Rationale Inadequate complementary feeding (CF) is a major contributor to preventable morbidity and mortality in young children in the developing world. Except in emergency situations, inadequate macronutrient intake is largely attributable to lack of adequate maternal knowledge, while optimal micronutrient intake depends on food diversity. Though food fortification programs can diminish or possibly eradicate the need for food diversity, reliable sources of affordable fortified foods/supplements are frequently unavailable and their efficacy not always certain. Locally grown, nutritionally complete affordable sources of CF are and will remain a key strategy especially for the millions of rural poor. Adequate food diversity depends on meat to provide adequate zinc and also a favorable source of bioavailable iron, in addition to assuring sufficient intake of other key micronutrients, e.g. vitamin B12. Meat's theoretical benefits in CF have not, however, been tested adequately. Clear demonstration of public health benefits is essential to support policies to promote local production of adequate, affordable small foraging animals with priority use for older infants/toddlers. The long-term goal is to achieve nutritionally complete complementary feeding from affordable local sources for millions of poor rural/semi-rural young children worldwide.