoon (10g) butter
Water/ homemade stock

Puree Avocado
Ingredients
(30g) avocados
cup (50ml) expressed breastmilk
Method
Mash the avocado with a fork till it
becomes a puree.
Sieve the mashed avocado.
Mix milk together with pureed
avocado.

Method
Put butter in a pan, keep on fire,
and add leek white portion and stir
for a minute.
Add potato and peas stirring it for 2
minute.
Now add cup of vegetable stock
or 1 cup water.
Let it boil for 30 minutes.
Mash the vegetables and blend into
the soup.

Mango and Banana Porridge

Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients
1 small ripe mango
1 small banana
1 tablespoon of cooked rice

Ingredients
1 medium sized potatoes
1 teaspoon butter
2 tablespoons milk
Salt to taste

Method
Peel mango and banana and grind
it into a smooth paste with cooked
rice.
Optional can add some milk if
needed.

Mashed
Potatoes

Method
Wash potatoes and boil with skin.
When cool, peel the potatoes and
mash them.
Add butter and milk and mix.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

127.3

18.45

237.8

14.24

97

3.94

263.35

31.85

207.2

48

150.2

23.7

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

4.08

4.1

7.35

16.83

1.01

8.54

6.2

12.33

2.14

0.725

6.4

1.125

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.46

69.7

1.2

355.4

0.21

20.5

2.19

161.02

1.692

2821

0.555

227.5

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

13.34

0.68

56.64

0.06

17

55

0.26

31.5

0.49

40

0.53

Mango
and Banana
Porridge

RECIPES 47

Nepal

Philippines

Jaulo

Potato
Porridge

Potato Porridge

Bantan with Egg

Ingredients
1 medium sized potato
tablespoon butter
1 cup meat soup
1 teaspoon plain flour
egg yolk
2 tablespoons milk
1/8th medium sized turnip

Ingredients
30g. meat
1 tablespoon plain flour
2/3 cup broth soup
1 teaspoon minced onion
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
egg
1/5th medium sized carrot
Salt to taste

Method
Finely dice the potato and the
turnip.
Mix flour with milk and make a thin
paste.
Add meat soup and stir.
Add butter and cut vegetables and
cook on fire till thick.
Stir in egg yolk and cook till done.

Jaulo

48 BEST FEEDING

Method
Finely mince meat
Finely chop vegetables.
Cook flour with broth, vegetables,
meat and oil till meat is fully cooked.
Stir beaten egg into broth, and cook
for a few minutes more.
Add salt to taste.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons (30g.) rice
2 teaspoons (10g.) lentil (green or
yellow gram)
2 teaspoons (10g.) chickpea
2 teaspoons (10g.) pigeon pea
1 teaspoon oil, ghee
2/3 cup water
Pinch each of turmeric and cumin
powder
Salt and spices to taste
Method
Clean and soak chickpea and
pigeon pea in water overnight.
Mix rice, lentils, and soaked peas
with water.
Add ghee, salt and spices.
Cook in a pressure cooker for 15
minutes.
If pressure cooker is not used, cook
until rice, lentils and peas are soft.
Add water if necessary.

Thailand

Pork Bone Soup

Ingredients
1-1 kg.pork ribs
5-6 carrots
2-3 medium sized potatoes
2 tablespoons salt
6 glasses water
Cooked rice

Milk and Rice Pudding

Ingredients
5 teaspoons (35g.) rice
cup (120ml.) milk
1 teaspoon (5g.) oil or ghee
2 teaspoons (10g.) sugar
Method
Boil rice and milk for 10 minutes,
stirring periodically.
Add sugar and continue to stir until
the consistency is thick.

Kalabasa Lugaw (5 portions)

Ingredients
cup (8 teaspoons or 40g.) rice
100g. kalabasa (squash or
pumpkin)
10 g. moringa leaves
200ml. expressed breastmilk.
Method
Cook all ingredients together till the
rice and squash are very soft.
Mash the rice and the squash.
Note: Nutritive values given for one portion

Method
Put water into a big pot and let it
boil for 5 minutes.
Put pork ribs (bone in) into the pot
and let boil for 45 minutes on lower
power. Then, add salt.
Dice the carrots and potatoes and
put into the pot during 30 minutes
of boiling the ribs.
Check that the vegetables soft
enough. If they are not soft, boil
another 10-15 minutes.
Serve with rice.
Note: For infants mince the rice and vegetables
before you feed them. Older infants and young
children can eat vegetable and meat.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

180.45

27.2

226.3

12.67

207.3

41.21

286

42.6

60.44

10.386

290

66.4

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

7.61

2.3

8.185

12.815

8.48

0.92

6.2

10.1

1.002

1.454

3.38

0.6

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.79

234

1.605

324.25

1.588

45.9

0.37

163.6

0.161

1071.36

2.96

944.48

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

46.55

0.63

49.05

0.144

35.9

1.11

147

0.5

22.8

0.2952

180

1.06
RECIPES 49

Afghanistan

Recipes for
infants 9
months and
older*
*All nutritive values are
approximate, calculated for
dry ingredients; the values of
stocks and soups are not
included. Nutritive values of
ingredients have been, taken
from Nutritive Value of Indian
Foods, by Gopalan et al
(2007), National Institute of
Nutrition, India.

50 BEST FEEDING

Bhutan
Mixed Vegetables and Beef
Fish and Mashed Potatoes
Rice and Pork Porridge

Nutritious Vegetable Kichuri

Firni
Ingredients
1 cup milk
2 tablespoon of rice or rice flour
2 tablespoon of sugar
2 three grains of cardamom
1 teaspoon chopped pistachios or
nuts (if available)
1 teaspoon of chopped fruit, such
as banana, apple, or raisin
Method
Mix the flour, sugar and cardamom
in the milk and boil it for 5 minutes.
Pour in flat plate and sprinkle the
pistachio and fruits on the dish.
Leave to become cold.

Nutritious
Vegetable
Kichuri

Bangladesh

Ingredients
2/3 fistful (20g) rice
1/3rd fistful (10g) lentil
teaspoon groundnut powder
1/8th small carrot or a small piece
of pumpkin
3 pieces of 2in. each of green
cowpea bean
3-4 spinach leaves
1 teaspoons oil
medium sized onions
teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
1 pinch of turmeric powder
Method
Roast and grind groundnuts to a
fine powder.

Wash and soak rice and lentils for

10 minutes, then drain and keep
aside.
Wash and chop vegetables finely.
Heat utensil, add oil, chopped onion
and ginger-garlic paste.
Stir for a few minutes.
Add soaked rice, lentils and
groundnut powder and stir for 1-2
minutes.
Add water and cook till rice is half
done.
Add chopped vegetables and
leaves.
Cook till the kichuri is very soft and
thick, and is about half a bowl in
quantity.

Ingredients
cup rice
cup minced pork
cup green leafy vegetables
2 tablespoons oil
1 liter water approximately
Salt to taste
Method
Clean and wash rice
Mince the pork
Clean, wash and chop green leafy
vegetables.
Cook rice, pork and oil with half the
water for 25-30 minutes. Keep
adding water as necessary.
When the rice and pork are fully
cooked and soft, add vegetables.
Cook for 3 minutes more.
Use within 24 hours.

Ingredients
150g. fish
cup tomatoes
1 cup boiled potatoes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons oil
1 cups water
Salt to taste
Method
Wash and finely chop tomatoes.
Clean and wash fish.
Add tomatoes, fish and water and
cook 15-20 minutes.
Debone the fish carefully, making
sure all bones have been removed.
To do this, place the fish on a plate
and rub with your hand, till you have
taken out all the bones.
Mash potatoes and add to the fish
and tomato, along with butter, oil,
and salt.
Use within 24 hours.

Ingredients
cup finely chopped carrots
cup diced potatoes
cup diced broccoli
cup diced cauliflower
cup diced pumpkin
cup diced tomatoes
cup minced beef
cup green leafy vegetables
cup coriander leaves
2 glasses water
2 tablespoons oil
Salt to taste

Rice and
Pork Porridge

Method
Wash hands and utensils
thoroughly
Clean, wash and dice all vegetables.
Cook beef, vegetables, oil and
water for 25-30 minutes till done.
Add more water if needed.
Add green leafy vegetables and
coriander.
Cook for 3 minutes more.
Add salt.
Use within 24 hours.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

360.5

47.12

200.1

29.98

949

126.62

746.7

26.2

408.5

24.42

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

7.81

8.98

5.75

6.34

30.5

35.55

33.35

56.6

17.66

32.19

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.73

82.27

1.62

936.15

2.77

355

5.28

1401

4.62

3263.2

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

191.15

0.4

49.1

0.54

74.5

2.39

168

0.53

96

0.785

Fish and
Mashed
Potatoes

RECIPES 51

Brunei
Darussalam

China

India

Cantonese Lean Pork Congee

Ingredients
2 tablespoons uncooked rice
tablespoon raw mackerel fillet
tablespoon chopped pumpkin
cup water or broth
Little oil for pan frying fish

Ingredients
2 tablespoons rice
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 small piece boneless pork loin
roast
1 salted (hard-cooked) duck egg,
chopped
1/8th inch piece fresh ginger root,
thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
Oyster sauce to taste
Salt to taste

Method
Wash and clean rice.
Boil rice with water or broth until it is
very soft.
Steam chopped pumpkin until soft.
Mash.
Pan fry fish with little oil until
cooked. Use a fork to flake the fish
fillet.
Serve cooked rice, pumpkin and
fish in a bowl or plate.

