Lito Superflour: A Sustainable Solution to Child Malnutrition in Nepal
At Nepal Youth Foundation (NYF), we believe the fight against child malnutrition in Nepal must be rooted in solutions that are sustainable, culturally relevant, and locally produced. One of the most powerful tools we’ve used for years is lito — a nutrient-rich, roasted “superflour” that is easy to prepare, easy to digest, and widely accepted by children and caregivers alike.
Now, thanks to the generous grant support of the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, NYF has taken a major step forward: we have successfully installed a Superflour Production Unit at our Nutritional Rehabilitation Home (NRH) in Kathmandu. This new unit allows us to produce lito more efficiently, more consistently, and with stronger quality control than ever before.
We invite you to watch the lito production process and see how this nutrition work comes to life at NRH.
What is Lito Superflour?
Lito (also called “superflour”) is a traditional Nepali food made by roasting and grinding a nutrient-dense blend of grains and legumes — most commonly corn, wheat, and soybeans. The result is a hearty, nourishing flour that can support health and recovery for both children and adults.
Lito is simple to prepare: it only requires hot water (or milk, if available), making it an ideal nutrition solution for families with limited time, fuel, or resources. It can also be customized with small ingredients families often already have at home — like oil, onions, or spices — which helps make it even more filling and enjoyable.
Because lito is highly nutritious, affordable, and child-friendly, it plays an important role not only in treating malnutrition, but also in helping prevent malnutrition from worsening, particularly among children under age 5.
Why Lito Matters
Malnutrition remains one of the most urgent public health challenges in Nepal. Even when families are doing everything they can to care for their children, poverty and food insecurity can make it incredibly difficult to provide consistent, nutritious meals.
At NYF’s NRH, we see firsthand how small changes in diet can dramatically impact a child’s health. For many children who are mildly or moderately malnourished, replacing just one serving of rice per day with a serving of lito can significantly improve their nutritional status.
What makes lito especially effective is how practical it is. It is easy for young children to digest, filling and nutrient-rich, simple to prepare, and widely accepted even by very young children. Just as importantly, it can be produced and distributed at scale at a relatively low cost — making it a sustainable solution for long-term community nutrition.
Lito for Life: Lessons from the COVID-19 Crisis
During the COVID-19 pandemic, hunger rose rapidly across Nepal as lockdowns and economic disruption left many families without reliable income. In response, NYF launched Lito for Life, producing and distributing lito to families most at risk.
Since 2020, NYF has distributed more than 6,644 kilograms (14,650 lbs) of lito, and this work continues today. Lito remains a staple across NYF’s nutrition efforts—from NRH recovery meals to Nutrition Outreach Camps and caregiver education. Alongside distribution, NYF also teaches caregivers how to prepare lito (and often how to make it at home), empowering families with tools they can use long after an intervention ends.
A Major Upgrade: NYF’s Superflour Production Unit at NRH
On October 29, 2025, NYF reached a major milestone. A Superflour Production Plant was installed at the NRH in Kathmandu with support from the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island. Installation work was completed in the first week of October, and the NRH has already begun producing superflour.
Previously, NYF produced its own lito with some steps completed at NRH — including cleaning, roasting, mixing, and packing — but relied on outside mills for grinding. This limited quality control and meant much of the flour still had to be purchased from the market.
With the installation of the new production unit, the entire process can now take place at NRH. This allows NYF to produce more consistent, higher quality lito using carefully selected ingredients and direct supervision throughout production. In a typical year, NYF requires approximately 3,000 kilograms of lito for the NRH kitchen and nutrition outreach camps. Before the new unit, only about 30 percent of this could be produced in-house. Now, we are working toward producing nearly all of our annual supply at NRH — strengthening both quality and long-term sustainability across our nutrition programs.
What’s Included in the Superflour Production System?
The production system includes six machines that streamline the workflow and strengthen consistency:
- Roaster
- Grinder
- Mixer
- Sealer
- Weighing Machine
- Volt Guard
This equipment allows NYF’s nutrition team to work faster, reduce manual labor, and maintain strong production standards.
“We are very excited about the installation of the production unit at the NRH. The work is now more efficient, requiring less time and fewer human resources. We can also ensure better product quality through direct supervision.”
Sunita Rimal, NYF Nutrition Coordinator
Nutrition That Builds Resilience
NYF’s work to combat child malnutrition goes beyond food. It strengthens families, builds long-term health, and helps children grow and thrive.
Lito superflour is a simple solution, but in the lives of vulnerable children it can be truly life changing.
We are deeply grateful to the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island for making this Superflour Production Unit possible. Their support is helping NYF scale a sustainable nutrition solution that will serve Nepali children and families for generations.