Priyanka Reddy

Rainbow children hospital, India

Abstract Title:

The Meticulous Science of Complementary Feeding: Beyond Just Food

Biography:

Dr. Priyanka Reddy, MBBS (Gold Medalist), MD (Pediatrics), has six years of post-MD pediatric practice. She co-authored an article in NICU Times Magazine (KIMS Hospital) on neonatal cyanosis due to non-committed Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV), managed with a staged surgical procedure. She featured in television interviews. She presented a paper at Indian Neocon 2019 on antenatal counselling of primigravida mothers regarding colostrum feeding. She delivered guest lectures on summer illnesses in children, the dynamics of ECF in dengue.

Research Interests:

Complementary feeding should be viewed as a science involving nutrition, digestion and food-immunotolerance rather than merely introducing foods. Many pediatricians do not execute complementary feeding as critical for growth and food tolerance but just as some supplement. Playing safe to avoid protein allergy should not delay introducing protein causing protein anergy. Starting the right protein at the right time, around 6+ months, is prudent. A Calorie - staged nutrition approach of 6–9 months as 200 kilo calories per day from complementary diet, 9–12 months as 300 kilo calories per day from complementary diet and 12+ months, rather than a linear monthly increment, enables developmentally appropriate nurture. Nutrients that specifically address deficits of mother’s milk like protein, good fats, Vitamin A, iron and zinc, make it a variant‑specific diet rather than a taste appeasing diet. The need for curd and ghee despite contradiction to animal milk creates an interesting nutritional paradox. Software assisted nutrition plans can automate child specific recommendations and save consultation time.