Introduction: An effective participatory community nutrition programme to improve poor food intake and sub-optimal complementary feeding practices in the Philippines is wanting. The use of the recipe trial as an approach was explored. Methods: The protocol was conducted nine times in three communities in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Zamboanga del Sur among 83 caregivers of children 6-8, 9-11, and 12-23 months old. The protocol implemented followed these steps: (1) Preparatory activities; (2) Recipe Trial 1 (RT1); ( 3) Recipe Trial 2 (RT2); and (4) Follow-up visit. Results: The use of the modified RT to improve complementary feeding was evaluated in terms of the quality of the improved recipes and the overall feasibility of the RT technique. The RT1s identified rice porridge as complementary food usually prepared in the three areas across age groups, followed by cooked rice mixed with broth from the family pot. The RT2s facilitated the caregivers’ modification of the 12 complementary foods from the three communities. Nutrient content was improved while maintaining acceptability among caregivers and their children. The follow-up visits showed that the adoption of the recipes at the households was limited to a few caregivers. Conclusions: The modified RT protocol has good potential to help alleviate poor nutrition among infants and young children in the Philippines. Minor improvements, characterised by an increase in local adoption and provision of enabling mechanisms from the local government units should contribute to the success of its implementation.
Caregivers ; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena ; Philippines

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the motivating and hindering factors affecting the Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices of Muslim mothers in select municipalities of Maguindanao. Methods: A pretested questionnaire was administered through face-to-face interviews conducted among 320 randomly selected Muslim mothers with a child aged 6-23 months. Results : Results revealed that prelacteal feeding was practiced by 16.6% of the Muslim mothers, giving mostly plain water. Solid/semi-solid foods were introduced at a mean age of 6.1 ± 1.4 months, with home-cooked lugao (porridge) (55.0%) and commercial baby food (31.3%) as the top foods introduced. The majority of Muslim mothers (82.5%) fed processed foods as complementary food to their children, including instant noodles (85.2%) and canned goods (51.5%). Conclusion The results revealed suboptimal practices in prelacteal feeding and the reliance on processed foods among Muslim mothers, with economic factors, availability, and convenience as motivating factors in complementary feeding practices. Challenges such as household duties, low milk output, and financial constraints hinder breastfeeding and nutritious food provision for infants and young children. The study reinforced the necessity for holistic strategies in IYCF promotion among Muslim mothers.
breast feeding, Islam, malnutrition