Chemical and Physical Properties of Weaning Food Containing Legumes

This study was carried out to evaluate the chemical composition and physical properties of six weaning formulations (m1 to m 6) containing 10 or 20g /100g of some legumes as cowpea, lentil and crushed ground bean when added as powder flour, 2.5% carrot, 2.5% peas, 5% sugar and 8.5% skim milk powder. these formulas were compared with cerelac product. the results indicated that high protein contents were found in formulas m2 and m6, ( 18.75% , 18.09%), then m1 and m5, (17.21%, 16.99%) then m4 and m3 ( 15.68 % , 15.00%) respectively in compare with cerelac (10.00% ) with a significant differences. the high energy contents were found for m2 and m6 (376.08, 374.93 kcal) and the low energy contents was noticed for cerelac with a significant differences. the high fiber contents were noticed in m 2 (1.59% ), m 1 (1.54%), then m6 (1.42% ) and m5 (1.34% ), then cerelac (1.33%) with a significant differences. also ,the high ash content was recorded for cerelac 1.72% then m 2 (1.71 %) while the lower was m3 ( 0.98%) and m4 ( 1.05 %) . it was also observed that bulk density values ranged from 5.56 g/ml to 6.78 g/ml where the highest was m2 (6,78 g/ml ) while the lowest was cerelac (5.56g/ml). water absorption capacity showed a significant differences. the lowest viscosity was for cerelac (1050 cps) ,then m3 (1600 cps) and m4 (1700cps ) with a significantly differences.. formulas had chemical composition and physical properties similar to the cerelac and were a good potential for using of high-protein–energy weaning formulas. the formulas of m2(20% cowpea) or m6(20% crushed ground bean) could be recommended due to their higher protein , energy and essential amino acids contents than other formulas or cerelac.