23/06/2025 to 26/06/2025

About My Project:

Right now, I’m working on a project to make a high-protein bar that is healthy, tasty, and made from natural Desi ingredients. Most protein bars in the market are expensive and have many unhealthy ingredients like artificial sugar, whey protein, emulsifiers, etc. These can be harmful if eaten regularly.

That’s why I decided to create a better, homemade option that gives good protein and energy using local, simple, and natural materials that are easily available around us.

What I Want to Achieve:

1.A 50 gm protein bar with 16–20 gm protein.

2.No chemicals, preservatives, or added sugar.

3.Easy to digest and good for all age groups—kids, youth, and old people.

4.Bar should be affordable and stay fresh for at least 1.5 to 2 months

Why Avoid Market Protein Bars:

I studied many famous brands like RiteBite, MuscleBlaze, YogaBar, and found they use:

Artificial sweeteners like Maltitol or sorbitol – cause gas and bloating.

Whey protein concentrate – some people feel heaviness and indigestion.

Emulsifiers and preservatives – not good for daily use.

Added sugars or corn syrup – bad for diabetics and long-term health.

That’s why I chose only safe, natural ingredients in my bar.

Why My Bar is Different:

A. Completely natural and homemade.

B. All Desi ingredients – no imported or synthetic items.

C. Easy to digest – no whey or soy.

D. No sugar – only Jaggery and maybe honey.

E. Budget-friendly – suitable for students, farmers, workers, and gym goers.

Why This Project is Important:

Today, people want healthy food, but most options are expensive or fake healthy. I want to make a real, nutritious bar that anyone can afford and trust. Our Indian food culture already has all the good ingredients—we just need to present them in a new form.

This project is helping me learn about food processing, nutrition, costing, and product development. I’m happy that I get to work on something which can be useful for society and has business potential too.

Ingredients I have Chosen:

IngredientsReason behind using it
Moong dal flourEasy to digest, full of protein
Chana (Besan) Flour      Desi protein, fiber, iron-rich
Yogurt Powder    Gives good taste and is a natural protein source
Roasted Peanuts   Gives crunch, healthy fats, and protein
Pumpkin Seeds    High in protein and good fats
Chia Seeds Helps digestion, gives energy, fiber-rich
Watermelon SeedsTasty, adds minerals and protein
Coffee Beans (roasted)   For flavour and alertness (small amount)
Jaggery       Natural sweetener, full of iron
Honey (optional)  Good binder, gives shine and taste

Nutritional Value Chart (per 100 gm of Ingredient) :

IngredientProtein (g)Fats (g)Carbs (g)Fiber (g)
Moong dal flour24 g1.3 g59.9 g8 g
Channa flour22 g6.7 g57.8 g10.8 g
Yogurt powder35 g1.5 g50 g0 g
Roasted peanuts25.8 g49.2 g16.1 g8.5 g
Chia seed17 g49 g10.7 g6 g
Pumpkin seed30 g31 g42 g34 g
Watermelon seeds28 g47.4 g15 g4 g
Coffee beans12 g14 g28 g4.8 g
Jaggery0.4 g0.1 g97 g0.6 g
Honey (optional )0.3 g0 g82.4 g0.2 g

Market Comparison (India – 2024–25 data)

BrandBar sizeProteinMRPProtein %
Max protein bar75 g20g90 rs26.6%
Yogabar60g10g50-55 rs16.6%
Muscleblaze bar70g22g99 rs31.4%
Ritebite bar50g10g50-60 rs20%
Our bar50gExpected -16 g-20 gExpected 50-60 rs32%

27/06/2025 to 28/06/2025

Ingredients quantity for 1 kg batch

IngredientsQuantity (gm)Protein %Protein (gm)
Moong Dal flour 30024 %72
Chana flour15022%33
Yogurt powder10035%35
Rosted peanuts15025.8%38.7
Pumpkin seed10030%30
Chia seed5017%8.5
Watermelon seed5028%14
Rosted coffee beans3012%3.6
Jaggery800.4%0.3
Honey200.3%0.06

