Nagmamahal, Mama (Love, Mom): An Interactive, Collaborative Cookbook Addressing Pediatric Malnutrition and Picky Eating Behaviors in Children from Quezon City, Philippines

Abstract

Malnutrition in early childhood severely impairs cognitive development, academic performance, and long-term social mobility. In the Philippines, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a government initiative that provides financial assistance to low-income households, yet it lacks a strong focus on pediatric nutrition. Consequently, more than four million Filipino children under five remain underweight and stunted despite receiving aid intended for food and health.

This article presents an interdisciplinary intervention to help combat malnutrition, combining approaches from Psychology, Communication, and Information Design. Working with 30 families in Barangay^[1] Matandang Balara, Quezon City, we conducted interviews, focus group discussions, and home visits to explore food practices and economic constraints. Insights revealed that children’s cravings for salt, sweetness, and crunch often led mothers to choose packaged snacks over nutritious options.

In response, we co-created an interactive, community-based cookbook in Filipino, featuring affordable, healthy, and appealing recipes. The cookbook draws on  Harvard Medical School’s Healthy Eating Plate and integrates Zimmerman’s Empowerment Theory, Goffman’s Framing Theory, and the CRAP Principles of Visual Composition. Developed through iterative feedback with participating families, it has now reached 138 households and serves as a sustainable, locally grounded tool for promoting pediatric nutrition.