PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA

(University of the City of Manila)

General Luna St., cor. Muralla St. Intramuros, Manila, Philippines

Effectiveness of Meal Plan Among Malnourished Children in

Pasong Camachile II Gen. Trias, Cavite

Background: Malnutrition is considered as the imbalance in a person's nutrient intake. It continues

to exert a heavy burden among children. The causes of it are poverty, unhealthy lifestyle and eating
habit. The effects of malnutrition on children's health, physical growth, and brain development are
often permanent. Impairing children for life and their chances of completing school and becoming
highly active adults, according to a recent report by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute
(FNRI). The purpose of this plan is to see if Meal Planning will be a viable option to combat
malnutrition among children.
Keywords: Meal Plan, Malnutrition, Children, Effectiveness, Food, Nutrition

1.Introduction

Malnutrition is a condition in which a person lacks proper amount of energy and nutrients needed
by the body to function. People in every country are more likely to be affected by it. Overweight
adults account for 1.9 billion worldwide, while underweight adults account for 462 million.
Overweight or obese children account for 41 million under the age of five, with 159 million stunted
and 50 million wasted. The underlying factors that contribute to this are unhealthy eating habit,
poor lifestyle, dietary choices and more. A child may lack nutrients due to their overall food intake.
Nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and other essential substances needed by the body to function.
Once a child experienced deficiency, this could more likely result to several consequences or risk
determinants. Wherein a child's motor development and physical growth can be delayed. Apart of
this is the means of having a lower intellectual quotient (IQ) level, deficiency with their social
skills, behavioral problems, being prone to certain diseases that could also possibly lead to a long-
term health condition.

Furthermore, feeding programs are the main or current solution of the government in the Philippines
to combat it. Despite of the efforts of the organizations to provide food on their tables, it is still a
major problem in the country that continues to grow. It has been one of the evident difficulties
faced by the children as 95 of them dies everyday due to malnutrition. Most Filipino families are
not capable of having and providing the enough amount of food on a daily basis. On the other hand,
the possible ways to solve malnutrition is through having a great health care system, well or
balanced diet, proper treatment of one's disease or illnesses and meal planning.
This project will be conducted in order to see if Meal Planning will be a viable option to combat
malnutrition. The student aims to analyze if there will be any further positive improvements in the
children's nutritional condition. As meal planning has been a way to guide an individual to be on a
right track of a healthy lifestyle. Once the goal is attained, this will not only lead the children to a
healthy body, but they will also not be prone with the risk determinants brought by malnutrition.

2. Literature Review

2.1 What is Malnutrition?

Malnutrition is a disease that occurs when the body lacks the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients
it requires to keep its tissues and organs healthy. People in every country are affected by
malnutrition. Overweight adults account for 1.9 billion adults worldwide, while underweight adults
account for 462 million. Overweight or obese children account for 41 million children under the
age of five, with 159 million stunted and 50 million wasted.

Malnutrition is a common and dangerous disorder that requires immediate and intensive treatment.
Malnutrition in children, especially young children, can result in stunted growth, developmental
delays, and increased illness as a result of weakened immune systems. (Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics, 2020. “What is Malnutrition?”) (WHO, 2020 “Malnutrition”).

2.2 Causes of Malnutrition

A lack of nutrients causes malnutrition which can occur due to a bad diet or difficulties consuming
nutrients from food. Malnutrition can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, including:
Cancer, liver disease, and certain lung diseases are long-term conditions that cause loss of appetite,
nausea, vomiting, and/or changes in bowel habits. Depression or schizophrenia are examples of
mental health disorders that can influence the mood and appetite.

Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis dementia, which can cause a person to neglect their health and
fail to eat. Also, an eating disorder, such as anorexia that causes them to avoid or reject food, some
children can become malnourished. Some medications may increase the chances of being
malnourished. Some medications cause unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, loss of appetite, or
diarrhea, which can cause you to eat less or consume less nutrients from your food. (NHS.
“Causes of Malnutrition”).

