Food Products of Non–plant Origin to Combat the Problem of Nutritional Deficiency

The macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are required for energy and the micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals are required for healthy functioning of the body. Malnutrition comes from either an imbalance in the supply of either one. A balanced diet for people benefits from animal-source foods (ASF) such as milk, meat, eggs, and fish, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where food is typically starch-based and monotonous. It is vital to take into account the nutrients that are easily available in meat, poultry, and fish that are not present in non-meat meals, even if a diet free of these items may have certain health advantages. In this sense, diet quality—or a diet’s capacity to deliver the full complement of high-quality protein, calories, minerals, trace metals, and vitamins needed to satisfy requirements—is just as important as the diet quantity itself. In addition to providing high-quality, easily digestible protein and energy, foods derived from animals are also a convenient and effective source of micronutrients. Thus, this review discusses some of the intervention strategies for the use of animal-source food for preventing nutritional deficiency.