Nutritional potential of underutilized food crops to improve diet quality of young children in food insecure prone areas of Madura Island, Indonesia

Background and Objectives: Attention is currently given to the nutrition potential of underutilized food crops; however, only few studies have focused on this potential for young children. We investigate the nutrient composition of selected underutilized food crops in Bangkalan District, Madura Island, Indonesia, to determine its potential in meeting the nutritional needs of young children during the complementary feeding period. Methods and Study Design: We obtained data on the availability of underutilized food crops from a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014 in Bangkalan District, Indonesia, and nutrient composition primarily from the Indonesian Food Composition Database. We considered underutilized food crops to hold nutritional potential if they contributed at least 15% per 100 g edible portion recommended nutrient intake for children aged 6–11 months and 12–23 months or 5% recommended nutrient intake per 100 kcal for iron, zinc, calcium, niacin and folate. Results: We identified nutritionally potential underutilized food crops from several food groups, including Sorghum bicolor, Canna edulis, Colocasia esculenta (the starchy roots and leaves), Plectranthus rotundifolius, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, Moringa oleifera (the leaves and pods), Limonia acidissima, and Benincasa hispida—all of which can be utilized for formulating the complementary feeding diet of young children. Conclusions: In a food insecure area where malnutrition is prevalent, underutilized food crops have potential to improve the nutrient intake of young children in their complementary feeding period.