1. Amylase increases energy and nutrient density of Super Cereal Plus porridge as prepared and accepted by Rwandan caregivers.
- Author
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Broersen B, Sinamo S, Nsabimana J, Mahamadou T, Gatete E, Prigge S, Van Hoan N, and de Pee S
- Subjects
- Amylases administration & dosage, Caregivers, Female, Flour, Humans, Infant, Male, Rwanda, Amylases pharmacology, Cooking methods, Edible Grain, Energy Intake physiology, Infant Food, Nutritive Value physiology
- Abstract
Adding amylase to Super Cereal Plus (SC+A) improves energy and nutrient intake as porridge energy density reaches 1.0 kcal/g, meeting the recommended ≥0.8 kcal/g for prepared foods for young children. Caregiver response to SC+A in terms of adjusting porridge preparation using printed pictogram instructions was not yet investigated. The study assessed (a) porridge preparation by caregivers; (b) porridge energy density; (c) sensory porridge acceptability; and (d) understanding of preparation instructions. An 8-day follow-up intervention study was conducted amongst caregivers of children aged 6-23 months (n = 238) in Rwanda. Caregivers prepared porridge using SC+A whilst referring to printed pictogram instructions at the study site on Days 1 and 8 and received flour for preparation at home on Days 2-7. At the site, data were collected on porridge preparation procedures, energy density, consistency, acceptability, and interviews (n = 12), and focus group discussions (n = 6) were conducted. Mean porridge dry matter (DM) increased from 21.3 ± 4.4% (Day 1) to 25.1 ± 4.8% (Day 8; p < 0.0005). Flour and water were mixed before cooking by 95% of the participants, as per printed instructions. Sensory porridge acceptability was high, and the printed instructions enabled caregivers to prepare an accepted and energy dense porridge. The preferred water/flour volume ratio was 2.5 instead of 3. In conclusion, Rwandan caregivers prepared well-accepted SC+A porridges with a preferred consistency and mean DM content of 25.1% (1.0 kcal/g), after 1 week practicing at home. This supports introducing SC+A with the tested instructions at scale., (© 2018 The Authors. Maternal & Child Nutrition Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)
- Published
- 2019
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