2.3 Malnourishment Due to Unhealthy Lifestyle

One of the main causes of malnutrition is the unhealthy lifestyle. It damages both the cognitive and
physical development of an individual which can lead to a serious and lifelong problems. Problems
such as delay in their physical growth, poor performance, behavioral problems, and susceptibility
to contracting diseases.
Millions of children are eating too much of what they don’t need, and millions of children are eating
too little of what they need. Many school-going children consume highly unhealthy foods such as
carbonated drinks, junk foods, and fast food that worsen their lifestyle.

In urban cities, many poor children live in ‘food desserts’, that is currently facing an absence of
healthy food options due to lack of access because of poverty. Some children may become
malnourished because of an eating disorder or psychological condition that means they avoid or
refuse food. (UNICEF, 2019 “Children, Food and Nutrition.”)( UNICEF, “Malnutrition”)

2.4 Risk Determinants of Malnutrition

Malnutrition is considered as the imbalance in a person's nutrient intake. Once a child experienced
deficiency, this could more likely result to several consequences or risk determinants. The factors
that contributes to this are unhealthy eating habit, poor lifestyle, dietary choices and more. This
could also possibly lead to a long-term health condition, that prevents a child from eating the
amount of food that his/her body needs.

One risk determinants of malnutrition is that, it prevents a child in meeting their full mental and
physical potential. Wherein a child's motor development and physical growth can be delayed. Apart
of this, is the means of having a lower intellectual quotient (IQ) level. Deficiency with their social
skills, behavioral problems and being prone to certain diseases.

More of this factors or the symptoms and risks that a child might face for a daily basis is a weak
appetite. Having or experiencing the lack of interest in food and drink intake. Feeling weak and
tired all the time, getting ill often and taking a long time to recover. Having a poor concentration,
being irritable, slow and anxious. Lastly is the low energy level, getting tired easily than other
children or worst is depression. (NHS,UK 2020 "Malnutrition")

2.5 Malnourishment Among Children

The World Bank describes feeding programs as "targeted social safety nets that offer both
educational and health benefits to the most disadvantaged children, thereby increasing participation
rates, reducing absenteeism, and improving household food security." Hunger relief, reduction of
micronutrient deficiency and anemia, prevention of overweight and obesity, improved school
enrollment and attendance, increased cognitive and academic success, and contribution to gender
equality in access to education are all benefits of school feeding for children and adolescents. In
some type or another, most countries have school feeding systems. Feeding services are commonly
available in high-income countries, but they are often insufficient in low- and middle-income
countries, where hunger and poverty are most acute.

A balanced diet is one that includes a variety of foods in specific amounts and proportions to meet
the body's needs for calories, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and alternative nutrients, with a limited
amount of additional nutrients set aside to help the body survive the brief period of leanness.
Furthermore, a well-balanced diet should include bioactive phytochemicals such as dietary fiber,
antioxidants and nutraceuticals that are beneficial to one's wellbeing. Carbohydrates can account
for 60-70 percent of total calories, proteins for 10-12 percent, and fat for 20-25 percent of total
calories in a well-balanced diet. Healthy eating gives you more stamina, boosts your body's
function, enhances your immune system, and keeps you from gaining weight. The following are
some of the other big advantages: It satisfies your dietary requirements. Nutritional deficiencies
can be avoided by eating a diverse, well-balanced diet. Healthy eating will help you avoid diseases
like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. It also aids in the treatment of diabetes and high blood
pressure.

Meal planning is a practice that is helpful in monitoring how much and how healthy the food
including its nutrients will be to a person with accordance to their nutritional status. This guides an
individual to be on the right track of a healthy lifestyle. According to studies, consumption of food
away from home is associated with lower quality diet and a higher body mass index wherein on the
other hand, food made from home has been associated with better adherence to dietary objectives
that improves food quality. Meal planning ensures the healthy eating of an individual because of
the variety of foods given to them. This can help the children to eat more fruits and vegetables that
can help reduce the risk of having chronic lifestyle diseases. By following a meal plan, this will
help the children to eat the right foods with the right portions and nutrients needed by their body.
It also reduces the amount of food waste and avoid unhealthy options of food knowing that there is
already a meal prepared for them. (“7 benefits of meal planning”)(Wang, D.
2020. “Impacts of school feeding on educational and health outcomes of school-age children and
adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: protocol for a systematic review and meta-
analysis”)(Narayana Health, 2019. “How to Maintain a Balanced Diet”)(Cotton, M. 2019 “Meal
Planning Overview”)(Ducrot, P. 2017 “Meal Planning is Associated with Food Variety, Diet
Quality and Body Weight Status ina Large Sample of French Adults”).

