The Complementary Feeding Challenge

Every parent wants to give their child the best possible start in life. But when a baby reaches six months, introducing complementary foods is not as simple as being told, “start feeding your child.” Complementary feeding is the period when a child moves from breast milk alone to receiving other foods alongside continued breastfeeding. What happens during these months can have consequences far beyond childhood, influencing growth and development, the risk of undernutrition and, later in life, even diet-related diseases. In India, we have programmes, guidelines and public health messaging around infant and young child feeding. Yet translating that knowledge into what actually appears on a child’s plate every day remains a challenge. So, what does complementary feeding really look like in India? What are the barriers families face, and how can we make nutritious diets more affordable, accessible and practical? In this episode, we explore “Complementary Feeding: What’s Really on a Child’s Plate?” with Shweta Khandelwal, a public health nutrition expert working across nutrition epidemiology, policy and governance, and maternal and child nutrition. Credits Guest: Shweta Khandelwal Host: Shreya M Research: Alisha C Artwork: Priyanka Produced by: The Good Sight Concept: The Good Sight & Rise Against Hunger India #ComplementaryFeeding #ChildNutrition #MaternalAndChildHealth #Nutrition #InfantNutrition #FoodSecurity #PublicHealth #TheGoodSight