Table 5.

Most cited reasons why mothers/caregivers feed their children specific foods

Specific foods given to children	Reasons for feeding children with the food type	Percentage of mothers/caregivers
Porridge	good for babies	23
	helps child to grow well and become big and strong	29
	for baby’s health, keeps baby strong, gives energy and strength	31
	just giving, its breakfast, easy to prepare and its cheap	10
Niknaks snacks	child enjoys or likes the food	66
	calming the baby and is readily available	31
Potatoes	good for children and they like the food	51
	for the child to get energy, be strong and grow well	22
	its healthy food for children	22
Carrots	good for growth, health, strength and eyesight of a child	85
	just giving when available	10
Umphokoqo	child enjoys it	35
	for the child to grow and become big	18
	to gain energy, strengthen the body and become strong	35
Milk	healthy food for growth	59
	good for the baby	24
	gives child energy and strength	18
Butternut	just giving because it is good for babies	21
	for the growth of the child and it gives energy	50
	healthy food	21
Vegetables	good for health and growth of children	83
	just giving if available	7
Purity	for growth and makes child strong	36
	its healthy	27
	good for babies	36
Brown bread	good for the baby	18
	that is the food readily available and children likes it	36
	for energy and strength of the body	45
Fruits	fruits are healthy and are good for growth of baby	100
Noodles	good for the baby because it is soft and easy to eat	33
	healthy and growth of baby	55
	child loves the food	11
Rice	child enjoys the food	25
	just giving and for the baby to eat	26
	good for growth and the child will be strong	50