3.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The purpose of this plan is to conduct and the effectiveness of meal plan in resolving the issue of
malnutrition among children. Furthermore, this plan seeks to answer the question “Is meal plan an
effective way to prevent malnutrition among children in Gen. Trias Cavite? As malnutrition can
negatively affect and harm them in their daily lives. Through the use of the student’s acquired
knowledge about the said topic, a better understanding of the factors that contribute to this medical
condition can be attained. This will further help the student to utilize her goal and be able conduct
an effective meal plan program in Cavite. Aside from analyzing the effectiveness of meal plan, it
is also the student’s goal to solve the risk factors and negative effects of malnutrition. This will
allow children to alleviate it at a young age and will stop them from experiencing the negative
effects of it as part of their daily lives. This is a great challenge to overcome since malnutrition is
a major and consequential issue.

3.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROBLEM

This issue is relevant as Malnutrition continues to exert a heavy burden among childen. This plan
will help malnourished children gain weight, become physically and mentally healthy. The student
will present a meal plan that would fit the specific BMI of a child. Meal planning will be utilized
according to its nutrients and proteins that is suitable for the children depending on their age. The
results of this project are envisioned to encourage Filipino families that creating meal plan is helpful
to attain the target nutrients that a child’s body needs in order to reduce the numbers of
malnourished children here in the Philippines.

3.3 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

This project only focuses on analyzing the effectiveness of meal plan as a way to solve the
malnutrition problem among children around Pasong Camachile II Gen. Trias, Cavite. This plan
only focuses on conducting a meal plan as a solution to address the issue of malnourishment,
through giving the right amount of nutrients needed by the chosen children.

3.4 DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Meal planning - This is the proper way of choosing a food or menu depending on the health
status of a children and to the nutrition that they need.
• Eating lifestyle - Refers to the eating routine of a person on a daily basis.
• Food security - Food security is defined as the sufficient access of nutritious foods. This is
to ensure that the malnourish children can still afford to eat healthy meals.
• Vitamin intake - Vitamin intake means drinking supplements that will help a malnourished
child to become healthy and it also helps to add some nutrients that their body needs.
• Physically fit and healthy - This is an outcome of a child that has a good health and strong
immune system. This promotes strong muscles and improves physical activity.
• Quantity diet – Quantity diet means eating foods based on its amount or total amount of
food intake. It is usually based on the calculated calories intake.
• Quality diet - This refers to the consumption of food based on its quality or its nutrients
that we can get without focusing on the little amount of food intake.
• Body Mass Index (BMI) - BMI refers to the measurement of a person’s body that is based
on their height and weight. This is important to know because it also helps to recognize
whether a child is malnourished or not.
• Health status - Health status is defined as the health condition of a person if he or she have
sick or having some medical condition that needs a healthcare.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

The plan will follow a quantitative research design based on quasi-experimental approach. This
approach will help the student through the selection of the participants of the study, for the student
to further control the target characteristic of a malnourished children.

Quantitative data will be collected by the student through the survey created in google forms that
assesses the age, height, and weight of the child or Body Mass Index (BMI). The result in the form
will be the basis on the accurate meal plan this project will provide.

4.2 SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The data will be collected in a small coastal municipality in Gen. Trias, Cavite with the population
of approximately 21 thousand people (PhilAtlas., 2021) whose history reaches back over 5 years.
In this plan, the malnourished children whom we took a survey with are eligible to participate as
part of the conducting of meal plan for a month.

