This excel-based tool was developed to simplify the calculation of suitable menus using affordable, locally available foods for Positive Deviance (PD)/Hearth programming. 

The tool is designed for staff overseeing volunteers who implement the PD/Hearth sessions. It helps ensure that menus used during rehabilitation are both nutritionally adequate and accessible to the poorest households in the community. 

How the tool is used:

1. Identify local, affordable foods available to the poorest families and include foods commonly consumed by positive deviant children.
2. Staff use the tool to generate 2 to 4 sample menus for each community, focusing on nutrient-dense, locally sourced ingredients.
3. Staff then meet with volunteers to convert measurements into common household units and determine the raw food quantities needed to achieve the cooked portion sizes indicated in the menus. 
4. Volunteers and community members validate the affordability of the menus and ensure the nutrient value of each food is understood - for example, recognising that carrots are a good source of vitamin A, while cucumbers are not.

This process supports community ownership, promotes nutrition education, and ensures that PD/Hearth sessions are both contextually relevant and sustainable.

Download below or access from this link: Positive Deviance Hearth Menu Calculation Tool