30/06/2025 to 02/07/2025

Project Discussion: High-Protein Bar with Good Digestibility

On 30th June 2025, I had a valuable discussion with Mr.Dixit Sir regarding the formulation of my project: a high-protein nutrition bar. The focus of our conversation was to ensure that the bar contains 16–18 grams of protein, is easily digestible, affordable, and nutritionally balanced.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

1.Prioritizing Ingredient Selection

We decided that selecting the right ingredients is the foundation of this project. Criteria include:

A. High protein content

B. Good digestibility

C. Affordable cost

D. Balanced in terms of fat, fiber, energy, and taste

2. Calculating Cost per Gram of Protein

We emphasized the importance of cost-efficiency. For each ingredient, I calculated:

This will help us estimate the total cost of protein per bar and optimize the overall production cost.

3.Discussion on Glycemic Index (GI)

A key part of our conversation focused on the Glycemic Index, which is critical in designing a health-focused protein bar.

🔬 What is GI?

The Glycemic Index (GI) is a measure of how quickly a food raises blood sugar after consumption.

The Glycemic Index (GI) is a value between 0 and 100 that tells you how quickly a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood glucose (sugar) levels after eating it.

Foods are compared to pure glucose, which has a GI of 100.
Low-GI foods digest slowly, giving steady energy.
High-GI foods digest quickly, causing spikes in blood sugar.
GI RANGECLASSIFICATIONWHAT IT MEANS
0-55Low GIBest for stable energy and blood sugar
56-69Medium GIModerate effect
70+High GIRapid spike,fast energy crash

Why GI Matters for Our Bar:

  • Stable Energy:  A low-GI bar provides long-lasting energy.
  • Good Digestibility:  Most low-GI foods are also slow-digesting and promote satiety.
  • Better for All Age Groups:  Ideal for diabetics, athletes, and health-conscious consumers.
  • Avoids Sugar Crash:  Helps maintain consistent blood glucose levels.

We aim to formulate our bar to have a GI between 30–55, which ensures:
1. Good digestibility
2. Sustained energy
3. Market competitiveness with premium bars in India

GI vs Digestibility

We also discussed that high GI ≠ high digestibility. Some foods digest quickly but spike blood sugar too much, which is not ideal. Our goal is to choose ingredients with high digestibility and low to moderate GI

04/07/2025 to 05/07/2025

Creating a Detailed Excel Sheet

I began developing a comprehensive Excel database containing:

  1. Ingredient names and categories

2. Nutritional values: protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber

3. Digestibility level

4. Glycemic Index (GI)

5. Energy (kcal/100g)

6. Market price (Pune rates)

7. Price per gram of protein

This sheet will guide the ingredient selection process based on both nutritional and economic factors.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Cwmh9WI6vb9V5-yb-l9bNIP7zWiKTI0u/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=106479363673680467416&rtpof=true&sd=true

06/07/2025 to 10/07/2025

In meeting with Mr.Dixit sir , after study these ingredients they told me to make some compositions with these ingredients in which yoguhrt powder , coffee beans ,jaggary these ingredients are fixed only three or four ingredients are get changed . According to that I make some compositions are as follows

Composition 1 – Groundnut cake +Spirulina + Chia

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Defatted Groundnut Cake3503010.5025Good
Spirulina Powder200120024010Good
Chia Seeds1001601633Good
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Jaggery1806010.8084Good
Totals1000 331.90  
Protein/bar    17.43g
Cost/bar    8.30 rs
Approx. GI   35-40 

Composition 2 – Bhuna chana + chana dal + pumpkin seed 

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Bhuna chana3501003032Good
Chana dal200851728Good
Pumpkin seed1501802733Good
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Jaggery1806010.8084Good
Totals1000 139.40  
Protein/bar    16.20g
Cost/bar    6.97 rs
Approx. GI   40-45 

