  We examine effects of protein and energy intakes on height and weight growth
for children between 6 and 24 months old in Guatemala and the Philippines.
Using instrumental variables to control for endogeneity and estimating multiple
specifications, we find that protein intake plays an important and positive
role in height and weight growth in the 6-24 month period. Energy from other
macronutrients, however, does not have a robust relation with these two
anthropometric measures. Our estimates indicate that in contexts with
substantial child undernutrition, increases in protein-rich food intake in the
first 24 months can have important growth effects, which previous studies
indicate are related significantly to a range of outcomes over the life cycle.
