Characterization of Traditional Foods and Diets in Rural Areas of Bauchi State, Nigeria: Analysis of Nutrient Components

Objectives:  Bauchi is one of the 36 states in Nigeria, the seventh most populous country in the world. This area has the second highest prevalence of thinness among women; with unacceptably high proportions of children 0 – 5 years being stunted. Household dietary intake is believed to be an underlying factor for this nutrition situation. Determination of the nutritional composition of traditional foods is essential in order to evaluate the dietary drivers of undernutrition, and to design interventions to promote sustainable, healthy diets. Yet data on the nutritional composition of traditional foods are lacking.  Thus, this study measured the proximate and mineral composition of 31 traditional, composite foods consumed in Bauchi State, Nigeria.  Methods: Proximate analyses and assays for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and calcium (Ca) were conducted according to methods stipulated by AOAC International. Results: The protein content (9.12%) of dambun tsakin masara da alaiho (maize grits and spinach) and the Ca, Fe and Cu concentrations (89.64 mg, 6.01 mg and 0.31 mg per 100 g, respectively) of dambun gero da zogale (millet and Moringa) were the greatest among granulated dumplings. Danwake wake da dawa (cowpea and sorghum) had the greatest protein composition (4.78%) while danwaken gujiya da masara (Bambara nut and maize) had the highest Fe, Zn and Cu concentrations (3.97 mg, 1.20 mg and 0.28 mg, respectively) per 100 g of cooked dough balls. Miyan karago (powdered peanut cake soup) had the greatest protein concentration (11.40 %) per 100 g of soup. Among cereal paps, puddings and porridges, Chanchangan dawa (sorghum, peanut and beans porridge) had the highest protein content (6.43%). Of all foods analyzed, dambun naman rago (shredded, fried mutton) and awara (spicy, fried tofu) were richest in protein (49.31% and 16.86%) and iron (9.20 and 8.32 mg/100g), respectively. Conclusion: Traditional foods with good nutrition profiles are available to support adequate nutrition of women and children in rural households in Bauchi State, despite widespread undernutrition.