TABLE 1.

Indicators to assess complementary feeding adequacy¹

Indicators	Definition	Notes
1. Timely introduction to solid, semi-solid, or soft foods	Proportion of infants 6–8 mo of age who receive solid, semi-solid or soft foods	—
2. Minimum diet diversity	Proportion of children 6–23 mo of age who receive foods from 4 or more of the 7 food groups	The 7 food groups are: grains, roots, and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy products; flesh foods; eggs; vitamin A–rich fruits and vegetables; other fruits and vegetables.
3. Minimum meal frequency	Proportion of children 6–23 mo of age who receive solid, semi-solid, or soft foods (but also including milk feeds for non-breastfed children) the minimum number of times or more according to the infant's age	The minimum number of times is defined as: 2 times/d for 6–8 mo-old breastfed infants; 3 times/d for 9–23-mo-old breastfed children; 4 times/d for 6–23-mo-old non-breastfed children.
4. Minimum acceptable diet	Proportion of children 6–23 mo of age who had at least the minimum dietary diversity and the minimum meal frequency	This is a summary or composite indicator of the previous 2 indicators.
5. Consumption of iron-rich or iron-fortified foods	Proportion of children 6–23 mo of age who receive an iron-rich food or iron-fortified food that is specially designed for infants and young children, or that is fortified in the home	Suitable iron-rich or iron-fortified foods include flesh foods, commercially fortified foods specially designed for infants and young children that contain iron, or foods fortified in the home with a micronutrient powder containing iron or a lipid-based nutrient supplement containing iron.

¹All indicators are assessed based on the child's dietary intake in the day preceding the survey. Source: WHO (37).