There is an increased demand among the consumers for convenient foods for various reasons. Millets such as little, proso, barnyard and ragi were explored for processing into Ready-To-Cook (RTC) millet flakes to meet the needs of modern consumers. Physico-functional and nutrient composition of RTC millet flakes were evaluated against the control (oats flakes and rice flakes). Variation in physical, functional and nutrient composition were observed among the flakes.The RTC flakes of minor millets were smaller in size and density but more fragile and crisp than the commercial oats and rice flakes. Higher flake volume (16.35 ml) and lower bulk density was recorded in little millet flakes (0.15 g/ml). Good cooking properties were recorded in all millet flakes. Lowest fat content (0.40 g/100 g) was recorded in little millet flakes whereas proso millet flakes exhibited highest crude protein (14.72 g/100) and dietary fiber (21.56 g/100 g). Among the millet flakes, RTC little millet flake was most acceptable in terms of sensory quality and also exhibited good shelf life of four months at ambient temperature of 24-31°C. The microbial load decreased during storage period and was within permissible limits.

No abstract

The study was conducted to assess the micronutrient deficiencies among the tribal primary school children aged 8-11 years of the Meghalaya tribes. It was a Cross-sectional study. The duration of study was from 2012 to 2013. Total sample size was 1399 children. All primary children selected for the study were interviewed through school teachers or parents. Clinical examination and Hemoglobin estimation was done using Portable Haemoglobinometer (Hb Haemoglobin testing system, USA). Maximum nutritional deficiency reported by clinical examination in both tribes of primary school children was vitamin C deficiency with the symptoms of spongy and bleeding gums followed by iron deficiency anaemia. However, mean prevalence rate of anaemia in both the tribes of Meghalaya children is not significant with the mean (SD) value of 9.92 (1.71) irrespective of the gender and age with respect to blood haemoglobin concentration. There was also a significant critical difference in the distribution of different grades of anaemia i.e. moderate (0.031) and severe (0.127) among the age group of 8-11 years. And the highest prevalence of anemia was reported in the boys (84.65 %) than girls (83.98 %). Clinical examination should be screened periodically and appropriate measures should be taken in order to prevent from other prevailing nutritional related diseases. Further, the high prevalence of mild and moderate anemia demands due emphasis so as to bring down the total prevalence of anemia in primary school children.

: Minor millets viz., little millet (Panicum miliare e), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum), barnyard millet (Echinochloa frumentacea), ragi (Elesine coracana) were processed into Ready-To-Cook (RTC) millet flakes and evaluated for physico-functional and nutrient composition. Variation in physico-functional and nutrient composition were observed among the flakes. The RTC flakes of minor millets were smaller in size and density but more fragile and crisp than the commercial oats and rice flakes. Water solubility index (WSI) was more in barnyard flakes (5.26). Good cooking properties were recorded in millet flakes. Highest crude protein (14.72%) in proso millet and lowest (7.35%) in little millet and ragi (7.36%) flakes were recorded.

Mothers of selected primary school children of two tribes (Garo and Khasi) were personally contacted in their family and asked to provide necessary information for the researcher. The information were collected by using pre-structured deign interview schedule. Varied nutritional deficiency such as riboflavin, thiamine, Vitamin C and D and iron were observed in study subjects of both the tribes of Meghalaya. However, the study revealed that clinically there was no Vitamin A deficiency among the respondents even though the Vitamin A intake in terms of carotene is very low when compared to RDA. And there was no single case of folic acid and iodine deficiency observed among the study subject. Other than protein intake of other nutrients like energy, fat, iron, Ascorbic acid and carotene was lower than the RDA in all age group. Hence, the nutritional status of primary school children of two tribes of Meghalaya was not satisfactory.