Method
Wash and clean rice.
Finely mince pork roast
Finely dice egg white
Cook rice with water, ginger, salt
and pork roast, adding more water
as necessary.
When fully cooked, add chopped
egg white, mashed egg yolk,
chopped green onion and oyster
sauce.

Mackerel and Pumpkin Rice

(1 portion)

Mackerel and
Pumpkin Rice

52 BEST FEEDING

Pearl Millet Porridge

Ingredients
2 tablespoons pearl millet
1 tablespoon green gram lentil
2 teaspoons groundnut
2 tablespoons sugar or jaggery
2 tablespoons green leafy vegetable
Method
Roast and powder separately millet,
lentil and groundnut.
Wash and steam the leafy vegetable
till soft. Mash it.
Add the millet, pulse and groundnut
powders to the mashed vegetable.
Add water and jaggery and cook for
a few minutes to a semi-solid
consistency.

Millet Sweet Potato Porridge

Pearl Millet Khichri

Ingredients
1 cup millet
3 cups water
1 cup peeled diced sweet potato
1 slice peeled fresh ginger
1 cinnamon stick
Sugar/jaggery/honey to taste

Ingredients
3 tablespoons (45g.) pearl millet
5 teaspoons (25g.) greengram
(mung) lentil
1 small (20g.) carrot/pumpkin/sweet
potato/tapioca
teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoons oil

Method
Steam sweet potato, ginger with
cinnamon till cooked.
Cool, remove cinnamon stick and
mash the sweet potato and ginger.
Boil millet with water till it is well
cooked.
Add mashed sweet potato mixture.
Add sugar.
Note: Adding chopped nuts like groundnuts or
walnuts or almonds increases the nutritional
value of the porridge.

Method
Wash and grate carrot.
Boil lentils till half done.
Add millet and grated carrot and
mix well.
Cook till the grains become soft.
Remove from the fire.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add cumin and fry till it sputters.
Add to the millet.

Vegetable Suji Upma

Ingredients
1 teaspoons (15g.) semolina
3 teaspoons pureed vegetables
1 teaspoon oil
1-2 cups water

Vegetable
Suji Upma

Method
Dry roast the semolina, stirring
continuously till it turns brown.
Do not let it burn.
Keep the semolina aside.
Add oil, water and pureed
vegetables in a pan and bring
to a boil.
Add the roasted semolina and
mix well to remove lumps.
Cook, stirring continuously till
it is of the right consistency.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

252.22

23.83

355.45

26.15

33.5

48.29

451

97.8

313.05

48.44

104.4

12.81

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

3.55

10.26

18.61

19.525

10.582

5.63

13.5

4.6

11.83

9.77

1.695

5.15

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.56

78.75

3.11

579.75

2.091

1690.95

3.02

38

2.435

177.3

0.39

320.5

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

35.85

0.43

82

0.4

51.95

1.218

77

2.51

48.7

1.78

14.4

0.054
RECIPES 53

Mashed Red Rice with

Spinach and Tuna

Indonesia
Foxtail Millet Upma
Sorghum Upma

Sorghum
Upma

Ingredients
3 tablespoons broken/coarsely
ground sorghum
1 tablespoon roasted groundnuts
1 cup water
1 teaspoon oil
1 pinch mustard seeds
teaspoon white mung/urad lentils
teaspoon bengal gram
2 or 3 curry leaves (optional)
Method
Heat oil
Add mustard seeds.
When they splutter, add lentils and
curry leaves.
When the lentils begin to brown,
add broken sorghum and fry till it
turns brown.
Add water and cook till soft.
Add broken groundnuts and cook
for 2-3 minutes.

54 BEST FEEDING

Ingredients
cup foxtail millet
1 large onion chopped finely
3 cups water
1 teaspoon coconut oil
teaspoon mustard
teaspoon lentil
6-7 curry leaves
Salt to taste
Method
Dry roast millet for 3 minutes. Stir
continuously so that it does not
change color.
Take a large pan and heat oil.
Add mustard seeds.
When it sputters, add lentil and
curry leaves and fry till the lentil
starts changing color.
Add water and salt and let it boil.
Add roasted millet, and turn down
the heat.
Cook the millet till all the water is
absorbed.

Steamed Red Rice with

Spinach and Egg

Fruit Pudding
Ingredients
Banana/ Papaya/ Apple/ Guava/
Honey dew (alone or a mix of two or
more of these)
1 cup full cream milk
1 teaspoon ghee or oil
Method
Chop or mash the fruit.
Mix with milk.
In a thick bottom pan boil the fruit
and milk mixture till the entire
quantity of milk becomes thick.
Add ghee and continue to cook on
a low flame.
For infants 6 to 8 months of age,
blend the mixture before feeding.

Ingredients
4 tablespoons red rice
2 eggs
1/3 cup spinach cut small pieces
3 glasses water
4 chicken feet
1 cup thick coconut milk

South Korea

Ingredients
1/3 cup (50g.) red rice, soaked in
water for 30 minutes
1/3 cup (50g.) tuna diced fine
1/3 cup (50g.) spinach, cut into
small pieces
1 glass (200 ml.) breastmilk
1 teaspoon of coconut oil
Stock
500g. chicken feet
1 small piece celery
1 small carrot diced
8 glasses water

Method
Boil the chicken feet in water till it is
reduced by half. Drain, and keep
the liquid.
Add rice and coconut milk to the
drained liquid and cook.
When rice is well cooked, turn the
heat off.
Beat eggs and pour into the rice mix
and stir well.
Pour the cooked rice in a heat-proof
cup (tin cup) and add the spinach.
Steam it for 5 minutes.

Method
Make the stock by boiling chicken
feet, celery and carrots in water until
the water is reduced by half.
Drain the stock, and keep the liquid.
Boil the rice in the stock until it turns
into porridge.
Add the tuna.
Stir for a while then add spinach
and oil.
Mash all the ingredients until soft.
Add breastmilk and mix well.

Note: This recipe makes 2 portions

Note: This recipe makes 2 portions

Chicken and Egg Porridge

Ingredients
2 tablespoons (30g.) rice
4 teaspoons (20g.) chicken breast
2 teaspoons (10g.) broccoli
2 teaspoons (10g.) potato
1 egg yolk
1 cup chicken broth
Method
Clean chicken breast, removing
tendons and fat
Boil chicken breast.
Cut into pieces and pound in a
mortar.
Boil broccoli and cut into very fine
pieces.
Lightly cook potato and crush in a
mortar.
Cook rice with chicken broth till soft.
Add chicken breast pieces, broccoli
and potato and cook 3 minutes.
Add egg yolk and stir for 2 minutes.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

304.84

39.59

1340

268.4

320.5

47.2

770

24.3

349

27.2

193.4

26.42

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

9.795

11.972

60.9

14.3

6.2

11.95

32.85

63.55

19.7

17.85

10.18

4.82
VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

2.726

63.12

12.2

134

1.32

257.5

17.97

1330

5.07

155

0.848

24.6

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

25.96

0.795

217

10.2

207

0.21

158

102.8

29.8

0.873

Mashed Red Rice

with Spinach and Tuna

Chicken and
Egg Porridge

RECIPES 55

Rice with Fish Mix

Lao PDR
Rice with Meat Mix
Rice and Egg Mix
Rice Porridge with
Sweet Potato and Cabbage
Ingredients
1/3 cup (50g.) rice
1/3 cup (50g.) sweet potato
2 teaspoons (10g.) cabbage
2 teaspoons (10g.) carrot
3/4 cup water
Method
Steam sweet potato and cut into
fine pieces.
Remove the stalks from cabbage
and cut into small pieces.
Cut carrot into small pieces.
Cook rice, cabbage and carrot with
water.
When vegetables are cooked, add
sweet potato pieces.
Cook till required consistency,
adding water if necessary.

56 BEST FEEDING

Ingredients
4 level teaspoons rice
l egg
1 bowl (200ml.) water
1 teaspoon pounded green leafy
vegetables
1 teaspoon oil
1 light two-finger pinch of salt
Method
Boil the water.
Add rice, reduce the heat and cook
on low heat for 25-30 minutes.
Stir from time to time to make sure
that the food does not stick at the
bottom of the cooking pan.
When the rice is soft, add the egg
and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the pounded vegetables and
cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt to taste.

