The present study was undertaken to produce cookies from readily available but underutilized Nigerian crops such as sorghum, pigeon pea and orange fleshed sweet potato. Different blends of sprouted sorghum, pigeon pea and orange fleshed potato flour were mixed and coded in the ratios (w/w) 100:0:0 (A), 95:5:0 (B), 85:10:5(C), 75:15:10(D), 65:20:15(E) while 100% wheat flour (F) was produced as control. The functional properties of the flour samples were determined while produced cookies were evaluated for their physical, proximate, selected vitamins, anti-nutrients and sensory properties using standard methods. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in water absorption capacity, bulk density and swelling index of flour blends were observed as the level of substitutions increased. Control sample had the highest weight (13.89 g) and spread ratio (1.22) while sample E had the least weight (7.31 g) and least spread ratio (0.92). Moisture, crude protein, crude lipid, ash, crude fibre contents as well as energy value of flour blends cookies were significantly (p < 0.05) higher with increased level of pigeon pea and potato flours addition. Significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the carbohydrate content of the cookies was observed. Vitamin A and C contents of sample E were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the value obtained for sample F. Anti-nutritional factors in the cookies samples were within permissible levels. Sensory ratings showed that sample B compared favourably with sample F based on overall acceptability.

Breakfast cereals were produced from yellow maize, soybean and banana flours blended to form different percentage composites. Six composite samples were evaluated to determine the Proximate, Mineral and Vitamin composition, and Sensory qualities. Results of moisture content showed that sample F (0:20:80) had the highest value (6.13±0.02%) while sample E (40:20:40) had the least value (5.42±0.03%), this signifies that sample F (0:20:80) will experience early spoilage compared to sample E (40:20:40). The highest protein content (14.75±0.05) was recorded by sample A (80:20:0), the least value was observed in sample F (0:20:80). Sample A (80:20:0) also had the highest values in fat content (4.82±0.14%) and fibre (4.25±0.03%). Sample F (0:20:80) had the highest value in ash content (3.80±0.03%) and carbohydrate content (76.56±0.05%). For mineral content, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) among the samples. Sample F (0:20:80) had the highest value in iron (68.25±0.26mg/100g), calcium (170.00±0.20mg/100g), potassium (220.80±1.10 mg/100g) and sodium (470.10±0.10 mg/100g). Sample C (60:20:20) had the highest phosphorus content (10.74±0.02 mg/100g). Significant difference (P<0.05) existed among the samples for vitamin composition. Sample E (40:20:40) had the highest vitamin content in both vitamin A (22.01±0.25 mg/100g) and vitamin C (35.42±0.20 mg/100g).  In sensory evaluation, the samples were evaluated with a control sample (Golden morn). Significant difference (P<0.05) existed among the Breakfast cereals. Breakfast cereal served with cold milk, indicated that sample D (50:20:30) had the highest level of acceptability (7.30±0.45) among other samples. Acceptable Breakfast cereals can be produced from 50:20:30 formulation of Yellow Maize:Soybeans:Banana composite flour blends.

