Health is the foundation of human life including every child’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive; and good nutrition is essential to that journey. Yet, undernutrition remains a persistent global challenge. According to the UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates (2023), approximately 148 million children under five are stunted, while 45 million suffer from wasting. These figures underline a critical need for scalable, effective, and culturally appropriate interventions, particularly in countries where undernutrition and local agricultural potential coexist. Coconut milk or coconut skim milk is widely available, nutrient-rich, and well-known, having been used for centuries in the diets of many tropical communities. These coconut-based products are now emerging as promising tools in the fight against child malnutrition. Coconut milk is a liquid emulsion, and it’s classified based on its fat content; coconut milk or coconut skim milk is the fat-reduced version used in many nutritional interventions (5% fat).
A breakthrough study by Agdeppa et al. (2022), published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, has added weight to this idea. Conducted in Cebu City, Philippines, the study evaluated the effects of Coconut Skim Milk (CocoM) and a Coco-Dairy Milk Blend (CDMB) compared to traditional cow’s milk. The research involved 444 underweight or stunted schoolchildren aged 6–8, who received 200 ml of the assigned milk product daily for 95 days. All milk types were packed identically to ensure the study remained double-blind.
The results were promising, significant improvements in weight-for-age and BMI-for-age scores were seen across all groups. Notably, the CocoM group also showed a significant reduction in stunting, pointing to the potential of coconut milk as a viable alternative to cow’s milk in addressing chronic undernutrition. Additionally, all milk types were rated as generally acceptable by the children, a key factor for the success of school-based feeding programs.
The findings confirm that CocoM and CDMB are just as effective as cow’s milk in improving the nutritional status of undernourished children. In countries rich in coconut resources, this insight is a game changer. Incorporating coconut-based milk into national school feeding programs holds multiple benefits including reducing dependence on imported dairy, increasing income opportunities for coconut farmers, and promoting food security through local, sustainable sources.
To realize the full potential of coconut milk in child nutrition, investments must be made in productivity and infrastructure. Key next steps include enhancing coconut replanting and farm productivity, improving processing technologies and local supply chains, and integrating coconut milk into national nutrition and education policies. This is more than a nutrition intervention, it’s a strategic alignment of health, agriculture, and economic development. As this research shows, coconut milk isn’t just nutritious, it’s a smart, locally driven solution. We invite stakeholders in health, education, agriculture, and development to explore how coconut-based nutrition can help fuel the future of our children and uplift communities at the same time.