Proximate and Micronutrient Composition of Complementary Food from Rice, Carrot, Banana and Peanut Flour Blends

The study determined the proximate and micronutrient composition of complementary foods formulated from rice, dried carrot, banana, and peanut flour blends as affordable alternatives to conventional maize pap for infant feeding. An experimental research design was adopted. Rice, dried carrot, banana, and peanut were processed into flour and blended in four different formulations: A, B, C, and D, while 100% yellow maize pap (Sample E) served as the control. Proximate composition was determined using the AOAC, (2010) standard methods, while selected vitamins (A, B₁, B₂, and E) and minerals (calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium) were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at a 5% level of significance. The results showed that moisture content was 6.42 ± 0.33–8.67 ± 0.26%, protein 6.79 ± 0.62–22.07 ± 0.05%, fat 1.29 ± 0.01–1.95 ± 0.40%, fibre 0.55 ± 0.35–10.98 ± 0.28%, ash 0.20 ± 0.14–3.99 ± 0.84%, and carbohydrate 57.14 ± 0.50–82.30 ± 0.52%. Sample B recorded the lowest moisture content (6.42 ± 0.33%) and the highest protein (22.07 ± 0.05%), iron (2.22 ± 0.00 mg/100 g), zinc (1.91 ± 0.02 mg/100 g), magnesium (132.55 ± 0.49 mg/100 g), vitamin B₁ (0.38 ± 0.00 mg/100 g), vitamin B₂ (0.10 ± 0.01 mg/100 g), and vitamin E (1.22 ± 0.01 mg/100 g). Sample C contained the highest vitamin A (3.03 ± 0.01 mg/100 g) and calcium (130.44 ± 0.37 mg/100 g). The micronutrient composition showed that vitamin A was 0.00 ± 0.00–3.03 ± 0.01 mg/100 g, vitamin B₁ 0.10 ± 0.00–0.38 ± 0.00 mg/100 g, vitamin B₂ 0.05 ± 0.01–0.10 ± 0.01 mg/100 g, vitamin E 0.21 ± 0.01–1.22 ± 0.01 mg/100 g, calcium 6.42 ± 0.01–130.44 ± 0.37 mg/100 g, iron 0.47 ± 0.00–2.22 ± 0.00 mg/100 g, zinc 0.29 ± 0.01–1.91 ± 0.02 mg/100 g, and magnesium 27.55 ± 0.05–132.55 ± 0.49 mg/100 g. The formulated complementary foods generally exhibited superior nutritional quality compared with the control sample. The study concluded that complementary foods produced from rice, dried carrot, banana, and peanut flour blends, particularly Samples B and C, are nutrient-dense and nutritionally superior to conventional yellow maize pap, making them suitable for complementary feeding of infants and young children. It is recommended that caregivers and food processors promote the production and utilization of these locally available food blends to improve infant nutrition and reduce the prevalence of malnutrition.