Ingredients
4 level teaspoons rice
2 teaspoons of finely chopped meat
(especially liver)
1 bowl (200ml.) water
1 teaspoon pounded green leafy
vegetables
1 teaspoon oil (when using lean
meat)
1 light two-finger pinch of salt
Method
Boil the water and add rice.
Reduce the heat and cook on low
heat for 20 minutes.
Stir from time to time to make sure
that the food does not stick at the
bottom of the cooking pan.
Add the finely chopped or pounded
meat and cook for another 10
minutes.
Add the oil and pounded vegetables.
Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt to taste.

Note: If cooking for two children, or for two meals,

double all ingredients except egg.

Ingredients
4 level teaspoons rice
1 level teaspoon pounded fish flour
(big or small fish)
1 bowl (200ml.) water
1 teaspoon pounded green leafy
vegetables
l teaspoon oil
1 light two-finger pinch of salt
Method
Lightly roast the dried fish for 3-5
minutes before pounding.
Pound the fish into a fine powder
and measure out 1 level teaspoon
of fish flour.
Mix rice with pounded fish flour.
Boil the water and add the rice/fish
flour mix.
Reduce the heat and cook on low
heat for 30 minutes.
Stir from time to time to make sure
that the food does not stick at the
bottom of the cooking pan.
Add the oil and pounded vegetables.
Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt to taste.
Note: The light roasting of dried fish helps to
reduce the fishy smell, and makes pounding
easier.

Sweet Potato and Meat Mash

Ingredients
1 small size sweet potato (about 50
grams 1/2 cup of chopped pieces)
2 teaspoons finely chopped or
pounded meat, especially liver
1 bowl (200ml.) water
1 teaspoon oil (when using lean
meat)
1 teaspoon pounded green leafy
vegetables
1 light two-finger pinch of salt
Method
Peel sweet potato, cut it into small
pieces.
Put the potato pieces into a pan,
add water and cook for 10 minutes.
Add meat and cook for another 10
minutes or until the sweet potatoes
and meat are well cooked and soft.
Mash the sweet potatoes and meat
with the back of the spoon.
If too thick, add a little water to thin
the paste to the right consistency or
texture for the child.
Add oil and pounded vegetables
and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt.

Sweet Potato and Fish Mash

Ingredients
1 small size sweet potato (about 50
grams or 1/2 cup of chopped
pieces)
2 teaspoons fish flour
1 bowl (200ml.) water
1teaspoon oil
l teaspoon pounded green leafy
vegetables
1 light two-finger pinch of salt
Method
Peel sweet potato, cut it into small
pieces.
Put the potato pieces into a pan;
add water and the fish flour.
Cook for 20 minutes, or until the
sweet potatoes are soft.
Mash the sweet potatoes into a
smooth paste with the back of the
spoon.
If too thick, add a little water to thin
the paste to the right consistency or
texture for the child.
Add oil and pounded vegetables
and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

240

54.306

246.8

15.78

171

15.78

165.15

15.98

162

14.24

156.15

14.44

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

4.27

0.43

8.11

16.77

3.46

10.42

2.26

10.19

2.7

10.48

1.5

10.25

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.64

62.2

1.2

354.7

0.15

144.7

0.2

144.7

0.15

145.45

0.2

145.45

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

39.9

0.785

35.64

0.29

7.34

0.29

38.14

0.29

28.34

0.06

59.14

0.06
RECIPES 57

Malaysia

Mongolia

Philippines
Yummy Noodle Soup (5 Portions)
Ingredients
200g. rice noodles100g. squash
(optional use 200g. sweet potato)
1 whole peechay or bok choy
(optional use 50g. cabbage)
Water for cooking

Carrot Porridge
Five Bean Rice
Pot Cheese
with Carrots

Ingredients
100 g. beans (optional use dried
cowpea beans)
200g. rice
20g. wakame/scallop (optional use
mustard greens)
1 teaspoon (5ml.) sesame oil
Water for cooking

Note: Nutritive values have been calculated using

dried cowpea beans and mustard greens

Method
Steam broccoli and carrot until
tender.
Blend lightly with cooked pasta.
Note: Nutritive values have been calculated using
cauliflower

Pot Cheese with Carrots

Ingredients
1 medium carrots
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon sugar
Method
Wash, peel and grate carrots finely.
Steam till cooked.
Make cheese with 3 cups of milk.
Add sugar and steamed carrot and
mix well.

Method
Finely dice carrot, potatoes, turnip
and tomato.
Fry flour in butter for a couple of
minutes.
Add meat soup, diced vegetables
and oil.
Cook till the vegetables are done
and the mixture is thick.

Liver Mash
Ingredients
80g. Lamb liver
1/8 medium sized onion
1/6 medium sized carrot
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon butter
Method
Finely mince liver.
Finely dice onion and carrot.
Heat butter in a pan.
Add minced liver and cook till done.
Add diced vegetables and cook till
done.
Remove from fire.
Add the milk and mix well.

Yummy
Noodle Soup

Note Nutritive values are given separately

for soup with squash and with sweet potato
Nutritive values given per portion
CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

145.7

32.66

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

3.18

0.23

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

0.448

726

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

9.9

1.282

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

1469.8

211.54

201

42.65

369.4

55.17

708.1

82.62

179.45

9.08

188.7

43.02

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

38.5

52.12

6.21

0.59

15.305

18.65

17.455

43.15

22.68

3.57

3.38

0.33

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

13.26

509.1

1.98

240.07

1.9077

710.5

2.6877

1694.5

0.83

269.65

0.444

721.44

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

128

7.4

54.8

0.52

620.6

646.8

0.58

63.6

26.3

1.274

NUTRITIVE VALUE USING

SWEET POTATO AND CABBAGE

58 BEST FEEDING

Ingredients
2 florets (10g.) broccoli (optional
use cauliflower)
cup (50g.) peeled and chopped
carrots
1 handful of cooked pasta made
from 50g. dry pasta
Optional: grated cheese if you have
already introduced it to infant.

Method
Cut the squash or sweet potato into
small pieces.
When cooked, mash the squash or
sweet potato.
Drop the noodles into the boiling
pot of squash or sweet potato.
Add finely chopped vegetables.

NUTRITIVE VALUE USING

SQUASH AND CABBAGE

Method
Clean, wash and soak the beans for
4 hours.
Clean and wash rice.
Finely chop wakame.
Put all the ingredients including oil
in a utensil and cook till very soft.

Vegetable Pasta

Ingredients
1/8 medium sized carrot
1/2 medium sized potato
1/8 medium sized turnip
1/2 medium sized tomato
1 cup meat soup
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or
2 tablespoons butter
teaspoon plain flour

RECIPES 59

Brunei
Darussalam

Thailand

China

India
Nutritious Kichri

Filipino Congee

Play Learn Eat

The young children at Arugaan, Philippines rolled the
bananas in the spring roll covering before it was fried,
and sang Babababababanana. They looked forward to
the sound of its crackling crispiness and started eating
the dish from both ends.
Whole family members, including infants and young
children prepare this soft and delicious favorite food at
Arugaan. It is a Filipino version of spaghetti because it is
has indigenous food crops: finely chopped squash and
sweet potatoes, loads of tomatoes, onions, garlic, grilled
eggplant - all sauteed and mixed with noodles boiled with
cornsilk. The alternative to cheese is the grated corn. The
children also used the noodles as art material before it
was added to the dish.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons rice
1 cup chicken, fish, meat or beef
broth
1 cloves garlic, minced
1 small red onion, minced
A small piece of ginger, cut into thin
pieces
1 tablespoon chicken meat minced
1 hardboiled egg
Salt and black pepper to taste
Method
Wash and clean rice
Cook rice, chicken mince, onion,
garlic and ginger in broth. Add more
broth or water as necessary.
Dice egg white into small pieces,
and mash egg yolk.
Add diced egg white and mashed
yolk to rice when it is cooked, and
mix well.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

Thai Congee
Ingredients
2 tablespoons jasmine rice
1 cup water
1 black mushroom
1 small piece ginger finely shredded
1 small piece ham or pork roast,
finely diced
1 teaspoon sesame oil
teaspoon finely chopped
coriander leaves
Salt and soy sauce to taste

Nasi Goreng Brunei

Method
Wash and clean rice.
Finely slice mushroom.
Cook rice, meat and mushroom in
water till well done. Add more water
if necessary.
Add sesame oil to the rice.
Add salt and soy sauce and
coriander leaves and mix well.

Method
Melt the margarine and saut garlic
and red onion until fragrant.
Add in minced beef and cook
thoroughly.
Add in both chopped spinach and
carrots.
Add in cooked rice to the mixture
above and stir evenly. Serve.

Ingredients
6 tablespoons cooked rice
1 tablespoon minced beef
tablespoon spinach (leaf only),
chopped
tablespoon carrots, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
small red onion, minced
1 teaspoon margarine

Noodles with Meat and Tomato

Ingredients
Noodles
Meat
Tomato
Method
Boil noodles till soft.
Drain the noodles and cut them into
small fragments.
Boil the meat with tomato for one
hour.
Chop the cooked meat into small
pieces.
Mix the noodles, meat pieces and
soup.

