Development and Nutritional Evaluation of Oat Granola Bars Enriched with Pumpkin Seeds

Growing consumption of cereal-based foods raises health concerns because of their high sugar content and limited nutritional value. Modern lifestyles often contribute to unhealthy eating habits, as ready-to-eat foods are popular but frequently lack nutritional value. Thus, this study aims to develop and analyze the nutritional value of oat granola bars enriched with pumpkin seeds as a healthier alternative. Granola is a convenient breakfast or snack option, typically made from grains and nuts. Pumpkin seeds are highly nutritious, and their wide availability makes them a desirable ingredient in various baked goods such as cakes, bars, etc. Five treatment plans were developed with varying compositions of pumpkin seeds and oats which include T0 (100% oats), T1 (90% oats and 10% pumpkin seeds), T2 (80% oats and 20% pumpkin seeds), T3 (70% oats and 30% pumpkin seeds), and T4 (60% oats and 40% pumpkin seeds). Comprehensive analyses were conducted to assess the energy bars' composition, antioxidant activity, and overall quality. T0 (100% oats) had the highest moisture content, while T4 (60% oats and 40% pumpkin seeds) had the lowest. The moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, ash and NFE had ranged of 28.01-27.96, 5.99-5.02, 42.00-41.40, 7.93-8.84%, 1.29-1.27% and 28.45-30.20 respectively. The TPC, TFC and DPPH of all treatments were analyzed and showed significant results 8.01-7.07mg GAE/100g, 3.33-3.00mg QE/100g and 1.67-1.57% respectively. Mineral profiling showed that while the level of minerals like magnesium (from 6.26 to 5.08mg/100g), the level of zinc (from 16.18-16.12mg/100g), potassium (from 6.09-6.00mg/100g) and iron (from 5.4-4.99mg/100g). Sensory analysis (color, flavor, texture and overall acceptability) was done using 9-point hedonic scale. It is concluded that the preferred granola bar was T4, which contains 40% pumpkin seeds and 60% rolled oats was more acceptable with respect to sensory analysis. This study emphasizes the possibility of incorporating oats and pumpkin seeds to make a functional, nutritious snack bar that promotes overall health and well-being. According to this study, using pumpkin seeds in granola bars can increase dietary intake of essential elements. It's a simple, food-based strategy to reduce stress related to medical conditions.