Nutrition become an important part that affect the quality of life. Malnutrition have a direct impact on growth disorders and immune system especially during the first two years of a child's life, and malnutrition in the long run effect on productivity in adulthood. This study aims to determine the minimum cost diet in the nutritional status of children 12-23 months in the north coast of Brebes District. The study design was cross sectional by processing the primary data are taken in five sub-district in May 2012 with a sample of as many as 296 samples.
The results showed that more serious nutritional problems lead to stunting problems (47.9%) and underweight (37.4%). The results of bivariate analysis showed an association between energy and protein intake with nutritional status (length for age); energy intake, protein, carbohydrates, fats, and the diversity of foods with nutritional status (weight for age); gender, caregiver knowledge, energy intake, protein, carbohydrates, fats, food diversity and the minimum cost of a nutritious diet with nutritional status (weightfor length). Multivariate analysis of protein intake as a dominant factor related to the problem of stunting and underweight, and energy intake as the dominant factor associated with the problem of wasting in children 12-23 months.
The results suggest that increased knowledge of the caregiver in terms of feeding through various channels of information is absolutely necessary.