Technology of Weaning Food Formulations Prepared from Germinated Cereals and Legumes

The use of germinated cereals and legumes in reducing bulk of weaning foods was investigated. The blends were formulated and studied for their viscosity, acceptability, and quality. Germinated rice‐mung‐bean, germinated rice‐cowpea, germinated corn‐mungbean and germinated corn‐cowpea (germination period was 72 hr for rice/corn and 48 hr for mungbean/cowpea) indicated viscosity reduction from about 20,000 cps to about 3,000 cps at the 70:30 ratio with concomitant good scores in general acceptability. About 400 mL gruel prepared from the formulations met l/3 RDA for protein and energy requirements of infants. The products were found stable for 6 months, mi‐crobially safe, and well‐tolerated by the infants.