Adequate Feeding Practices: Opportunities for Healthy Growth

Adequate feeding practices are essential for supporting infants' and young children's growth, immune function, and overall health during critical developmental stages. Ages 6 to 23 months is a period marked by high nutritional needs; with the consequences of inadequate nutrition, including low dietary diversity, insufficient feeding frequency, and delayed introduction of complementary foods, all contribute to growth concerns such as stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies. Recommendations emphasize the need for timely, nutrient-dense foods that are age-appropriate to ensure optimal development and health outcomes.