IntroductionUkwa (Treculia africana) is an indigenous edible seed. It is a strategic store of vital food nutrients that are available during a specific crucial time of the year when reliable sources of these nutrients are under cultivation and extremely scarce. In the past, only poor rural residents used to eat it, but today it is not only a specialty meal enjoyed by Nigeria's elite and metropolitan residents but also a source of foreign exchange.MethodsIn this study, Ukwa was processed into whole, dehulled, malted and defatted flours. Maize and coconut flours were blended with the respective Ukwa flours at the ratio of 0:95:5, 20:75:5, 25:70:5, 30:65:5, 35:60:5 and 95:0:5 for Ukwa flour:Maize flour:Coconut grits respectively for development of snack bars. A two-factor factorial experiment in a completely randomized block design was applied for the study of the effect of processing, substitution levels of Ukwa flour and the interaction of the two variables on the responses analyzed. Anti-nutrient content and proximate compositions of the flours were determined using standard procedures.ResultsProcessing significantly reduced the anti-nutrient content and increased protein content of Ukwa flours. Up to 51.72% reduction of tannin was obtained by dehulling. Defatting, malting and dehulling resulted in 18.75, 34.37 and 65.62% reduction respectively in oxalate content. Highest reduction was obtained by dehulling, and was 70.69% in phytate, 79.95% in saponin, and 48.17% in trypsin inhibitor activity. Crude protein content of snack bars had 16.16 to 25.46% substitution main effect, and 19.43 to 22.65% processing main effect. In-vitro protein and starch digestibility increased with processing and decreased with increase in substituted level of Ukwa in the blend. Improvement, up to 9.97% by dehulling, 9.86% by malting and 8.64% by defatting, was recorded in in-vitro protein digestibility. An increase of 3.00 to 24.10% by defatting, 5.90 to 29.09% by malting and 9.70 to 31.80% by dehulling was recorded in in-vitro starch digestibility.DiscussionOur study revealed that, all the processing methods adopted reduced the anti-nutrient content of ukwa flours. Protein content and total essential amino-acid (TEAA) showed significant increase with increased substituted level of ukwa flour. In-vitro protein and starch digestibility decreased with increase substituted level of ukwa flour. Snack bars formulated with 20% Ukwa showed the highest in-vitro starch and protein digestibility irrespective of the method of processing. Malted Ukwa based snack bars recorded the highest values of TEAA. Processing of this nutritious seeds and use of its flour to develop snack bars could enhance utilization and give convenience to consumers and encourage extensive farming of the crop.

Nutritive, less bulk and low cost complementary flour blends were produced from maize, carrot and pigeon pea. Five different blends of flour were formulated from maize, carrot and pigeon pea in the ratio of 100:0:0 (A), 90:5:5 (B), 85:5:10 (C), 80:5:15 (D) and 75:5:20 (E) while commercial formula (sample F) served as control. The formulated complementary flour blends were analyzed for their functional properties, proximate, selected mineral and vitamin compositions while the reconstituted samples (gruel) were evaluated for sensory attributes. The functional properties of the complementary flour blends showed less bulk density (0.72-0.76 g/ml) below the commercial formula (1.26 g/ml), low water and oil absorption capacity as well as swelling index. The proximate composition showed significant (p<0.05) increase and ranged from 4.08-4.91% moisture, 6.15-9.48% crude protein, 1.33-1.48% ash, 1.98-2.71% crude fibre, 3.07-4.15% lipid, and 82.93-86.72% carbohydrate. Vitamins A and C were also increased significantly as the levels of substitution increased from 1.80-2.14 µ/100g and 3.21-4.42 µ/100g, respectively. The sensory scores showed that sample A was most preferred followed by sample B in terms of general acceptability.

The study was carried out to elucidate the suitability and utilization of malted African breadfruit (Treculia africana) seed flour in snack bars production. Malted African breadfruit seeds, maize and coconut were processed to flour and evaluated of their proximate composition, phytochemical composition and particle sizes. Six (6) products were developed from the flour blends in the respective ratio of 0:95:5 (T0), 20:75:5 (T20), 25:70:5 (T25), 30:65:5 (T30), 35:60:5 (T35) and 95:0:5 (T95). Soluble dietary fibre (SDF = 5.15 – 3.15%) decreased while insoluble (IDF = 7.23 – 19.23%) and total dietary fibre (TDF = 12.33 – 22.39%) increased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing malted African breadfruit inclusion. In vitro glycemic index (IVGI) and starch digestibility (IVSD) decreased significantly (p<0.05) from 57.30 – 45.65% and 57.48 – 31.44% respectively, with increasing substitution of malted African breadfruit seed flour. A negative correlation was observed between the TDF and IVGI content of the snack bars. In vitro protein digestibility ranged from 68.19 to 87.45%. With reference to standard classifications, the formulated malted African breadfruit seed based snack bars could be referred to as ‘high fibre’ and ‘low glycemic’ foods, and may have positive health benefit to the consumers, especially the diabetics and those interested in weight management.