MannaPack Potato-W was created by FMSC with the help of a dietitian who understands the nutritional needs of the malnourished. It was developed in response to feedback from many FMSC partners who expressed a great need for a food appropriate for children too young to consume MannaPack Rice.
MannaPack Potato-W is a weaning food designed to meet World Health Organization recommended nutrient requirements for children 7-12 months of age. It helps bridge the gap between breastfeeding and solid foods, such as MannaPack Rice. It can be used as a sole weaning food, or alongside breastfeeding or other age-appropriate foods available locally.
There are 12 half-cup servings per bag. The three ingredients include:
1. Potato granulesa - source of resistant starches
2. Soy flour - protein source
3. Sweet potato flavoring - includes the vitamin and mineral blend and extra fat necessary for weaning children
Cooking is not required to prepare MannaPack Potato-W. The product simply needs to be mixed with a safe, potable liquid.
Though they share the same three component ingredients, MannaPack Potato-W is different from MannaPack Potato-D in that it has more fat (which is critical for weaning children and unhelpful for those suffering from diarrhea), and the vitamin & mineral blend is specially tailored for children 7-12 months old.
This product name was chosen to capture both the nourishing qualities of the supplement and FMSC’s spiritual mission by using the word manna, which the dictionary defines as:
1. In the Bible, the food miraculously provided for the Israelites in the wilderness during their flight from Egypt.
2. Spiritual nourishment of divine origin.
3. Something of value that a person receives unexpectedly.
Potato is in the name because the product is potato-based rather than rice-based. W is in the name to indicate that this is a weaning food intended for children 7-12 months old.
As with Feed My Starving Children’s (FMSC) original rice-based formula, MannaPack Potato-W is produced by volunteers. The food-packing process offers a tangible service opportunity for children and adults and adds a human touch to international food aid. Each serving costs only 22 cents to produce. 92 percent of all donations to FMSC go directly to the food program.
If you are a volunteer seeking food allergy information, visit our Allergy Information page.