Ingredients
1 cup (100g.) broken wheat (can
also be made with rice)
5 teaspoons (25g.) green gram
(mung) lentil
5 teaspoons (25g.) chopped carrot
5 teaspoons (25g.) shelled peas
1/2 cup (50g.) chopped spinach
1 teaspoon (5g.) oil or ghee
teaspoon cumin
Pinch of turmeric powder
Salt to taste
Method
Clean, wash and soak rice and lentil
for some time.
Add salt and turmeric powder.
Cook till half done.
Add vegetables and continue
cooking till soft and of required
consistency.
Heat oil in a pan.
Add cumin.
When cumin turns brown, add to
the porridge.
Serve with yoghurt.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

353.2

36.06

98.3

8.95

389.52

74.67

232.4

40.55

577.25

76.42

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

20.29

14.09

2.83

6.39

9.89

4.9

13.8

1.55

38.34

13.12

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

3.4

15

2.12

1.58

227.13

3.15

204.5

8.195

672.5

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

103.3

0.42

3.1

37.27

1.31

35.1

120.25

1.75

Recipes for
children 12
months and
older*
*All nutritive values are
approximate, calculated for
dry ingredients; the values of
stocks and soups are not
included. Nutritive values of
ingredients have been, taken
from Nutritive Value of Indian
Foods, by Gopalan et al
(2007), National Institute of
Nutrition, India.

Nasi Goreng
Brunei

RECIPES 61

Millet and Wheat Flour

Pancakes
Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup mixed millet flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cups milk
10ml. oil
2 teaspoon honey
Water as required.
Pinch of salt.

High Energy High Protein Paratha

Ingredients
cup coarsely ground wheat flour
2 teaspoons cooked lentils
2 teaspoons cooked and mashed
vegetables
Ghee or oil to fry
Salt to taste
Method
Mix flour, lentils, cooked vegetables,
and salt, and knead into a pliable
dough.
Take a small ball of dough and roll
out into a round about 3 inches
diameter.
Spread with ghee or oil and fold into

62 BEST FEEDING

a triangle.
Roll out again.
Put on a mildly hot girdle (tava) and
cook till color starts changing.
Take off the tava.
Crumble and add teaspoon ghee.
Knead, roll out again and put on
tava.
Repeat the process at least three
times until the paratha is fully
cooked.
Crumble, and serve with milk,
yoghurt, dal or vegetable. It can
also be eaten plain.
Note: For sweet paratha, add jaggery instead of
salt. Cook on very low fire as jaggery will tend to
burn quickly.

Millet Vegetable Salad

Ingredients
cup soft cooked millet
cup soft cooked carrots - diced
cup soft cooked peas
1 tablespoon (or more) soft cooked
chicken or beef - diced or shredded
into small bits
Method
Toss all ingredients together
in a bowl.
Serve as a finger food meal
or snack.

Method
Mix all the ingredients with water to
make a thick batter.
Keep aside to rest for 15 minutes.
Heat a greased pan.
Pour a small amount of batter to
make small sized pancake.
When small holes appear on the
pancake, flip it over and cook the
other side.
Add oil as needed to cook the
pancake.
Note: Adding an egg to the batter will make it
more nutritious. Do not add baking powder, and
reduce the amount of water.

Mixed Millet, Rice and Lentil Pancakes

Ingredients
1/4 cup horsegram
1/4 cup foxtail millet
1/4 cup little millet
1/4 cup pearl millet
1/4 cup finger millet
1/4 cup sorghum
1/4 cup kodo millet
1/4 cup barnyard millet
1/4 cup white gram (udad dal)
1/2 cup rice
1/2 tablespoon fenugreek seeds
Salt to taste
Oil

Next grind the rice and millet mix

to a slightly coarse batter.
Mix both the batters and leave
overnight to ferment.
Next day, add salt to the batter.
Lightly grease and heat a pan.
Spread a little batter into a pancake.
Cook both sides, adding a little oil
if needed.

Method
Soak the udad dal and fenugreek
seeds for 4 hours.
In another vessel soak rice and
millets together.
Drain and grind the white gram and
methi mixture with a little water to
make a smooth foamy batter.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

188.8

28.31

200.57

41.42

728.9

118.75

757.5

156.05

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

6.255

5.61

8.17

2.22

23.08

20

29.8

5.5

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

2.37

398.45

2.05

508.75

6.669

199.5

6.625

70.98

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

33.3

1.014

40.5

2.1

251.5

3.4

150

4.91

Millet and
Wheat Flour
Pancakes

RECIPES 63

Indonesia

South Korea

Chicken and Rice Porridge

Kodo Millet Idli

Finger Millet Idli
Ingredients
4 tablespoons finger millet
4 teaspoons white gram (udad dal)
Salt to taste
Oil for greasing containers
Method
Soak finger millet and dal separately
for a few hours (If millet flour is used,
soak for 20 minutes in water before
using).
Grind separately and mix together.
Add salt.
Leave overnight to ferment.
Next day, grease a few containers,
and divide the batter between them.
Steam till cooked.

64 BEST FEEDING

Ingredients
3 heaped cups of kodo millet
1 cup white gram (udad dal)
Salt to taste
Oil for greasing containers
Method
Clean kodo millet and dal
separately and soak in water for
3-4 hrs.
Grind udad dal to a fluffy batter.
Grind the millet to a fine paste.
Mix the two ground pastes together.
Add salt and mix well.
Leave to ferment overnight.
Next morning grease containers
and half fill each container with the
batter.
Steam till cooked.

Myanmar

A wedge of hardboiled egg

Fried shallots or onions
Be-gyun-kyaw (split pea crackers
can be replaced by roasted peas or
gram)

Mohinga

Ingredients
2 tablespoons rice
1 tablespoon finely chopped chicken
liver
1 tablespoon finely diced tofu
2 in. piece of carrot finely chopped
3 4in. pieces of green beans finely
chopped
1 glass (200 ml.) chicken stock or
broth

Ingredients
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 button mushrooms
2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon finely minced beef
A little butter or oil

Method
Clean and wash rice thoroughly.
Clean and wash vegetables
thoroughly, and then chop them fine.
Finely chop chicken liver.
Finely dice tofu.
Cook rice in chicken stock till half
done.
Add vegetables and continue
cooking till almost done.
Add chicken liver and continue to
cook the porridge.
Stir in finely diced tofu.
The finished porridge should be
about half a bowl.

Method
Break the egg into a bowl.
Add milk and mix thoroughly.
Peel the button mushrooms and cut
into large chunks.
Add mushroom pieces and
chopped onion to egg and milk
mixture.
Heat a pan and add butter or oil.
Fry the beef mince.
Add the egg, milk and vegetable
mixture.
Stir with fork.
When half done, fold the mixture.
Continue to cook till fully done.

Beef and Mushroom Omelet

Ingredients
For the broth:
1 teaspoon gram flour
1/3 teaspoon rice flour
50g. flaked nga gyi, nga ku or nga
yunt (a variety of river catfish, which
can be replaced with a mix of
mackerel and sardines or other fish)
200ml. vegetable or fish stock
1 small onion quartered
A fistful of shredded banana stem or
banana flowers
A few drops of ngan-bya-yay (a
variety of fish sauce)
For the spice paste
1 small clove garlic peeled
1 cm. knob of fresh ginger peeled
lemongrass stalk trimmed
A few stems of fresh coriander (not
leaves)
1 tablespoon groundnut or other oil
Pepper to taste
Other ingredients:
100g. rice noodles
1 small fish cake

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

268

53.68

1340

268.4

143.5

26.31

266.1

2.91

430.94

80.735

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

12.16

2.86

60.9

14.3

7.47

1.01

18.07

20.23

22.26

2.185

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

2.44

26.8

12.2

134

4.861

107.75

2.415

58.8

6.21

30.64

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

49.4

2.04

217

10.2

31.5

0.442

110.5

204.65

0.05

Method
Roast the gram flour and rice flour,
stirring all the time till it is fragrant.
Mix with 100ml. water till smooth.
Grind the garlic, ginger, lemongrass
and coriander stems to a paste.
Heat oil in a large utensil and fry the
ground paste till it is fragrant, for 2-3
minutes.
Add flaked fish and mash with a fork
till it is smooth, and well mixed with
the spice paste.
Add the flour and water mix and the
vegetable/fish stock.
Bring to a boil, and then turn down
the heat to simmer for 30 minutes.
Add quartered onions, banana
stem/blossom, and water if
necessary.
Cook for an hour, stirring if
necessary.
Soak the noodles in just boiled
water for 15 minutes. Drain and
keep aside.
To serve:
Arrange the noodles in a bowl.
Heat oil in a frying pan, and fry fish
cake till golden.
Stir fish sauce into the fish and
stock mix.
Pour the hot soup on the noodles.
Garnish with fish cake, split pea
crackers, egg and coriander leaves.