Composition 3 – Niger Cake +Cowpea + Spirulina

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Niger Cake3003510.5030Good
Cowpea200952031Good
Spirulina150120018010Good
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Jaggery1806010.8084Good
Totals1000 274.90  
Protein/bar    17.28g
Cost/bar    6.87 rs
Approx. GI   38-42 

Composition 4 –  Spirulina + Roasted peanuts + Amarnath

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Spirulina250120030010Good
Roasted peaputs2001402820Good
Amarnath150901435Good
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Jaggery1806010.8084Good
Totals1000 407.90  
Protein/bar    16.83g
Cost/bar    20.39 rs
Approx. GI   35-40 

Composition 5 –  Sesame cake  + Matki  + Sunflower seed

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Sesame cake3004012.0025Good
Matki2008517.0030Good
Sunflower seed15015022.5035Good
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Jaggery1806010.8084Good
Totals1000 116.90  
Protein/bar    15.02g
Cost/bar    5.85 rs
Approx. GI   35-40 

Composition 6 –  Add spirulina Boost

Composition 5 needs 1g more protein; you can add 30 g Spirulina replacing part of Jaggery.

Composition 7 –  Black Urad dal  + Chia seed +Flax seed

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Black Urad dal300902743Moderate
Chia seed10016016.0033Good
Flax  seed1001301335Moderate
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Jaggery1806010.8084Good
Totals1000 121.40  
Protein/bar    16.02g
Cost/bar    6.07rs
Approx. GI   35-40 

Final summary with Digestibility of each bar

CompositionProtein per barCost per barApprox. GIOverall digestibility
1-Groundnut+Spirulina+Chia seed17.438.3035-40Excellent
2-Bhuna chann + pumpkin seed  + Chana dal16.206.9740-45Very good
3-Niger cake+Cowpea+ Spirulina17.286.8738-42Good
4 -Spirulina +Amaranth + peanuts16.8320.3935-40Excellent
5-Sesame cake +Matki + Sunflower seed15.025.8535-42Very good
6- Adjusted (with spirulina)16 (approx)7.2140-45Moderate
7-Black urad dal +Flax seed +chia seed166.0735-40Very good

Composition 8 – Kulthi + Spirilina + Amaranth +Coffee + Yogurt Powder +Date paste

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Kulthi2506522.7522Moderate
Spirulina150120018010Good
Amaranth200901835Moderate
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Date paste2309020.7060Good
Totals1000 296.05  
Protein/bar    17.02g
Cost/bar    7.40rs
Approx. GI   38-45 

Composition 9 – Cowpea + Pumpkin seed  + Niger seed cake +Coffee + Yogurt Powder + Jaggery 

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Cowpea2509523.7532Moderate
Pumpkin seed2001803633Good
Niger cake 150355.2530Moderate
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Jaggery23060133.484Good
Totals1000    
Protein/bar    16.09g
Cost/bar    6.67 rs
Approx. GI   37-42 

Composition 10 –  Flax  seed  cake + Matki  +Green Gram + Coffee + Yogurt Powder + Jaggery

IngredientsQty(g)Price/ kgCostGIDigestibility
Flax seed cake20040827Moderate
Matki  200851730Good
Green gram   2001002028Moderate
Yogurt Powder1503004515Good
Coffee Beans204809.6020Moderate
Jaggery2306013.8084Good
Totals1000 113.4  
Protein/bar    16.04g
Cost/bar    5.67 rs
Approx. GI   38-43 

These are some compositions and along with that I have some another compositions with me do some issues like digestibility and costing I do not prefer them ,so after that I again went to dixit and they told to me two select any two compositions by myself and purchase required ingredients for the compositions . On 10/07/2025 I fix two compositions by myself and then purchases all required ingredients ,the compositions are as follows

