Fruit- and Vegetable-Based Food Bars for Children with Stunting: a Narrative Review of Formulation and Nutritional Adequacy.

purpose of reviewFruits and vegetables are key sources of dietary fibre, which is essential for children with stunting whose altered gut microbiota requires adequate fibre to support catch-up growth and maintain gastrointestinal health. However, children with stunting often fail to meet recommended intake levels due to limited accessibility, high cost, and perishability. Food bars provide a convenient, shelf-stable alternative for delivering these nutrients, enabling the inclusion of protein- and energy-rich ingredients to address nutritional deficiencies. This review aims to compile and summarise existing fruit- and vegetable-based food bars that meet the energy (~ 367 kcal/100 g) and protein (≥ 8.8 g/100 g) requirements for children with stunting aged 4–6 years, focusing on formulation strategies, ingredient selection, and nutrient composition. RECENT

findingsAre limited, with only two fruit bars and one vegetable bar identified that meet these nutritional requirements, using single-factor or factorial designs. Bars typically contained a lower proportion of fruits and vegetables (17.8–60%) and were complemented with protein- or fat-rich ingredients, such as legumes, nuts, seeds, or milk powder, to ensure adequate nutrition. Converting these ingredients into bar form, along with the addition of energy- and protein-dense components, did not diminish dietary fiber content while providing the required energy and protein for children with stunting. Ingredient interactions substantially influence the nutritional composition of food bars. Even when similar ingredients are used, varying proportions may produce products that fail to meet target energy and protein requirements. This inconsistency reflects a reliance on traditional trial-and-error designs, which are inadequate for developing bars with predefined nutritional specifications for children with stunted growth. Structured, optimization-based formulation approaches are therefore needed to ensure consistent nutrient profiles. Nonetheless, when adequately formulated, fruit- and vegetable-based bars designed to be energy- and protein-dense remain a promising option to improve dietary intake among children with stunting.