Beef and
Mushroom
Omelet

RECIPES 65

Philippines
Raw Salad
Ingredients
1handful kamote (sweet potato)
leaves
1 sayote (chayote a greenish pearshaped gourd about 4-5in. long and
approx. 3in. broad at the broad end)
pinya (pineapple)
A little garlic and onions sliced thinly
into cubes
1 or more teaspoons of olive oil or
virgin coconut oil
Salt to taste
Method
Wash and slice kamote red leaves.
Slice a thin piece from the top of the
sayote and rub on the cut edge. Then
peel the sayote. Cut into half and
remove the seeds and white mid part.
Slice very thin.
Remove pineapple skin including the
eyes and the mid hard portion and
slice very thin.
Sprinkle salt on the garlic and onions.
Mix all ingredients together.
Add oil.

66 BEST FEEDING

Thailand

Pinoy Pageti (8 Servings)

Ingredients
100g. thick sliced kalabasa (squash
or pumpkin)
200g. kamote (sweet potato)
1 small (50g.) onion
1 small whole (10g.) native garlic
1 (100g.) eggplant grilled, peeled
and mashed
2 ears of corn
1 whole (250g.) corn boiled and
grated
200g. spaghetti
5 (250g.) kamatis (tomato)
6 teaspoonful coconut oil
2 tablespoon peanuts
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Slice unpeeled kalabasa into tiny
cubes.
Slice kamote into tiny cubes.
Slice peeled onions into tiny cubes.
Slice peeled garlic into tiny cubes.
Slice tomatoes and remove the
seeds save for the garden.
Heat oil and saut garlic till
brownish.

Add and saut onions till pulpy

Add and saut tomatoes slowly
simmering till boiling
Add sliced kalabasa and kamote
and cook.
Add the grilled eggplant, peeled
and mashed.
In separate casserole boil corn with
its corn silk wrapped by its cover
Boil together sliced onions and
garlic with the corn
When boiling add the uncut long
spaghetti
Sprinkle salt and coconut oil to the
spaghetti
Pour a cup of boiled corn broth into
the tomato and vegetable mixture
Add salt and pepper to taste
Add the half cooked spaghetti
Cook till the spaghetti is soft.
When spaghetti is soft, sprinkle
pounded peanuts and boiled and
grated corn.
Note: Nutritive value given per serving

Nutritious
snacks for
9 months
and older*

Chicken and Lentil

One Pot Dinner
Ingredients
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 button mushrooms
2 teaspoons finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon finely minced beef
A little butter or oil
Method
Break the egg into a bowl.
Add milk and mix thoroughly.
Peel the button mushrooms and cut
into large chunks.
Add mushroom pieces and
chopped onion to egg and milk
mixture.
Heat a pan and add butter or oil.
Fry the beef mince.
Add the egg, milk and vegetable
mixture.
Stir with fork.
When half done, fold the mixture.
Continue to cook till fully done.

Soup with Tofu Dumplings

Ingredients
3 tablespoons tofu
1 tablespoon plain flour
1 tablespoon corn flour
1 teaspoon chicken mince
1 cup chopped vegetables (broccoli
floret, carrot, potato, onion, etc.)
Method
Place chicken mince and
vegetables in a saucepan, and fill
water to cover the food.
Bring to gentle simmer, and cook
until vegetables are tender.
Mix tofu and flour.
While the soup is simmering, drop
one teaspoon of the tofu mixture
into the simmering soup. Repeat
with remaining tofu mixture. Cook
until the tofu dumplings are cooked.

Meat/Fish Balls
Ingredients
Carrot
Flour
1 egg (beaten)
Cooked mincemeat/fish (can be
replaced with finely chopped tofu)
Oil for frying (optional)

*All nutritive values are

approximate, calculated for
dry ingredients; the values of
stocks and soups are not
included. Nutritive values of
ingredients have been, taken
from Nutritive Value of Indian
Foods, by Gopalan et al
(2007), National Institute of
Nutrition, India.

Method
Wash and grate or finely dice carrot.
Steam the carrot and leave to cool.
When cool, mix carrot with minced
meat, egg, and flour to make a thick
dough.
Shape into small balls.
Steam or fry the carrot and meat
balls.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

91

10.8

228.46

41.24

348.85

54.85

191

32.93

307.55

21.01

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

0.4

5.1

6.505

6.025

29.65

0.96

9.21

1.61

22.41

14.755

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

2.42

55.5

2.83

339.57

6.62

522.62

15.64

480.55

3.835

476.35

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

20

0.11

90.1

0.26

141.75

2.25

107.65

0.42

150.8

0.33
RECIPES 67

Ingredients
2 small or 1 medium banana hearts
(will yield 6- 8 slices)
9-11 kalamansi or more
3 onions
7 teaspoon toyo (soy sauce)
Coconut oil for frying

Small
Fish Chop

Millet Patties

Small Fish Chop

Puso Saging
(Banana Heart Steak)

Method
Remove the hard outer leaves but
save the saging bulaklak/banana
blossoms for other recipes
Wash and prick on two sides of the
banana heart.
Place in a pot half filled with water
and start heating it.
Remove from fire when it starts
boiling.
When lukewarm, insert thin sticks or
toothpicks into the puso saging so
that it does not fall apart in pieces.
Cut into inch thick slices.
Marinate in kalamansi juice and soy
sauce for two hours. Marinating it
longer will make it salty.
Deep fry in coconut oil and keep
aside.

Slice onions thinly.

In a frying pan, saut the slices in a
little coconut oil.
Add the marinade and boil slightly.
Pour over the fried puso saging and
serve.

Chicken and Tofu Cutlets

Ingredients
1 tablespoon chicken mince
1 tablespoon silken or firm tofu
1 tablespoon soft cooked pumpkin
1/2 egg
1 teaspoon corn flour
Method
Mix all the ingredients and shape
into cutlets.
Shallow fry on both sides till cooked
and golden brown.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons (30g.) rice flour
1 medium (90g.) potato
1 small (30g.) fish
2 teaspoons chopped cowpea
1 teaspoon chopped amaranth
leaves
1 teaspoon chopped spinach
4 teaspoons chopped onion
teaspoon ginger garlic paste
2 teaspoons oil.
Method
Clean and wash small fish. If larger
fish is being used, first debone it.
Grind onions into a paste
Season fish with a little ginger garlic
paste and onion paste.
Leave for 10 minutes. Then grind
the mix so that the bones are fully
crushed.
Boil potato in water with skin. Peel
and mash it when it is cooked.
Wash all other vegetables and chop
fine.
Mix all ingredients together.
Shape into chops and shallow fry
both sides in pan with the oil till they
are golden brown.

Ingredients
1/3 cup millet
1 cup water
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup carrots, chopped
1 garlic clove, sliced
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 teaspoon seasoning
1 egg, beaten
Method
Cook millet in water till soft; dry
excess water, and fluff the millet with
a fork.
Finely chop onions, bell pepper,
carrots, and cloves.
Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in saucepan
over medium heat and add the
vegetables.
Stir fry for 3-4 minutes or until
vegetables are soft.
Place the millet, vegetables and egg
in a bowl and thoroughly combine.
Take 2 tablespoons of mixture and
form a patti or cutlet. Repeat till all
the mixture is used up.
Heat the remaining oil in a pan, and
fry the patties for 5 minutes on both
sides they are golden brown.

Millet
Patties

Finger Millet Biscuits

Ingredients
1/2 cup finger millet/ragi flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
1/2 cup powdered jaggery or sugar
1/2 cup butter (cold)
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons milk
Method
Grease a tray with butter and keep it
ready.
Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees C
for 15 minutes.
Roast millet flour on low flame until
fragrant. Leave it to cool.
Sieve together millet flour, wheat
flour and baking powder.
Cut butter into small pieces and add

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

151

82.6

119.25

1.2

333.4

48.875

635

40.6

916.25

120.3

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

10.8

13.1

12.01

7.48

10.08

10.93

20.12

45.525

53.05

4.025

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

11.2

30

5.638

10.15

2.762

660

4.075

716.75

3.995

1674

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

40

41

0.05

133.9

0.976

105.5

2.1

75.5

2.3

to the sieved flour.

Mix well with your fingers until the
mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
Add powdered jaggery and mix it
well.
Add milk little at a time and make a
smooth dough.
Refrigerate the dough for 15-20
minutes.
Dust wheat flour and roll out the
dough about 1/4 inch thick.
Using a cookie cutter or a lid of tin,
cut into desired shapes. Or make
small balls of the dough and press
it into any shape you wish.
Place the biscuits on the greased
tray and bake at 180 degree C for
15-20 minutes or until the biscuits
start browning slightly.
Remove and cool on a wire rack.
Once it cools it will become crisp.
Store it in an airtight container.
Note For vanilla flavor, add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
essence.
For cardamom or cinnamon flavor, add 1/4
teaspoon cardamom or cinnamon powder

RECIPES 69

Vegetable Chapri
Ingredients
8 teaspoons (40g.) rice flour
4 teaspoons (20g.) lentils
1 teaspoon shelled nuts
4 teaspoons (20g.) pumpkin
2 teaspoons chopped cowpea
1 medium onion
A few coriander leaves
2 teaspoons oil
1 cup water

Vegetable
Chapri

70 BEST FEEDING

Method
Clean and roast rice, pulses and
nuts separately.
Grind roasted rice, pulses and nuts.
Wash and peel vegetables and
coriander leaves, and cut them into
very small pieces.
Mix all the ingredients together with
water.
Heat a pan, and grease it.
Spread a spoon of the batter on the
pan into a pancake.
Cook on both sides with oil till it has
golden brown blisters.

