A Focused Ethnographic Study (FES) and dietary analysis using the Optifood system were carried out in two farming districts in Ghana. The main aim of the overall study was to identify strategies, based on locally available foods, to improve the nutritional quality of the diet of infants and young children in selected regions in Ghana.
This report focuses on the findings of the Optifood component of the overall study and describes the results for Karaga District in Northern Ghana and Gomoa East District in Central Ghana. The objectives of the Optifood analysis were to measure the usual food and nutrient intakes of infants and children (6-23 months of age) and then identify the lowest-cost combination of local foods that meets, or comes as close as possible to meeting, the nutrient needs of this group.