The effect of a high energy food supplement on the growth of pre-school children
Pereira, S.M.; Sundararaj, R.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 63(1): 156-161
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 1213705 Document Number: 93577
Harijan children 2 to 5 years old at a day care centre got for 6 months a midday meal of rice, groundnuts, pulses and vegetables 250 or 450 g, energy value 1590 or 2870 kJ. The vegetable oil used to provide extra energy was expensive but the improvement in the children justified that. Growth measured for 45 of them was satisfactory. More had angular stomatitis or Bitot spots after 6 months than at the start, because beta -carotene and riboflavin in the meal were inadequate. It is difficult to fulfil the requirement from bulky local foods, so vitamins and minerals should be added to welfare meals. High energy content of the meal compensated for its replacement of a home meal.