Vegetable Omelet

Chicken Noodle Balls

Ingredients
3 tablespoons (45g.) wheat flour
1 egg
1 small tomato
2 pieces (10g.) cowpea
1 small onion
8-10 spinach or other green leaves
Few leaves coriander
1 teaspoon (10ml.) oil
glass (100ml.) water
Salt to taste

Ingredients
220g/thin noodles
350g .minced chicken
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 medium carrot, grated
5 (100g.) button mushrooms, finely
chopped
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
2/3 cup dried multigrain
breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons oil
Sweet chili sauce, to serve

Method
Wash and cut tomato, coriander
and spinach into small pieces.
Peel and finely chop onion.
Heat teaspoon oil in a pan. Add
vegetables and cook till they
become soft. If necessary, add
some water.
Blend flour and salt with water and
make a batter.
Beat egg well.
Grease a hot pan with remaining oil.
Spread a spoon of batter and cook
for one minute.
Add egg, and cook both sides.
Spread vegetable mix on this.
Continue to cook till the mixture is
set.

Method
Place noodles in a large bowl.
Cover with boiling water. Stand for
5 minutes or until just tender. Drain.
Run noodles under cold water.
Cut them into 5cm lengths. Return
to bowl.
Add mince, onion, carrot,
mushroom, sauce and
breadcrumbs to noodles and mix
will.
Make small balls of the noodle
mixture.
Heat oil in a frying pan. Cook balls
in batches, turning, for 6 to 7
minutes or until browned and
cooked through.

Natural drinks
Finger Millet and
Oats Dhokla
Ingredients
1 cup finger millet flour
1 cup fine semolina
200g. oats
1 cup yogurt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon oil
Method
Combine the millet flour, semolina,
oats, yogurt and a little salt in a
large mixing bowl. Add a little water
at a time to make a thick batter.
Allow the mixture to rest for 5
minutes.
Grease small containers.
Add baking powder to batter and
mix well.
Pour the batter into the greased
containers.
Steam on high heat for about 10
minutes until a tester inserted in the
center comes out clean.

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

615.78

57.18

406.48

45.32

1109.8

97.8

1173

213.4

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

12.68

22.46

16.04

17.76

101.35

33.35

42.8

21.1

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

3.41

210.25

5.21

577.95

6.8

737

30.6

171.5

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

55.03

1.85

117.92

1.6

230.6

201

2.4

Kamote Tops-Kalamansi Juice

Kamias or Iba Juice

(10 portions)

(10 portions)

Boil sweet potato leaves for 5-7

minutes.
Strain and keep the liquid. (Mom
can eat the leaves as cooked salad
with lemon, sliced onions &
tomatoes).
The broth of the boiled sweet potato
leaves looked green in color.
When cool, squeeze kalamansi
(lemon) into the broth.
The kalamansi juice color is yellow
but when mixed with the sweet
potato leaves it turns pink.
Add brown sugar or honey and stir
well.

Squeeze fresh kamias or iba (bilimbi

fruits or fruits of tree sorrel) using a
fork.
Place a thin muslin cloth on the
mouth of a pitcher, and pour the
juice through the cloth.
Add cold water to fill the pitcher.
Add honey or brown sugar to taste.
Ice is optional.

RECIPES 71

Nutritious
dry mixes*
*All nutritive values are
approximate, calculated for
dry ingredients; the values of
stocks and soups are not
included. Nutritive values of
ingredients have been, taken
from Nutritive Value of Indian
Foods, by Gopalan et al
(2007), National Institute of
Nutrition, India.

All mixes should be stored in a clean airtight tins.

Use a dry spoon to measure the mix.
While many of the mixes can be mixed in water or
milk and given as a drink, some will need to be cooked.
This will be mentioned in the recipe.

MALTING GRAINS
Malted grains are easier to digest. They are also more
nutritious. They can be used instead of regular grains.
If powdered, to 1 teaspoon added to the infant's
food will improve its energy content. As the infant
grows older, more can be added.
Rice, wheat, millets and legumes can be
easily malted. Two or three types of grains can be
malted separately and the powders mixed. As malted
grain does not keep very long, it is better to make
small quantities at a time once every two weeks.
Method
Soak cup of grain overnight.
Tie in muslin cloth in the morning and keep damp
till the grain sprouts. This can take up to 48 hours
(2 days).
Once sprouts appear, roast the grain in a pan till
completely dry.
Grind to fine powder and store in airtight tins.

Wheat Mix
Ingredients
100g. whole wheat flour
30g. roasted and de-husked
bengal gram
20g. roasted groundnut

CALORIES (KCAL)

565.7
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

92.14

Wheat Food Mix

Ingredients
100g. wheat
30g. roasted bengal gram
20g. groundnut shelled
50g. sugar

23.94
11.22
IRON (MG)

8.36
VITAMIN A (IU)

62.9

72 BEST FEEDING

CALORIES (KCAL)

121.3
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

23.79

Malted Food Mix

Ingredients
100g. dried sprouted wheat
50g. dried sprouted green gram

PROTEIN (G)

Method
Clean wheat and green gram
properly.
Roast wheat and green gram
separately.
Grind these individually, and mix
together.

5.4
FAT (G)

0.495
IRON (MG)

1.715
VITAMIN A (IU)

CALORIES (KCAL)

520
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

101.2
PROTEIN (G)

Method
Roast sprouted wheat and green
gram on slow fire separately.
Grind wheat and green gram to a
fine powder separately.
Mix the two powders.

24.04
FAT (G)

2.1
IRON (MG)

7.25
VITAMIN A (IU)

20.9

88.5

CALCIUM (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

80.8

17.75

78.5

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

2.2

0.955

3.6

CALORIES (KCAL)

764.7
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

141.84

Wheat Soya Mix

Ingredients
80g. whole wheat
20g. whole soyabean

PROTEIN (G)

23.99
FAT (G)

Method
Clean and roast wheat and
groundnut separately.
Powder bengal gram and
groundnutand wheat separately to
a fine powder.
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly
and add powdered sugar.

Ingredients
25g. whole wheat
10g. whole green gram

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

Method
Roast wheat flour.
Remove the skin of groundnut.
Powder roasted bengal gram and
groundnut.
Mix with wheat flour thoroughly.

Wheat and Green Gram Mix

11.22
IRON (MG)

8.43
VITAMIN A (IU)

62.9

CALORIES (KCAL)

363.2
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

61.14

Rice Mix
Ingredients
150g. raw rice
50g. roasted bengal gram

PROTEIN (G)

Method
Clean whole wheat and soyabean
separately.
Roast wheat and soyabean
separately.
Grind these separately and mix
together.

18.08
FAT (G)

51.1
IRON (MG)

6.32
VITAMIN A (IU)

136.4

CALORIES (KCAL)

702
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

146
PROTEIN (G)

21.12

Method
Wash and soak raw rice in water.
Drain water and dry under sun.
Grind to a fine powder.
Grind roasted bengal gram.
Mix the two powdered ingredients.

VITAMIN A (IU)

Note: This powder will need to be cooked with

milk or water before feeding.

CALCIUM (MG)

FAT (G)

3.35
IRON (MG)

4.73
56.5

CALCIUM (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

86.8

80.8

36.5

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

2.2

3.04

2.1
RECIPES 73

Puffed Rice Food Mix

Ingredients
100g. puffed rice
30g. roasted bengal gram
20g. roasted groundnuts
50g. sugar

CALORIES (KCAL)

748.7
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

146.04
PROTEIN (G)

19.39
FAT (G)

Method
Powder puffed rice after slightly
roasting it.
Powder roasted gram and
groundnut separately.
Mix all the ingredients and add
powdered sugar.

Rice Soya Mix

Ingredients
30g. rice
20g. soyabean
50g. sugar
Method
Roast rice and soyabean separately.
Grind rice and soyabean and mix
together.
Add powdered sugar and mix well.

Ingredients
20g. wheat
20g. bengal gram
20g. green gram
10g. groundnuts
30g. jaggery

9.62
IRON (MG)

10.13
VITAMIN A (IU)

33.9
CALCIUM (MG)

61.8

CALORIES (KCAL)

403.2
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

74.33
PROTEIN (G)

16.64
FAT (G)

5.81
Method
Roast wheat for 9 minutes.
Roast bengal gram for 8 minutes.
Roast greengram for 5 minutes.
Roast groundnuts for 6 minutes.
Powder the ingredients.
Mix thoroughly.

