Culinary Practices as a Strategy for Food Security and Nutritional Transition in the Context of Climate Change in Soudano-Sahelian Zone of Cameroon

Northern Cameroon is highly vulnerable to climate change, resulting in persistent food and nutritional insecurity among rural households. This study aims was to assess dietary habits in northern Cameroon during periods of food abundance and scarcity, and to evaluate the contribution of underutilized and climate-resilient foods to food and nutritional security under climate change conditions. Data were collected using a survey of HYPERLINK "tel:720" 720 randomly selected households in four localities (Bame; Bang, Gambour and Douroum). Samples were collected and analyzed for nutritional content. The Kruskal-Wallis test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the consumption of staple foods and nutritional parameters. R-studio software has using for analysis. Dietary diversity was low, with cereals contributing 80% of total food intake, followed by legumes (15%) and tubers (5%). Seventeen food consumption forms were identified, with frequencies ranging from 0 to 10 times per week. In the case of leafy vegetables, 15 varieties are consumed. Foods derived from roots and tubers are less popular than those derived from cereals. The FCS during the period of food abundance varies between HYPERLINK "tel:23.3" 23.3 and HYPERLINK "tel:28.5" 28.5, while during the lean season, the variation is between HYPERLINK "tel:23.3" 23.3 and HYPERLINK "tel:25.5" 25.5. Diversity Score (FDS) varied from 2.13 to 3.3 during abundance and from 3.1 to 4.4 during the lean period, remaining well below FAO thresholds. Sixteen underutilized foods were consumed as coping strategies during food shortages and exhibited high nutritional potential. These foods have a high nutritional potential, so the average variation is: in ash from HYPERLINK "tel:0.3" 0.3 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.00" 0.00 to HYPERLINK "tel:5.793" 5.793 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.58" 0.58, in dry matter from HYPERLINK "tel:83.24" 83.24 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.83" 0.83 to HYPERLINK "tel:94.93" 94.93 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.80" 0.80, in crude protein from HYPERLINK "tel:6.68" 6.68 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.10" 0.10 to HYPERLINK "tel:44.68" 44.68 ± HYPERLINK "tel:2.91" 2.91, in total lipids from HYPERLINK "tel:8.79" 8.79± HYPERLINK "tel:0.79" 0.79 to HYPERLINK "tel:48.33" 48.33 ± 3.24, total carbohydrate from HYPERLINK "tel:11.45" 11.45 ± HYPERLINK "tel:2.86" 2.86 to HYPERLINK "tel:50.52" 50.52± HYPERLINK "tel:2.4" 2.4, fiber from HYPERLINK "tel:0.00" 0.00 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.00" 0.00 to HYPERLINK "tel:5.22" 5.22 ± HYPERLINK "tel:1.58" 1.58, calcium from HYPERLINK "tel:23.54" 23.54 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.16" 0.16 to HYPERLINK "tel:316.95" 316.95 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.31" 0.31 and iron from HYPERLINK "tel:5.35" 5.35 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.077" 0.077 to HYPERLINK "tel:7.66.05" 7.66.05 ± HYPERLINK "tel:0.02" 0.02. The FCS and FDS values are well below the FAO standard, which is greater than or equal to HYPERLINK "tel:35.5" 35.5 and 6 respectively. Nutritional analyses show that these foods play a very important role in the fight against food insecurity, as they have very high macro and micronutrient values. Overall, underutilized foods represent valuable resources for improving dietary quality and strengthening resilience to climate-induced food insecurity in northern Cameroon.