Complementary Feeding Diets Made of Local Foods Can Be Optimized, but Additional Interventions Will Be Needed to Meet Iron and Zinc Requirements in 6- to 23-Month-Old Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

This systematic literature search explored whether children aged 6 to 23 months can fulfill their nutrient needs by consuming locally sourced foods. The results suggested that complementary feeding diets composed of local foods generally yielded adequate sources of protein, while calcium, iron, and zinc requirements were not met for this age group. Optimizing diets using modeling techniques (“modeled intake”) can help children meet most of their nutrient requirements; however, there is still a need for cost-effective interventions, especially to achieve adequate iron and zinc levels.