IRON (MG)

5.522
VITAMIN A (IU)

43.7
CALCIUM (MG)

73.7

Finger Millet Infant Food

Ingredients
45 g. ragi (dehusked, roasted)
10g. bengal gram
30g. sugar
10g. skimmed milk powder, if
available
Method
Powder the ingredients separately.
Mix well.
Store in airtight container.
Mix about 3 tablespoons with hot
water and feed infant.

CALORIES (KCAL)

316.9
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

52.7
PROTEIN (G)

7.26
FAT (G)

1.52
IRON (MG)

9.97
VITAMIN A (IU)

Sorghum Food Mix

Ingredients
100g. sorghum
50g. split green gram
25g. sesame seeds
Method
Clean and roast sorghum, green
gram and sesame seeds separately.
Grind all the three to a fine powder
separately and mix thoroughly.

CALORIES (KCAL)

666.05
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

108.35
PROTEIN (G)

27.14
FAT (G)

15
IRON (MG)

26.3
VITAMIN A (IU)

11.3

71.42

CALCIUM (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

11.2

86.75

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

0.96

CALORIES (KCAL)

388.9
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

57.88
PROTEIN (G)

10.68

Sattu Mix 2
Ingredients
30g. wheat
15g. bengal gram
25g. soyabeans
30g. jaggery

FAT (G)

4.04
IRON (MG)

2.35
VITAMIN A (IU)

21.3
CALCIUM (MG)

74 BEST FEEDING

Sattu Mix 1

CALORIES (KCAL)

342.15
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

69.91
PROTEIN (G)

12.015
FAT (G)

Method
Roast wheat for 9 minutes.
Roast bengal gram for 8 minutes.
Roast soyabeans for 10 minutes.
Powder the ingredients and mix well.
Prepare drink or porridge.

1.56
IRON (MG)

4.462
VITAMIN A (IU)

35.45
CALCIUM (MG)

Malted Finger Millet Mix

Ingredients
100 g. malted millet flour
40g. roasted bengal gram
25g. roasted groundnuts
Method
Remove the outer skin of groundnut.
Grind to make a fine powder.
Grind separately bengal gram.
Mix together all the ingredients.
Note: This powder must be cooked in milk or
water before feeding.

CALORIES (KCAL)

621.1
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

99.45
PROTEIN (G)

27.85

Pearl Millet Food Mix

Ingredients
50g. pearl millet
20g. split mung or green gram
10g. sesame seeds
20g. sugar

FAT (G)

16.33
IRON (MG)

7.355
VITAMIN A (IU)

77.2
CALCIUM (MG)

CALORIES (KCAL)

372
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

68.76
PROTEIN (G)

12.87
FAT (G)

Method
Clean and dehusk pearl millet.
Roast and powder millet, green
gram and sesame seeds separately.
Mix all the powders together adding
powdered sugar.

7.39
IRON (MG)

10.301
VITAMIN A (IU)

25.8
CALCIUM (MG)

57

62.1

73.45

42.6

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

1.1

1.22

2.4

1.76
RECIPES 75

Mixed Millet Food

Ingredients
2 tablespoons little millet
2 tablespoons kodo millet
2 tablespoons foxtail millet
2 tablespoons broken whole wheat
grains
2 tablespoons rice
2 tablespoons whole green gram
Method
Roast each kind of grain separately
till fragrant.
Cool the grains.
Grind the millets together till they
resemble semolina or suji.
Grind rice and green gram till fine.
Mix the powders thoroughly.

CALORIES (KCAL)

641.2
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

131.88
PROTEIN (G)

25.16
FAT (G)

5.32

High Protein Wheat Infant Food

Ingredients
45g. whole wheat
20g. green gram or bengal gram
10g. groundnuts
30g. jaggery
10g. skimmed milk powder, if
available

IRON (MG)

5.54
VITAMIN A (IU)

55.4
CALCIUM (MG)

69.4
ZINC (MG)

4.3

ALNUTRITION OCCURS WHEN a child does not get

CALORIES (KCAL)

399.15
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

74.01
PROTEIN (G)

12.67
FAT (G)

5.815
IRON (MG)

Method
Roast wheat, green gram and
groundnuts separately.
Grind separately and mix the
powders.
Store in airtight containers.
Mix 3 tablespoons with hot water
and feed infant.

5.197
VITAMIN A (IU)

35.65
CALCIUM (MG)

64.9
ZINC (MG)

0.99

Note: This mix needs to be cooked in milk or water before feeding.

Lito Mix
Ingredients
20g. chickpea
15g. soyabean
25g. wheat
5g. almonds
5g. cashew
Method
Dry roast wheat, soyabean and
chickpea separately.
Mix and grind to a powder.
Add cashew and almond.
Grind to a fine flour.
Mix with water or milk and stir it
before feeding.

76 BEST FEEDING

CALORIES (KCAL)

308.5

High Energy High Protein

Sorghum Mix

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

35.19
PROTEIN (G)

18.14
FAT (G)

10.415
IRON (MG)

5.825
VITAMIN A (IU)

138.3

CALORIES (KCAL)

666.05

High Protein Pearl Millet

Infant Food

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

Ingredients
100g. jowar
50g. green gram
25g. sesame seeds
Method
Clean and roast Jowar, green
gram and sesame separately.
Grind all the three to a fine powder
and mix thoroughly.

108.35
PROTEIN (G)

27.14
FAT (G)

15
IRON (MG)

26.3
VITAMIN A (IU)

71.42

CALCIUM (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

69.85

86.75

ZINC (MG)

ZINC (MG)

2.025

CALORIES (KCAL)

452.25
CARBOHYDRATES (G)

Ingredients
45g. bajra (pearl millet) dehusked
and roasted
20g. roasted green gram or any
other lentil
10g. roasted groundnuts
5g. roasted decorticated sesame
seeds
30g sugar
10g. skimmed milk
Method
The ingredients are powdered,
mixed well and stored in airtight
containers.
Mix about 3 tablespoons with hot
water and feed infant

77.99
PROTEIN (G)

14.88
FAT (G)

11.15

adequate food. This can happen suddenly as

during a drought, or after a disaster like earthquake,
floods, tsunami, etc. If the child is ill for a long time or
frequently, it can become malnourished. Malnutrition
can also happen if the child does not get enough to
eat over a long time.
A malnourished child does not gain weight or
height adequately. The child may also have swollen
feet.
A severely malnourished child usually needs
treatment in the health centre, especially if she or he
has no appetite or has fever or an infection. Severely
malnourished children are especially prone to
infections and need immediate and special
treatment. Once the child is treated at the centre, he
or she can return home. However, the child needs to
continue to eat well of high energy foods, so as to
gain weight quickly.
If there is one malnourished child in the family,
it is quite possible that the other members of the
family, especially children, are also malnourished.
They need extra food to regain lost weight. Children
especially need several small but high nutritious and
energy dense meals everyday.
The following recipes have been especially
developed for feeding malnourished children.

High energy
foods for
malnourished
children*
*All nutritive values are
approximate, calculated for
dry ingredients; the values of
stocks and soups are not
included. Nutritive values of
ingredients have been, taken
from Nutritive Value of Indian
Foods, by Gopalan et al
(2007), National Institute of
Nutrition, India.

IRON (MG)

10.496
VITAMIN A (IU)

24.2
CALCIUM (MG)

49.95
ZINC (MG)

1.64

Children especially
need several small
but high nutritious
and energy dense
meals everyday
RECIPES 77

Liver Kichuri
Khicheri
Ingredients
120g. rice
60g. lentil
70ml. oil
100g. potatoes
100g. pumpkin
80g. green leafy vegetables
50g. onions
50g. garlic
1000ml. water
Salt to taste

Liver Chop

78 BEST FEEDING

Method
Clean and wash rice and lentils.
Wash, peel and chop potatoes.
Dice pumpkin and onion.
Clean and wash green leafy
vegetables.
Cook rice, lentils and potatoes with
half the water and oil for 25-30
minutes.
Keep adding water as needed.
Add pumpkin and onion and cook
for 15 minute.
Add garlic and green leafy
vegetables and cook for 10 minutes.
Use within 24 hours.

Liver Chop
Ingredients
5 teaspoons (25g.) rice flour
2 tablespoons (30g.) chicken liver
4 teaspoons (20g.) pumpkin
2 teaspoons (10g.) peas
10 tablespoons (150g.) potato
4 teaspoons (20g.) onion
1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
1 teaspoon (5g.) coriander leaves
2 teaspoons (10ml.) oil
glass (170ml.) water
Salt and spices to taste
Method
Wash, peel and finely dice pumpkin.
Boil potatoes with their skin till soft.
Peel and mash.
Chop onions into small pieces.
Clean, wash and mince liver.
Mix potato, rice flour and the
chopped onion.

