By Ana-Liza S. Macatangay
PILI, Camarines Sur, Sept. 14 (PIA) -- The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has introduced the DOST PINOY or the "Package for the Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children" to address the high prevalence of malnutrion among children whose age ranges from 0 to 60 months in the country.
FNRI-DOST supervising science research specialist (SRS) Joyce R. Tobias said DOST PINOY is a package of nutrition interventions which endeavors to reduce the prevalence of underweight among 6 to 35 months old children by feeding them with complementary food blends for a span of 120 days.
The food blends, according to Tobias, are BigMo’s rice mongo sesame ready to cook baby food blend and Rice-mongo Instant baby food blend, a mixture of local-based rice-mongo complementary foods rich in protein and energy for children ages 6 to 3 years old.
The food mix was introduced to the members of the Camarines Sur Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) during its recent advocacy meeting held recently at Villa Del Rey Function Hall, Capital Complex, Cadlan, here.
“The rice mongo sesame is a ready to cook baby food blend of rice, mungbean and sesame. This can be prepared by adding the blend to boiling water, then cooked to desired consistency. It contains 130kcal (energy) and 4 grams protein per 30g serving proportions. This can serve as complement to breast milk. The instant Rice-mongo baby food blend on the other hand, is a complementary food also rich in protein and energy but is is processed by extrusion cooking method,” Tobias added.
Julieta B. Dorado, also an FNRI-DOST supervising SRS, said that aside from the complementary food blends, they also developed snack curls for children and has strengthened their information dissemination campaign.
“We also complemented it with nutrition education among mothers and caregivers and impart information on the basic nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, meal planning, safe food handling and preparation, including backyard vegetable gardening.”
According to the 2013 National Nutrition Survey, 2 in every 10 Filipino children is underweight-for-age while 3 out of 10 or 30.3 percent of children within the same age group are stunted. The prevalence of wasting is also high, with 1 out of 10 or 7.9 percent of children labeled under the said category.
Dorado said that the monitoring of the child’s nutrition is critical from 6 months to three years old since this is the period where their rapid growth and development takes place and window of opportunity for nutrition intervention is highly needed. This is also a vulnerable age bracket for malnutrition where damage to mental and physical health might be irreversible.
In Camarine Sur, the city government of Iriga through the Complement Feeding Processing Center (CFPC) is producing complementary nutritious foods as approved by FNRI-DOST. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/861442196094/fnri-dost-introduces-food-blends-to-combat-malnutrition#sthash.gT2oOMme.dpuf
PILI, Camarines Sur, Sept. 14 (PIA) -- The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has introduced the DOST PINOY or the "Package for the Improvement of Nutrition of Young Children" to address the high prevalence of malnutrion among children whose age ranges from 0 to 60 months in the country.
FNRI-DOST supervising science research specialist (SRS) Joyce R. Tobias said DOST PINOY is a package of nutrition interventions which endeavors to reduce the prevalence of underweight among 6 to 35 months old children by feeding them with complementary food blends for a span of 120 days.
The food blends, according to Tobias, are BigMo’s rice mongo sesame ready to cook baby food blend and Rice-mongo Instant baby food blend, a mixture of local-based rice-mongo complementary foods rich in protein and energy for children ages 6 to 3 years old.
The food mix was introduced to the members of the Camarines Sur Provincial Nutrition Council (PNC) during its recent advocacy meeting held recently at Villa Del Rey Function Hall, Capital Complex, Cadlan, here.
“The rice mongo sesame is a ready to cook baby food blend of rice, mungbean and sesame. This can be prepared by adding the blend to boiling water, then cooked to desired consistency. It contains 130kcal (energy) and 4 grams protein per 30g serving proportions. This can serve as complement to breast milk. The instant Rice-mongo baby food blend on the other hand, is a complementary food also rich in protein and energy but is is processed by extrusion cooking method,” Tobias added.
Julieta B. Dorado, also an FNRI-DOST supervising SRS, said that aside from the complementary food blends, they also developed snack curls for children and has strengthened their information dissemination campaign.
“We also complemented it with nutrition education among mothers and caregivers and impart information on the basic nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding, meal planning, safe food handling and preparation, including backyard vegetable gardening.”
According to the 2013 National Nutrition Survey, 2 in every 10 Filipino children is underweight-for-age while 3 out of 10 or 30.3 percent of children within the same age group are stunted. The prevalence of wasting is also high, with 1 out of 10 or 7.9 percent of children labeled under the said category.
Dorado said that the monitoring of the child’s nutrition is critical from 6 months to three years old since this is the period where their rapid growth and development takes place and window of opportunity for nutrition intervention is highly needed. This is also a vulnerable age bracket for malnutrition where damage to mental and physical health might be irreversible.
In Camarine Sur, the city government of Iriga through the Complement Feeding Processing Center (CFPC) is producing complementary nutritious foods as approved by FNRI-DOST. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/861442196094/fnri-dost-introduces-food-blends-to-combat-malnutrition#sthash.gT2oOMme.dpuf
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