Computer modeling of Malawi's health system reveals that combining improved caregiver symptom recognition with expanded therapeutic food supplement availability could prevent 840,470 disability-adjusted life years over five years at $34 million total cost. This dual approach outperformed single interventions and represents just $0.32 per capita annual health expenditure increase. The research landscape around childhood malnutrition interventions has long struggled with resource allocation questions, making this economic evaluation particularly valuable. These findings suggest that educational interventions targeting caregivers may amplify the impact of nutritional supplements by improving early detection rates. However, this preprint awaiting peer review relies on simulation modeling rather than real-world implementation data, which limits certainty about actual outcomes. The study's focus on one country's health system may also limit generalizability to other settings with different infrastructure constraints. Still, the methodology represents a sophisticated approach to health system optimization that could inform policy decisions across sub-Saharan Africa. The research appears confirmatory rather than paradigm-shifting, validating intuitive approaches with rigorous economic analysis that policymakers need for evidence-based resource allocation in malnutrition prevention programs.