A three day workshop on Optifood Tool was conducted by MSSRF with LCIRAH on October 8 - 10, 2014. About 15 participants from various Food Science and Nutrition Colleges, National Institute of Nutrition, UNICEF and staffs from MSSRF attended the workshop.

Elaine Ferguson from LCIRAH conducted the workshop. Optifood tool is software developed using linear programming by World Health Organization (WHO), that can be used to develop population specific food-based recommendations, rapid diet formulation, evaluate existing recommendations and identify the need for alternative nutrition intervention strategies to address nutrients, that likely cannot be provided in adequate amounts using local foods, and the population’s food patterns.

The participants learnt to use the software with various practical examples, to develop low cost diet for a population using local foods to meet their nutritional requirement. They reported  48 percent increase in confidence level at the end of the workshop. At the end, a follow-up workshop was also planned where data from India on food consumption pattern will be used to develop food-based recommendations.