Amid persistent concerns over micronutrient deficiencies among Filipino children, Nestlé Philippines is bringing its nutrition advocacy directly to communities through a new educational caravan aimed at helping parents make informed feeding decisions for their babies.
The company officially launched “Tambalang Big Sustansya sa Barangay” on July 22, introducing a program that will visit barangays in Metro Manila and Cagayan de Oro this August to promote proper complementary feeding and nutrition education for families.
Nestlé executives and nutrition experts stressed that while parents today have access to an abundance of information online, reliable, science-based guidance remains essential during a child’s early years.
“Parents today have access to more information than ever before. They have Google, social media and parenting forums. They’re very thoughtful about the decisions they make for their children. But let’s be honest, it can also be a lot to keep up with. That’s why we believe parents deserve trusted guidance and support along the way because helping children receive the right nutrition is something we all care about,” said Arlene Tan-Bantoto, Nestlé Nutrition and Health Business executive officer, during the media launch.
The initiative comes as nutrition experts continue to warn that many Filipino infants fail to receive adequate nutrition during the critical first 1,000 days of life — from pregnancy until a child’s second birthday — when the brain, immune system and body experience rapid development.
Nutrient-dense feeding
Dr. Imelda Agdeppa, former director of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and an academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, said national nutrition surveys continue to show significant gaps in infant feeding practices despite improvements in breastfeeding rates.
“Many Filipino infants do not receive nutritionally adequate diets. While most babies begin complementary feeding at six months, only a small percentage achieve the minimum dietary diversity and acceptable diet. The challenge is no longer simply introducing complementary foods on time but ensuring they are diverse and nutrient-dense,” Agdeppa said.
She noted that poor complementary feeding contributes to hidden hunger, undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies that may affect children’s long-term growth and development.
Pediatrician Dr. Katrina Florcruz-Dacanay of Diliman Doctors Hospital and Medical Center said nutrition gaps are often overlooked because they do not always appear in underweight children.
“When we hear the term nutrition gap, we usually imagine a very thin child. But that’s not always the case. Even children who appear healthy or chubby can have deficiencies if their diets consist mostly of carbohydrates like rice, noodles, bread or crackers while lacking protein, healthy fats and essential vitamins and minerals,” Florcruz-Dacanay said.
She emphasized that introducing complementary foods at around six months should go beyond simply offering solid food.
“It has to be timely, age-appropriate, varied and nutrient-dense. Small, consistent feeding choices during this critical period can have lifelong effects on a child’s growth and development,” she said.
Evidence-based information
Agdeppa also shared findings from a local clinical study involving infants aged six months and older, which found that children who received fortified complementary food alongside nutrition education for caregivers achieved better nutrient intake and growth outcomes than those given regular home meals alone.
“This scientific evidence tells us that providing nutrient-dense complementary food while continuing breastfeeding can achieve better growth than simply relying on household meals, which are often lacking in diversity and nutrient adequacy,” she said.
The study likewise highlighted the value of educating parents on feeding practices.
“We found that nutrition education made a significant difference. Parents became more confident and responsible in feeding their children, and infants who received both complementary food and nutrition education showed better improvements in weight and height,” Agdeppa said.
Florcruz-Dacanay said parents should seek evidence-based information from healthcare professionals instead of relying solely on social media.
“Mothers today can search almost anything online through Google, AI or social media. But it’s becoming harder to distinguish evidence-based advice from myths. That’s why healthcare professionals need to provide clear, practical guidance on balanced diets, food groups, portion sizes and how to read nutrition labels,” she said.
Meanwhile, Nikki Constantino, vice president for Nestlé Baby Food and Mainstream Growing Up Milks, said Cerelac products are specifically formulated to help fill nutrient gaps during complementary feeding.
“I can confidently say that Cerelac is one of the most nutrient-dense complementary foods that parents can give their babies. One serving already provides about half of a baby’s daily iron requirement, along with 20 vitamins and minerals, DHA, probiotics and all-natural ingredients without preservatives,” Constantino said.
The “Tambalang Big Sustansya sa Barangay” caravan will bring nutrition education sessions, practical feeding guidance and product demonstrations to selected communities beginning this month. Families can stay updated on the caravan’s schedule, venues and activities through Cerelac Philippines’ official Facebook page and other social media channels.