A) Spirulina powder + rosted peanuts + Yoghurt powder+ watermelon seed + Flex seed +Jaggery + Coffee beans

B) Moong flour + channa flour + yogurt powder+Rosted peanuts + Pumpkin seed + Jaggery + coffee beans

11/07/20205 TO 12/07/2025

From 11/07/2025 I am starting the trials on these above compositions . Before starting actual trial I have to make a Yogurt powder and moong flour but for good digestibility sprout moong are best so I worked for that . Then Mr. Dixit sir told me that firstly do not dry yogurt directly in dryer add bhuna Chana flour in it and then dry it because when yogurt is get dried separately then microbial growth is get increased sometime so add other ingredient for reduce excessive moisture in it . After complete process with yogurt powder and moong flour I want to start actual trials on these protein bar.

13/07/2025

Process of making Yoghurt + Bhunna channa powder ( Futane)

  • Boil milk and cool down
  • After cooling add curd culture and place as it is for 6-8 hrs
  • After setting yoghurt remove excessive water from it and add Bhuna Chana powder (250 gm )in it and mix throughout
  • Spread on tray in the thin layer (using batter paper )
  • Dry in electric dryer at 50-55 degree for approx 9-10 hrs
  • After  compete drying cool down it and remove dry matter and grind in mixture (I got 400 gm from 1200 gm total batter )

Process of making sprouted moong flour

  • Sock the moong  for approx 6-7 hrs
  • After complete socking tight them in cloth for sprouting
  • Place in cloth for 6-7 hrs for proper sprouting
  • After complete sprouting  cook them on iow flame for 20-25 min and place for cool down
  • After cooking place them on tray add dry it for 2.30 – 3 hrs in dryer for 57 degree
  • After complete drying grind them in mixture until achieve fine flour  

 14/07/2025

I conducted my first bar trial using:

Sprouted Moong Flour – 55 gm

Yogurt + Bhuna Chana Powder – 60 gm

Pumpkin Seeds – 18 gm

Roasted Peanuts – 40 gm

Jaggery – 100 gm (chikki jaggery)

The review of the trial was average — the taste was good, but the bar was too hard and chewy, and the texture was not ideal.

15/07/2025

I decided to conduct the second trial of my protein bar. I first worked on the ingredient proportions and initially tried using normal jaggery with a small quantity for binding, but it did not work effectively.

So, I revised the formulation and took another trial using chikki jaggery. The taste improved compared to the previous trial, but the texture was still too hard and chewy, making it difficult to eat.

I presented the bar to Dixit Sir, Prasad Sir, Abhijit Sir, and Mahesh Sir for review. They suggested:

1.Reducing the amount of jaggery

2.Using a hydraulic press for better binding and consistency

3.Researching alternative natural binders to improve texture

18/07/2025 to 19/07/2025

After discussion with Mr. Dixit sir I am decided to take various trial with different ingredients.

Ground the previously dried sprouted moong to prepare moong flour

Conducted two new trials of protein bars (50 gm each):

A. Using gum + jaggery as a binder

B. One using date paste as a binder

A. Using gum + jaggery as a binder

For these trial I am using following ingredients

Sprouted moong flour – 9 gm

Yoghurt + bhuna Chana powder- 9 gm

rosted peanuts – 5 gm

Pumpkin seed – 3 gm

Gond / Gum – 2 gm

graded jaggery -20 gm

Elahi – 1 gm

Mr. Dixit sir told me don’t make a bar during trial just make a small ball for observe texture and binding so I make a small ball from these batter .

B. One using date paste as a binder

For these trial I am using following ingredients

Sprouted moong flour – 12 gm

Yoghurt + bhuna Chana powder- 12 gm

rosted peanuts – 8 gm

Pumpkin seed – 4 gm

Date paste -13 gm

Essence – 1 drop

From these batter also I make a small balls for observing texture and blinding

For reducing percentage of jaggery in bar hydraulic press is best option so I want to take a trial inside hydraulic press , currently hydraulic press is not available in Ashram so I am taking trial on bench vice and from these trial I got good textured bar .

