preparation of some highly-nutritive, low-cost baby food formulas

ABSTRACT

Preparation of infant formulas of high nutritive value and low-cost to assist breast feeding was the aim of the study. Eight infant blends were prepared from flours of each of soybean, cowpea, chickpea, wheat flour, non-fat dry milk, dried yellow carrots, dried apple, dried banana, sucrose, glucose and vanilla. Food formulas were assayed chemically and were evaluated organoleptically. Data were statistically analyzed in completely, randomized blocks with 3 replications. Results show that the blends contained 2.47 to 2.6% moisture, 17.33 to 17.96% crude protein, 3.12 to 4.02% total ash, 2.75 to 3.10% crude fibers, 8.24 to 12.10% crude fat and 63.89 to 67.94% soluble carbohydrates. The total calories of the different formulas ranged from 413.63 to 430.30 k cal/100 g formula. The results of organoleptic evaluation promotes the use of soybean, cowpea and chickpea flours in the infant foods and this could be of a good value. The addition of soybean or cowpea flour at the level of 30% improved the nutritive value of the formulated blends without appreciable effect on the acceptability of such mixtures. The price of the final product ranged between 69.90 to 109.35 Piastres/100 gm formula; compared with cerelac [control], the price of the final product is less than the control price by about 62-76%