1. Complementary feeding Bridging the gaps
TM.

2. Complementary feeding
Giving other foods in addition to breast milk
Breast milk only is not sufficient
To fill the gaps
breast milk will replaced by family foods +

3. Complementary food should be:
Rich in energy and nutrients
Clean and safe
Easy to prepare from family foods
Locally available and affordable

4. When should complementary foods be started?
At 6 months
The age when the digestive system is mature enough to digest a range of foods

5. When should complementary foods be started?
Children :
Can control their tongues better
Start to make up and down munching movement
Start to get teeth
Like to put things in their mouths and are interested in new tastes
Training material
Project Satellite

6. What are good complementary foods?
Rich in energy, protein
Micronutrient – Vitamin A, iron, Vitamin C
Clean and safe
Not too peppery or salty

7. Staple food/energy giving food/feculent
Main food eaten
Cereals
Rice
Wheat
Maize
Roots
Potato
Sweet potato
cassava

8. Pulses Good sources of protein Examples Lentils Broad beans Chick pea
Training material
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9. Food from animals Meat Chicken Fish Liver Milk + milk products eggs
Training material
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10. Dark green leafy vegetables
Good sources of iron and Vitamin A
Pumpkin leaves
Chayote “Chouchou” leaves
Spinach
Amaranthus ( brede malbar)

11. Orange coloured vegetables and fruits
Carrot
Pumpkin
zucchini
Orange coloured fruits
Mango
Pawpaw
orange

12. High iron food Liver Animal flesh – red meat Foods fortified with iron
Fortified infant cereals
Iron absorption is increased by:
Eating foods rich in vitamin C
Animal source iron

13. To increase energy value of food
Thin watery food will not contain enough energy and nutrients
To make food more energy and nutrient dense,
Cook with less water
make thicker porridge

14. To increase energy value of food
Replace the water with milk
Add extra energy and nutrients
Powder milk powder, margarine, butter
Toast cereal grains before grinding them into flour
It will not thicken much
Training material
Project Satellite

15. Filling the gaps
A mixture of complementary foods is the best way to fill the gaps
For the healthy growth and development
During a day, a good mixture is
Staple food + pulse + animal food + green leaves or an orange coloured vegetable or fruit

16. Example of a day’s complementary food
3 meals:
A morning meal of cereal porridge
A midday meal of rice + beans + orange
An evening meal of rice + fish (or liver) + green leaves
2 snacks:
Banana
Bread with margarine

17. How food items can fill in the gaps?
Gaps filled
pulse
Protein, small effect on iron gap, oil seeds will have an effect on energy gap
fruit
Improves iron absorption, little effect on vit A gap
fish
Fills protein gap, small effect on iron gap, improves iron absorption
Dark green leafy vegetables
Provides some iron, fills vit A gap
liver
Fills protein gap, fills iron gap, fills vitamin A gap
Training material
Project Satellite

18. Good snacks
Mashed ripe banana, paw-paw, avocado, mango and other fruits
Yoghurt, milk, puddings made with milk
Bread or chappati with butter, margarine
Biscuit, crackers
Baked potatoes
Training material
Project Satellite

19. drinks Drinks for young children should be clean and safe
Boil water, wash fruit before juicing
Drinks should not replace solid food or breast milk
If drinks are given with meal, Give drinks at the end of meals
Teas and coffee reduce iron absorbtion
Training material
Project Satellite

20. How much and how often?
Start by giving one or two teaspoon twice daily
Gradually increase the amount and variety (by 9 months, a child should be eating a variety of family foods
Training material
Project Satellite

21. Rice pudding with peach
Preparation : 5 minutes Cooking : minutes Time total : minutes
Equipment : Saucepan
Shopping 1 fresh ripe peach (approximately 110g, stone removed) 30g uncooked risotto rice 60 ml (4tbsp) of baby’s usual milk*
Training material
Project Satellite

22. Rice pudding with peach
Recipe details 1. Wash, peel, stone and finely dice the peach. 2. Place the diced peach, rice and milk into a saucepan with 100ml water. Heat gently and bring to the boil, then simmer for minutes until the rice is tender, stirring occasionally. Do not add any sugar.
Suggestions/tips Good to know: To increase your baby’s milk consumption, replace the water with baby’s usual milk. *This can be expressed breast milk or follow-on formula made up as per instructions on pack.
Training material
Project Satellite

23. Vegetable pilaff
Preparation : 5 minutes Cooking : 10 minutes Time total : 15 minutes
Equipment : Frying pan Food processor
Shopping 1 small onion, finely chopped (approximately 60g) 30g red pepper 50g dried apricots 15ml (1 tbsp) rapeseed or olive oil 5ml (1 tsp) mild curry powder 160g cooked basmati rice 50g frozen peas 75ml natural yoghurt (approximately half a small carton)
Training material
Project Satellite

24. Vegetable pilaff
Recipe details 1. Finely chop the onion and pepper and apricots. 2. Heat the oil in the frying pan and gently sauté the onion and pepper with the curry powder. 3. Stir in the cooked basmati, peas and apricots, heat gently, stirring until warmed through. 4. Stir in the yoghurt. Mash the mixture or blend in a food processor to make a chunky mixture.
Suggestions/tips If you wish to freeze the second portion omit the natural yoghurt, then simply freeze the remaining portion in a clean sealable container. Other delicious vegetables to include are okra, courgette, carrot, in fact, any of your child’s favourites.
Training material
Project Satellite