20/07/2025 to 22/07/2025

After taking these above trials I decided to reduce the jaggery percentage again up to 30% so composition for these is like

For these trial I am using following ingredients

Sprouted moong flour – 11 gm

Yoghurt + bhuna Chana powder- 11 gm

Rosted peanuts – 8 gm

Pumpkin seed – 5 gm

graded jaggery -15 gm

in these trial the I reduced the jaggery from 40% to 30 % and again discussed with Dixit sir they told me take another trial with combination of date paste and jaggery so I make a another composition with 5gm of date and 10 gm of jaggery so for these trial the composition is as flows

Date paste – 5 gm

Jaggery -10 gm

Sprouted moong flour – 11 gm

Yoghurt + bhuna Chana powder- 11 gm

Rosted peanuts – 8 gm

Pumpkin seed – 5 gm

these trial having also good results . and blinding is good with minimum blinder

23/07/2025 to 25/07/2025

My primary task was researching how to achieve proper binding using a minimal quantity of jaggery and dates so that the nutritional value of the bar can be improved. I explored different binding agents such as guar gum and glucose liquid, which can help in maintaining the desired texture and consistency.

Along with that I worked on searching high-protein ingredients that can provide a large protein boost with minimal quantity, without negatively affecting digestibility. During my research, I came across several options, but I found soybean to be a strong candidate. However, I noted that soy has digestibility challenges, and direct use of soy flour may impact the quality of my bar.
To address this, I explored methods to improve digestibility, including:

Roasting soy flour before use

Using sprouted soy flour

Fermenting soy flour

I discussed these options with Dixit sir, who advised me to attempt making sprouted soy flour, noting that sprouting soybeans is not an easy process.

01/08/2025 to 06/08/2025

So I decided to a trial with sprouted and fermented soy flour so step for these are as follows

Ingredients:

Whole soybeans (not flour)

Clean drinking water

Clean cloth or sprouting tray

Oven/dehydrator

Process:

  1. Soaking (Day 1)

Take 100 g dry soybeans → rinse well

Soak in 3x water for 8–10 hours (overnight)

  1. Sprouting (Day 2–3)

Drain water and rinse again

Wrap beans in moist cotton cloth or keep in a sprouting tray

Keep in warm place (not direct sunlight)

Let them sprout for 24–36 hours

Rinse once every 8–12 hours to prevent spoilage

Fermentation Procedure (Lactic Acid Type)

What You Need:

Sprouted soybeans – 100–500 g (as needed)

Starter culture – 1 tsp fresh curd (dahi) OR 1 probiotic capsule

Warm water – to make a thick paste

Glass/stainless steel bowl, cloth cover

step-by-Step process after sprouted soy beans achieve

  1. Grind Sprouted Soybeans

Grind the sprouted beans with minimal water into a thick paste

Keep it like idli batter consistency (not too watery)

  1. Add Starter Culture

Add 1 tsp curd or 1 probiotic capsule

Mix thoroughly

  1. Fermentation Time

Cover bowl with loose lid or cloth

Keep in warm place (30–35°C) for 12–16 hours

In winter, use oven with light on or wrap with towel

  1. Check for Readiness

You will see slight rise or bubbles

It will smell a bit sour (not rotten)

Soft, sticky texture — that’s ideal!

