Proximate Composition and Shelf Life of Vegetable Mixes for Diet Fortification of Under-Fives in Internally Displaced Person’s Camp in North Central Nigeria

The study determined the Proximate Composition and Shelf Life of vegetable mixes for diet fortification of under-five children in internally displaced persons (IDPs) camp in North Central, Nigeria. The study was guided by 2 research questions. The study adopted mixed-method research design which were Research and Development (R & D), descriptive survey and experimental. The population for the study was 44,198 which comprised of 19,486 mothers with under-five children and 24,712 under-five children. Sample size for the study was 762 which consisted of 381 IDP mothers with under-five children and 381 under-five children in IDPs camp. Three sets of instruments used for data collection were Focus Group Discussion Guide, Laboratory Test Template for the Vegetable Mixes. Data was analyzed using percentage and ANOVA for testing the hypothesis. Findings of the study indicated that proximate compositions of the vegetable mixes had 13.02% moisture, 8.96% ash, 9.16% crude fibre and 1.68% fats. Crude protein was 5.54% and CHO was 61.64%. Shelf life analysis of the vegetable mixes indicated that there was a significant difference between the mean values of the shelf life after 22 weeks of storing the vegetable mixes. Among recommendations made was that different vegetables in the area of study can be dried, milled and used as vegetable mixes for enriching under-five diets. Also, dried vegetable mixes of carrot, beetroots and fluted pumpkin leaves should be introduced to all children in IDPs camp as it contained adequate proportion of nutrients