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The period from birth to two years of age constitute critical window of opportunity for promoting optimal growth and development of a child. Inadequate food intake and poor feeding practices are causes of malnutrition among Nigerian children, as many locally formulated complementary foods are deficient in protein and micronutrients. Roasted Macrotermes bellicosus (MB) is nutritious and relished as snack by people living the traditional lifestyle. This study was carried out to investigate possible use of MB in formulating nutrient-dense complementary foods from maize and sorghum. Macrotermes bellicosus was collected in Ibadan, Nigeria during their swarming, roasted, de-winged, powdered and added to fermented corn (CF) and sorghum (SF) flour in the ratio 100%flour, 90%flour+10%MB, 85%flour+15%MB, and 80%flour+20%MB to give eight complementary foods, which were analysed for proximate, mineral, vitamin and antinutrient composition using AOAC methods.Hundred grammes of CF and SF contained 11.7g, 10.6g moisture, 8.9g, 9.7g crude protein, 3.1g, 2.8g fat, 74.3g, 74.8g total carbohydrates, 6.67mg, 26.60mg calcium, 295.50mg, 325.43mg phosphorus, 2.61mg, 7.61mg iron, 3.19mg, 2.41mg zinc, and yielded 353.9kcal, 358.6kcal energy respectively. Significant reduction occurred in moisture and carbohydrate content of MB-incorporated complementary foods while their crude protein, ash, fat, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamins B 3 , B 6 B 12 and β-carotene content increased significantly as the level of inclusion of MB increased (p<0.05). Level of atinutritional factors were insignificantly low in the blends, and cannot pose any health risk. Macrotermes bellicosus can be used in enriching cereal-based complementary foods as means of reducing infant and young child malnutrition in Nigeria.

Insects account for the greatest amount of biodiversity in forests with over 1,400 species reportedly eaten as human food, but are the least studied of all fauna. Studies have shown that they may contribute significantly to livelihoods in both rural and urban areas. This study was carried out to assess the consumer acceptability and nutrient content of Cirina forda larva-enriched vegetable soups. Dry C. forda (CF) larva was purchased from a market in Burkina Faso and refrigerated at -4°C. Four vegetable soup samples (plain vegetable soup; Egusi soup; Vegetable soup+CF; and Egusi soup+CF) were prepared traditionally. Dry CF larva and the four vegetable samples were analysed using standard AOAC methods, while acceptability of the soup samples was carried out using 9-point Hedonic scale. Moisture content of CF was 3.98 g while that of soups ranged from 59.78 to 77.14 g /100 g. C. forda larva contained 54.38 g protein and 16.81 g fat which were rich in essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids respectively; and high in macro-minerals. Nutrient content of vegetable soups enriched with CF larva were significantly higher (p<0.05), and more acceptable than un-enriched ones; with Egusi soup+CF larva being the most acceptable. C. forda larva is rich in both macro and micronutrients and generally acceptable to consumers. C. forda larva consumption should be popularized as means of improving dietary diversity, nutrient intake and overall health of humans.

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