Application of the nutrient profile model in the development of food bars with functional potential

In the present study, the nutrient profile model is used to develop functionally potential food bars prepared with pumpkin pulp flour (PuPF) and pequi peel flour (PePF). The control (0% PuPF, 0% PePF), and treatments T1 (0% PuPF, 2.5% PePF), T2 (5% PuPF, 2.5% PePF), T3 (10% PuPF, 2.5% PePF), and T4 (17.5% PuPF, 2.5% PePF) were defined using the nutrient profile model and subsequently evaluated for antioxidant activity, sensory acceptance, and nutrient profile. All treatments were nutritionally balanced but T3 and T4 were the best, containing, respectively, 35.11 and 59.85 μg g −1 of carotenoids, 230.60 and 261.14 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g −1 of phenolics, and high antioxidant activity, as determined using ABTS (28.60 and 34.86 μM Trolox g −1 ), FRAP (67.13 and 80.09 μM ferrous sulfate g −1 ), and β-carotene/linoleic acid system (79.08 and 84.83% protection) methods. The nutrient profile model minimized time and resource expenditures throughout the development process.