When one says “malnutrition,” pictures of children in Africa, skinny-to-the-bone, come to mind.

But malnutrition, according to scientist and 8th Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) director Dr. Imelda Agdeppa, doesn’t only refer to those who look thin – there are also big children who are extremely lacking in nutrition or what nutritionists and doctors call “nutrient gap.”

“That’s why we need to give children all the right kinds of nutrients they need for them to live and achieve optimum growth,” Dr. Agdeppa said at a Nutrition Month panel discussion in Makati City early this week to launch Nestlé Cerelac Philippines’ “Tambalang Big Sustansya sa Barangay,” one of the company’s nutrition education initiatives that kicks off this August in different barangays from Metro Manila to Cagayan de Oro and Mindanao to make nutrition education more accessible to more families and to guide and empower parents to make important feeding decisions, said Nestlé Philippines’ Vice President for Nestlé Baby Food & Mainstream Milk, Nikki Constantino.

“It is not just about having food to eat. Good nutrition is also about providing every child the opportunity to grow and develop so that we could have that healthy future that they deserve,” she said in a speech during the launch.

Based on their studies, she learned that “Nutrition gap is still such a big reality among Filipino children.”

“It’s always been a challenge for parents to meet the right amount and nutritional guidelines,” which is why the brand’s goal is to be parents’ “trusted nutrition partner” as they start their feeding journeys,” she said.

“Nutrition gap” or “hidden hunger,” according to Agdeppa, means “lacking nutrients, vitamins and minerals for the overall health to achieve one’s optimum growth and development.”

These nutrients, she said, include vitamin A, calcium for bones and teeth, and vitamin C for immunity, totaling to 20 vitamins and minerals needed by children.

“Scientifically, we know that these nutrients have complimentary roles. There’s no single nutrient that can enhance a child’s physical growth. Us nutritionists call this ‘complementary role.’ For example, even if you eat food with calcium but you don’t have vitamin D, calcium can’t be absorbed by the body properly,” she explained partly in Filipino.

To address “hidden hunger,” Agdeppa, pediatrician Dr. Katrina Florcruz-Dacanay and nutritionist Aleli Magtibay suggested complementing home-cooked meals with supplementary food rich in science-backed nutrition.

Home-cooked meals, said the company, are rooted in family traditions and the first food that our kids taste. But due to work and today’s fast-paced lifestyle, home-cooked meals need to be supplemented to achieve optimum health.

“Remember that we’re not only talking about someone who is gaining weight, who is chubby,” Dr. Dacanay said at the panel discussion. “What we’re looking at here is a baby that is well-nourished, who receives the proper nutrients and micronutrients from well-educated and properly-trained caregivers. So it’s very important to remember when it comes to complementary feeding to not only focus on the amount and the time but also the variety and the amount of nutrients we’re getting every day.”