Formulation and Nutritional Evaluation of Instant Diet for Children Fortified with Inshore Lizardfish (Synodus foetens)

The limited resources and inappropriate knowledge on effective utilization of available resources like fisheries in Eritrea have been resulting in severe malnutrition, especially among children. Dura Milk Kebkebe (DMK) -a traditional weaning food -is one of the improved weaning foods used as a food supplement for infants and children in addition to breastfeeding. A highly nutritive instant diet with maize and carrot fortified with fish powder from inshore Lizardfish has been prepared to aim to ensure the availability of low-cost weaning food in Eritrea. The nutritional composition of developed food contained proteins 19.50±1.58g, carbohydrates 52.50±3.15g, fats 6.03±2.19g, fiber 4.84±1.15g, and ash 3.26±0.98 per 100g of dry weight. The fatty acid profile of the developed weaning food has shown 1.71±1.11g of polyunsaturated fatty acids, 2.26±0.05g of monounsaturated fatty acids 2.06±1.51of saturated fatty acids per 100g of sample with a potential nutritional value which was found better than DMK. The microbiological analysis of the weaning food has also shown within the recommended level of ISO food standards. Finally, it is learned that the developed weaning food was nutritious, microbiologically safe, and has gained acceptance from the consumers at organoleptic attributes. Due to the paucity of appropriate weaning food in developing countries like Eritrea, this product can be a good alternative to minimize malnutrition.