Researchers in Sri Lanka tested whether giving malnourished children extra food and teaching parents to cook nutritious meals would help them grow better. They studied 510 children aged 6 months to 5 years who weren’t getting enough nutrition during an economic crisis. Half the children received extra food packages every two weeks plus cooking lessons, while the other half got standard help. After 6 months, the children who received the extra food and cooking support gained weight more successfully and ate a wider variety of foods. This shows that during tough times, giving families both food and knowledge about nutrition can really help children recover from malnutrition.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Does giving malnourished children extra food packages and teaching parents how to cook healthy meals help them gain weight and eat better during an economic crisis?
- Who participated: 510 children between 6 months and 5 years old in Sri Lanka who were moderately malnourished (not getting enough nutrition to grow properly). The study happened during Sri Lanka’s 2023 economic crisis when many families struggled to afford food.
- Key finding: Children who received extra food every two weeks plus cooking lessons were significantly more likely to reach a healthy weight compared to children who only got standard care. They also ate a much wider variety of foods, which means better nutrition overall.
- What it means for you: If you’re in a situation where children aren’t getting enough nutrition, providing both extra food and teaching families how to prepare nutritious meals together appears to be an effective way to help them recover. This is especially important during economic hardship when families have less money for food.
The Research Details
This was a randomized controlled trial, which is considered one of the strongest types of research. Researchers randomly divided 510 malnourished children into two groups to make sure the groups were similar at the start. One group (the intervention group) received extra support beyond standard care: they got a basket of nutritious food every two weeks, a recipe booklet showing how to prepare healthy meals, and cooking demonstrations where parents learned techniques from nutrition experts. The other group (the control group) received standard care, which included regular food assistance and monthly educational sessions about topics like breastfeeding and child development.
Both groups were followed for 6 months, and researchers measured several important things: how much the children weighed, how tall they were, and special measurements that compare weight to height and age. They also checked how many different types of foods the children were eating (dietary diversity) and their blood iron levels (hemoglobin). The researchers used statistical methods to account for other factors that might affect the results, like family income or parents’ education.
This approach is powerful because randomly assigning children to groups helps ensure that any differences in results are likely due to the intervention itself, not other factors.
Using a randomized controlled trial design is important because it helps prove whether the intervention actually works, rather than just showing that two groups are different. By randomly assigning children and following them carefully over 6 months, researchers could see real changes caused by the extra food and cooking education. This type of study is especially valuable during a crisis when resources are limited and we need to know which interventions actually help children recover.
This study has several strengths: it included a large number of children (510), used random assignment to reduce bias, followed children for a reasonable length of time (6 months), and measured multiple important health outcomes. The researchers also adjusted their analysis for other factors that might affect results. However, the study was conducted in one country during a specific crisis, so results might differ in other places or situations. The study measured some outcomes (like weight-for-height) but found no significant difference in others (like stunting and underweight), which suggests the intervention works better for some types of malnutrition than others.
What the Results Show
The main finding was that children in the intervention group (those who received extra food and cooking support) were significantly more likely to reach a healthy weight-for-height ratio compared to the control group. This is important because weight-for-height is a key measure of whether a child is getting enough nutrition right now. The children who received the extra food packages every two weeks and learned cooking techniques from experts showed clear improvement in this measurement.
Another major finding was that children in the intervention group ate a much wider variety of foods compared to the control group. This is significant because eating different types of foods—like grains, vegetables, proteins, and fruits—ensures children get all the vitamins and minerals their bodies need to grow and stay healthy. When families learned how to prepare nutritious meals using the recipe booklet and cooking demonstrations, they were able to give their children more diverse diets.
These improvements happened over the 6-month study period, showing that the combination of extra food and nutrition education created real, measurable changes in children’s health and eating habits.
While the study found strong improvements in weight-for-height and dietary diversity, it did not find significant differences between the two groups in other measurements. Specifically, there was no major difference in stunting (being too short for a child’s age) or underweight (weighing too little for a child’s age) between the intervention and control groups. This suggests that while the extra food and cooking education helped children gain healthy weight in the short term, it may take longer to see improvements in height growth or overall weight gain relative to age. The study also measured hemoglobin levels (a marker of iron in the blood), though specific results for this outcome weren’t detailed in the abstract.
This research fits into a larger body of evidence showing that during economic crises and food shortages, providing both food assistance and nutrition education is more effective than food assistance alone. Previous studies have shown that teaching families how to prepare nutritious meals can stretch limited food budgets further and improve children’s nutrition. This study confirms those findings in the specific context of Sri Lanka’s 2023 economic crisis, where many families suddenly had less money to spend on food. The finding that weight-for-height improved more than other measurements aligns with research showing that short-term nutritional interventions often help children gain weight before they catch up in height.
Several limitations should be considered when interpreting these results. First, the study was conducted only in Sri Lanka during a specific economic crisis, so the results might not apply to other countries or different situations. Second, the study lasted only 6 months, which may not be long enough to see improvements in stunting (being too short) or underweight, which develop over longer periods. Third, the study measured some outcomes (like hemoglobin levels) but didn’t report detailed results for all of them. Fourth, we don’t know if the improvements lasted after the study ended or if children continued to improve over time. Finally, the study compared the intervention group to a control group receiving standard care, so we can’t tell how much of the improvement came from the extra food versus the cooking education.
The Bottom Line
Based on this research, providing malnourished children with both extra food and nutrition education appears to be an effective strategy, particularly during economic crises. The evidence is moderately strong for improving weight-for-height and dietary diversity (the foods children eat). Communities and governments should consider implementing programs that combine food assistance with practical cooking education for families with malnourished children. However, these interventions may need to be continued longer to see improvements in height growth and overall weight gain relative to age.
This research is most relevant for families with malnourished children, especially during economic hardship or food shortages. It’s important for public health officials, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies that work on child nutrition programs. Parents and caregivers should know that combining food assistance with learning how to prepare nutritious meals can help their children recover from malnutrition. However, this study focused on children with moderate malnutrition, so results might differ for children with severe malnutrition, who may need medical treatment.
Based on this study, families can expect to see improvements in children’s weight-for-height and dietary diversity within 3-6 months of receiving extra food and nutrition education. However, improvements in height growth and overall weight gain relative to age may take longer—possibly 6 months or more. It’s important to continue these interventions over time rather than expecting quick fixes.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track weekly food variety by recording the number of different food groups your child eats each day (grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins, dairy). Aim to include foods from at least 4-5 different groups daily. Also track your child’s weight monthly if possible, noting whether it’s increasing steadily.
- Use the app to store simple recipes that use affordable, nutritious ingredients. Set weekly reminders to try one new recipe or cooking technique. Log which meals your family prepares and how your child responds to them. Create a shopping list feature that helps you plan meals with dietary diversity in mind before you go to the market.
- Establish a baseline of your child’s current weight and the types of foods they typically eat. Every 2 weeks, review whether you’re successfully introducing more food variety and whether your child’s weight is gradually increasing. Set monthly goals for trying new recipes or cooking methods. Track any changes in your child’s energy level, appetite, or overall health as indicators of improvement.
This research shows that extra food and cooking education may help malnourished children gain healthy weight, but it is not a substitute for professional medical care. If your child shows signs of severe malnutrition (extreme weakness, severe swelling, difficulty eating), please consult a healthcare provider immediately. This study was conducted in Sri Lanka during a specific economic crisis and may not apply to all situations or locations. Always work with qualified nutrition professionals or healthcare providers when addressing child malnutrition, especially in children under 5 years old. The findings apply to moderate malnutrition and may differ for children with severe malnutrition or other medical conditions.