4.3 INSTRUMENT

In this plan the student will use online survey together with the gathered observation and parent’s
consent in the implementation of the program to the malnourished children. This data will assist
the student in learning and seeing the result of how effective the said meal plan is. The first question
that will be asked is the name and age of the child who is part of the meal plan. There is a rating
scale about their physical appearance and observed habits. A rating scale from 1-5 with 1 being the
lowest and 5 being the highest. The questions that will be asked were the following: How smooth
is your child’s skin? How well is your child’s energy? How well is your child’s tummy? How well
is your child's appetite? How is your child's eating habit? How well your child gets enough amount
of sleep? How well is your child's performance at school? Is your child engaging well in any
physical activities? Is your child having a good focus/concentration? To accurately see their body
mass improvements, they will also be asked about their weight and height before and after the
implementation of the meal plan program.

4.4 PROCEDURE

The project will take participants from the surveyed children to undergo the program. After the
participants were identified, the student will go to each target participants house in order to
guarantee that he or she satisfies the requirements needed. The student will prioritize coordinating
to the parents through surveying them 3 days before the program starts. These children will be
surveyed before and after the implementation of the program through google forms, in order to
assess the effectivity of meal planning. Written on the survey are the questions that would help the
student assess how effective the program is, as well as the body mass improvement of the
participants. After surveying them, The Child Care Food Program Meal Pattern for Children will
be discussed to the parents and will give the Menu Planning Worksheet before the implementation
of the program starts. During the program the student will be in touch with the participants and the
parents. Their children will be given food for 3 weeks and will be monitored by their parents. The
parents of the participants will receive messages from the student from time to time for further
clarifications and to guarantee that their child is really undergoing the program.

Child Care Food Program Meal Pattern for Children

Figure 2

Figure 2. To analyze the Child Care Food Program Meal Pattern for Children (figure 2), the student
will explain how applicable and relevant this process in helping their child to fight malnourishment
before the program starts. The figure 3 will help the parents of the participants in planning of what
is the best possible food intake for their children.

The critical objective of the Child Care Food Program (CCFP), is to securely serve nutritious
dinners and tidbits that would meet the program supper design necessities and to provide mouth-
watering foods for the kids. In accomplishing this objective, there are a few polices with regards to
suppers that youngster care suppliers must meet while taking an interest in the CCFP. Child care
suppliers should guarantee that every meal served to youngsters contains, at the very least, every
one of the food parts in the sums provided is applicable for the proper age group as expressed in
the CCFP Meal Pattern for Children.

In note with that, milk must be served with every meal, including breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Serving whole milk to a child between the ages of five to seven is strongly advised. For infants,
Low fat or fat-free milk must drink until the infant reaches the age of two. Low-fat flavored milk
can be served to promote low calcium intake.
Figure 3

Figure 3. After discussing the proper food intake of the children in their respective bracket age, the
menu planning will be introduced (Figure 3). The participants will be given three copies of Menu
Planning Worksheet for Children. To analyze the worksheet, the instruction will be explained
discussed by the student who is in touch with the parents. From the start of the program until the
end of third week, the parents recorded their child’s food intake as a way of monitoring on what
their child has been eating for a whole month with a guide provided in figure 2. At the end of the
program, this will help the student to determine if creating meal plan has the advantage of helping
a child in gaining weight and making it balanced and healthy at the same time.

4.5 DATA ANALYSIS

The student will use a method of descriptive analysis, it provides basic information about the
variables in a data set that allows possible relationship between different variables.
This plan is designed for people who lacks the proper amount of energy and nutrients needed by
their body to function. The aim of this study is to test and analyze the effectivity of meal planning
among malnourished children.
References:

• Children, food and nutrition. (2019). The State of the World's Children 2019.
https://doi.org/10.18356/a4da4811-en
• Malnutrition – Symptoms – NHS. (2017, October 23). nhs.uk.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/malnutrition/symptoms/
• Malnutrition. (2019, November 14). WHO | World Health Organization.
https://www.who.int/health-topics/malnutrition#tab=tab_1
• Noorani, S. (2019, October 16). UNICEF: Many children and adolescents in the Philippines
are not growing up healthily. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/philippines/pressreleases/unicef-
many-children-and-adolescents-philippines-are-not-growing-healthily
• Rajak, H. (2020, January 5). Factors influencing meal
planning. hmhub. https://hmhub.me/factors-influencing-meal-planning/
• Cotton, M. (2019, January 3). Meal planning overview | Kaiser Permanente Washington.
Kaiser Permanente Washington.