PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF AN INDIGENOUS CEREAL MIX (ORYZA SATIVA, PENNISSETUM GLAUCUM, GLYCINE MAX, SORGHUM BICOLOR AND ZEA MAYS) USED IN WEANING INFANTS IN NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Proper nutrition during infancy and early childhood is critical for optimal growth, health, and development. In many Nigerian families, indigenous cereal mixes are widely used as weaning formulas to supplement breast milk and transition infants to solid foods. This study evaluated the proximate and selected mineral composition of an indigenous cereal mix (Oryza sativa, Pennissetum glaucum, Glycine max, Sorghum bicolor And Zea mays) commonly used as a weaning food in some households across North Central Nigeria. The mix was formulated using rice, millet, soybeans, guinea corn, and maize in proportions typically used in local preparations. Samples was obtained directly from farmers with available grains in three (3) states of the North central Nigeria (FCT, Niger, Plateau) and was prepared (removing impurities, washing, drying and grinding). Standard laboratory procedures were used to analyze moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash, nitrogen-free extract, metabolizable energy, calcium, and phosphorus content. Results showed that the mix contained (6.01 ± 0.02%) moisture, (30.58 ± 0.58%) crude protein, (5.14 ± 0.06%) crude fat, (4.10 ± 0.04%) crude fiber, (5.31 ± 0.04%) ash, (48.86 ±0.55) nitrogen-free extract, and provided (364.14 ± 0.59)kca/100g of metabolizable energy. The mineral content revealed 1.25 ± 0.02% calcium and 0.45 ± 0.05% phosphorus. The high protein, moderate fat, and rich mineral content of the mix suggest that it has the potential to meet the nutritional needs of weaning infants, especially in resource-limited settings. This highlights the importance of promoting indigenous food formulations as affordable and nutritionally balanced options for infant feeding.