Table 3.

Summary of potential effects of MNP programmes on complementary feeding practices

Recommended practice	Potential effect of MNP programme
Quality foods
Micronutrient‐rich foods	• increased intake of iron‐rich and micronutrient‐fortified foods
Dietary diversity	• increased minimum dietary diversity among MNP consumers
Energy density	• increased consistency of first foods (do not add MNP to liquids) • increased energy density of foods • increased nutrient density of foods
Optimal feeding practices
Introduce foods at 6 months	• promotion of exclusive breastfeeding for first 6 months • increased incentive for caregivers to start giving solid/semisolidfoods at appropriate age (MNP targets children ≥6 months)
Continued breastfeeding	• promotion of continued breastfeeding (no negative effect)
Responsive feeding	• active feeding of child; encouraged to finish portion with MNP • increased attention by caregiver to child while eating
Frequency of feeding	• daily feeding of foods, especially among children 6–8 months • higher meal frequency (evidence is mixed) • increased appetite, resulting in increased intake and meal frequency
Feeding during/after illness	• encouragement to feed sick child
Food and water safety
Clean water	• increased use of clean water to prepare child foods
Personal hygiene	• more frequent handwashing by caregiver at key times
Food storage and preparation	• increase in disposal of child's leftover food