Development of ready-to-eat nutri bar from black soybean (Kala Bhatt) and millets: Exploring traditional foods of Uttarakhand

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition, particularly insufficient intake of certain micronutrients, limits a child’s ability to survive, grow, and develop. It increases the rate of morbidity and mortality among the most vulnerable populations, which significantly lowers their productivity as an adult. While adopting strategies to tackle malnutrition, regional diets must also be considered. METHODS: Based on the nutritive values, some staple ingredients from Uttarakhand, such as black soybean, finger millet, and foxtail millet, have been utilized to develop a ready-to-eat (RTE) packaged nutri-bar. A sensory characteristic evaluation of the product has been carried out. The product has been evaluated in the laboratory for its proximate composition, some minerals, presence of heavy metals, pesticide, and shelf-life. RESULTS: The proximate composition of RTE nutri-bar includes protein content 18.16%, carbohydrate content 54.82%, total fats 12.13%, moisture 12.21%, and an ash value of 2.68%. Dietary fiber content is found to be 8.09%, and the energy evaluated for a 100-g sample is 401.09 Kcal. Calcium is present in very good amounts, that is, 478.44 mg/100 g. The amount of pesticide residues and added anti-oxidants are found below the level of quantification. CONCLUSION: The use of traditional foods in local communities has declined, but it may be revived with an appropriate framework, policy, and information sharing in conjunction with contextual food-based treatments.