Heat oil in a large frying pan.Add

the remaining onion and stir fry.
Add salt and spices, and fry for one
minute.
Add minced liver and cook 5
minutes.
Add water, chopped pumpkin and
coriander leaves and continue to
cook till the mixture is dry.
Remove from heat and leave to cool.
Take a handful of the mashed
potato mixture, make a hollow, and
put a ball of mince mixture inside it.
Cover the mince with the potato,
and flatten the ball into a cutlet or
chop shape.
Shallow fry with oil on both sides
until golden brown.

Ingredients
1 fistful (30g.) rice
1/3 fistful (10g.) lentil
1 small piece (20g.) chicken liver
(20g.) medium potato
1 small piece (15g.) pumpkin
1 medium (20g.) onion
1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
Pinch of turmeric powder
2 teaspoon (10ml.) oil
1 1/5th glass (270ml.) water
Method
Clean and wash rice and pulse and
soak for 10 minutes in water, then
drain and keep aside.
Finely chop onion.
Mince liver.
Wash and cut vegetables into small
pieces.
Heat oil in a frying pan.
Add onions, ginger garlic paste and
fry for one minute.
Add rice, lentils and turmeric
powder, and fry for a minute.
Add water and bring to a boil.
Cover and cook till rice and lentils
are almost done.
Add liver and all the vegetables, and
continue to cook till fully done.

Egg Kichuri
Ingredients
1 tablespoons rice
1 tablespoon lentils
I small (25g.) potato
egg
1 small piece (10g) pumpkin
6-7 spinach leaves, or other dark
green leaves
teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
1 small finely chopped onion
1 pinch turmeric powder
2 glasses water
2 teaspoon oil
Method
Clean and wash rice and lentils.
Soak in water for 10 minutes then
drain and keep aside.
Grind ginger and garlic to make

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

1413.8

164.14

249.6

27.96

478.55

82.4

296.2

34.11

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

28.06

71.57

11.06

10.368

13.79

10.6

12.89

12.14

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

6.98

3436.98

0.63

99.9

2.234

119.28

2.639

62.37

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

123.9

4.31

22.25

0.4795

45.15

1.916

54.85

0.805

paste. Keep teaspoon aside.

Wash and finely chop vegetables.
Wash and heat a utensil, and add
oil.
Add onion and ginger garlic paste
and stir for 1-2 minutes.
Add washed and drained rice and
pulses and stir for 1-2 minutes.
Add water, and let it cook till it is half
cooked.
Add finely chopped vegetables and
continue to cook till it is very soft
and thick.
Add egg and stir till well mixed and
fully cooked.
The egg khichuri should be about
half a bowl in quantity.

Egg
Kichuri

RECIPES 79

Cooked Tempeh with Rice Flour

Nutrimix Powder

Ingredients
4 tablespoons of red rice
2 eggs
50g. spinach, cut small
600ml. drinking water
4 chicken feet
100ml. thick coconut milk

Ingredients
Wheat or rice
Green gram

Method
Boil the chicken feet to make the
stock.
Add rice and coconut milk to the
stalk and cook.
hen done, turn the heat off and pour
in the eggs and stir.
Add the spinach and cook for 5
minutes.
Note: This recipe makes 2 portions

Cooked
Tempeh with
Rice Flour

80 BEST FEEDING

CAROTENE (VITAMIN A) RICH FOODS

VITAMIN 'C' RICH FOODS

(all the values are per 100 g. of edible portion)

(all the values are per 100 g. of edible portion)

Name of food stuff

Name of food stuff

Drumstick leaves
Curry leaves
Amaranth(tender)
Mint
Colocasia leaves green
Radish leaves
Fenugreek leaves
Spinach
Turnip green
Carrot
Coriander leaves
Cowpea leaves
Pumpkin

400 g.
100 g.

Method
Roast the grains separately.
Grind to powder separately
Mix the two.
Store in an airtight container.
Note: To prepare complementary food, mix 250g.
of Nutrimix Powder with 50g. sugar, 50g. vegetable
oil, 700ml. of water and 20ml. of electrolyte mineral
solution.

Carotene (g)

42000
21000
20160
18950
15700
13000
11800
9440
9396
8840
6918
6072
2100

Gooseberry
Guava
Turnip greens
Coriander leaves
Drumstick leaves
Chilies green
Amaranth (tender)
Bitter gourd
Radish leaves
Carrot
Beet greens
Lime
Sweet lime
Orange

Vitamin C (mg)

600
212
180
135
120
110
99
88
81
79
70
63
54
30

Rich sources of
micronutrients
The following tables have been
taken from the booklet Dietary
tips for better health, published
by the Ministry of Women and
Child Development, Government
of India.

VITAMIN B12 RICH FOODS

(all the values are per 100 g. of edible portion)
Name of food stuff

Nutrimix complementary food using 250g.

of rice-based Nutrimix powder (excluding
electrolyte mineral solution)

Nutrimix complementary food using

250g.of wheat-based Nutrimix powder
(excluding electrolyte mineral solution)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

CALORIES (KCAL)

CARBOHYDRATES (G)

873

21.2

1506

234.4

1498

216.8

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

PROTEIN (G)

FAT (G)

81.7

52.7

25.6

51.65

36.2

51.62

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

IRON (MG)

VITAMIN A (IU)

13.96

3990

3.67

386.75

12.07

401.2

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

CALCIUM (MG)

ZINC (MG)

207.5

0.13

88

4.3

164

5.9

Skimmed milk powder

Buffalo milk
Cow milk
Curd (cow milk)
Curd (buffalo milk)
Goat milk
Human milk

Vitamin B12 (g)

0.83
0.14
0.14
0.13
0.10
0.05
0.02

NUTRITION 81

IRON RICH FOODS

CALCIUM RICH FOODS

FOLIC ACID RICH FOODS

ZINC RICH FOODS

(all the values are per 100 g. of edible portion)

(all the values are per 100 g. of edible portion)

(all the values are per 100 g. of edible portion)

(all the values are per 100 g. of edible portion)

Name of food stuff

Name of food stuff

Coconut dry
Turmeric
Lotus stem dry
Niger seeds (Black sesame)
Raw mango powder
Cauliflower greens
Turnip greens
Bengal gram leaves
Cowpea leaves
Radish leaves
Turnip greens
Mustard leaves
Beet greens
Mint
Cumin seeds
Soyabean
Colocasia leaves (green)
Moth beans
Bengal gram roasted
Sesameseeds
Cowpea
Lentil

82 BEST FEEDING

Iron (mg)

69.4
67.8
60.6
56.7
45.2
40.0
28.4
23.8
20.1
18.0
17.0
16.3
16.2
15.6
11.7
10.4
10.0
9.5
9.5
9.3
8.6
7.5

Jaggery, coconut palm

Sesame seeds
Skimmed milk powder made
from cow's milk
Cumin seeds
Whole milk powder made from
cow's milk
Curry leaves
Cheese
Turnip greens
Cauliflower greens
Mustard seeds
Colocasia leaves
Moringa leaves
Coconut dry
Amaranth tender
Finger millet
Carrot leaves
Fenugreek leaves
Bengal gram leaves
Radish leaves
Kidney beans
Soyabean
Buffalo milk

Calcium (mg)

1638
1450
1370
1086
950
830
790
710
626
490
460
440
400
397
344
340
395
340
310
260
240
210

Name of food stuff

Bengal gram
Amaranth tender
Green gram
Cowpea
Black gram dal
Ladyfinger (okra)
Sesame seeds
Mint
Red gram
Spinach
Soyabean
Curry leaves
Fenugreek leaves
Colocasia
French beans
Wheat whole
Tomato ripe

Folic Acid (g)

186
149
140
133
132
105
134
114
103
123
100
94
84
54
45
36
30

Name of food stuff

Common millet
Green gram (whole)
Cow pea
Bengal gram (whole)
Wheat whole
Rice
Kidney beans
Soyabean whole
Almond
Cashew nut
Coconut dry
Sesame seeds
Mustard seeds
Groundnut

Zinc (mg)

3.7
3.0
4.6
6.1
2.7
1.4
4.5
3.4
3.57
5.99
5.00
12.20
4.80
3.90

NUTRITION 83

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ASIA 2014
rights
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abstracted,
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ISBN No.:by:
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Published
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by:
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of India (BPNI)
Tel:
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Telefax:
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Email:
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Best-Feeding:
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Asian homes to complement breastfeeding is a non-commercial
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It is to be distributed
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complementary
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in Asian countries.
Asian homes to complement breastfeeding is a non-commercial
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We would
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acknowledge allbaby
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www.gofundme.com
informasitips.com
Acknowledgments
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www.wowtop10.com
www.gofundme.com
http://118.112.190.9:88/doctor.php?id=23contemporaryfamilies.org
informasitips.com
www.culturabogota.com
www.wowtop10.com
www.independent.co.uk
http://118.112.190.9:88/doctor.php?id=23contemporaryfamilies.org
www.peachy.co.th
www.culturabogota.com
www.independent.co.uk
Design: PlanB Communication Partners, New Delhi
www.peachy.co.th
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84 BEST FEEDING

International Baby Food

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Network of India (BPNI)

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