Make Fermented Soy Flour

  1. Spread fermented paste on tray (thin layer)
  2. Dry in dehydrator or hot air oven (55–60°C) for 6–8 hrs
  3. Grind to powder
  4. Store in airtight jar — ready-to-use fermented soy flour

Benefits of This Flour

1.High digestibility Great for gut, reduces gas
2.Enhanced protein use Improved amino acid absorption
3.Mild sour taste Enhances bar flavor subtly
4.Natural probiotics Supports gut health (if not heated too much)

So after achieving these sprouted fermented soy beans flour I take a trial with these. I total batter weight is 50 gm

Final Composition for One 50 g High-Protein Bar

Ingredient

Fermented Sprouted Soy Flour 15 g
Sprouted Moong Flour 10 g
Yoghurt + Bhuna Chana Powder 10 g
Roasted Peanuts 5 g
Pumpkin + Watermelon Seeds 4 g
Date Paste 5 g
Glucose Liquid 1 g
Total 50 g


Nutritional Output (per 50 g bar)

Nutrient Value

Protein 14.8 g
Fat 6.06 g
Carbs 20.81 g
Fiber 4.19 g
Calories ~220–230 kcal

08/08/2025

On the above composition I take a trial ,in these trial the results are as follows

  1. Blinding is good
  2. Overall texture is also good
  3. But due to fermentation process the ferment smell is occurs and some sour teast is also fill during eating
Taking first trial with fermented soy flour

09/08/2025 to 12/08/2025

According to results , now my aim is to reduce the fermented smell from these fermented soy flour . Then I again discussed with Dixit sir about these then they told me to try with process like first ferment these flour then cook it for some time and then place it for drying in electrical dryer.

All process is same like above but just add cooking process in it ,and these cooking process is as follows

Cooking Process

Goal: Heat enough to reduce smell but not destroy too much protein quality.

  1. Moisture Adjustment:
    If your fermented flour is moist or slightly lumpy, break up large clumps before cooking. Add 10–15% water (100–150 ml per 1 kg flour) to make even heating easier.
  2. Heat Settings:

Gas stove / induction: Low to medium heat

Target temperature: 85–90°C inside the flour
(Use food thermometer if possible — above 90°C will cause unnecessary browning.)

  1. Cooking Time:
  • Stir continuously to avoid burning at the bottom.
  • 5–8 minutes is usually enough for smell reduction.
  • You’ll notice smell shifting from sour to a mild, nutty aroma.

Again I achive these fermented cooked soy flour and now I have to take another trial with these flour .

Observation of smell from these flour is little bit sour smell is get redused then previous one

So I again take a trial with these fermented cooked flour and other ingredients composition / proportion is same

Final Composition for One 50 g High-Protein Bar with sprouted fermentated cooked soy flour

Ingredient

Fermented Sprouted cooked Soy Flour 15 g
Sprouted Moong Flour 10 g
Yoghurt + Bhuna Chana Powder 10 g
Roasted Peanuts 5 g
Pumpkin + Watermelon Seeds 4 g
Date Paste 5 g
Glucose Liquid 1 g
Total 50 g

Nutritional Output (per 50 g bar)

Nutrient Value

Protein 14.5 g
Fat 6.06 g
Carbs 20.81 g
Fiber 4.19 g
Calories ~220–230 kcal

Result of these trial is as follows

  • Blinding is good but not that much perfect
  • After cooking also sour teste is not change , it fills like eating acid content product

Also on 12/08/2025 on 9.00 pm we had a meeting with Tushar sir and Akit sir on topic – Fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) and it can be used in our products and how many companies using these already

  • What is Fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS)?

FOS is a prebiotic dietary fiber made of short chains of fructose molecules naturally found in foods like bananas, onions, garlic, and asparagus.

It’s slightly sweet (about 30-50% as sweet as sugar), but with very low calories because it’s not fully digested.

It acts as a food source for beneficial gut bacteria, promoting digestive health.

Often used as a sugar substitute or binding agent in food products, especially health-focused snacks.

  • Benefits of Using FOS in Your Protein Bar

Benefit

Natural sweetener – Adds mild sweetness without adding much sugar or calories
Prebiotic fiber Supports gut health by promoting good bacteria
Improved binding – Helps hold ingredients together, improving texture
Low glycemic index – Good for blood sugar control, suitable for diabetic-friendly bars
Enhances moisture retention – Keeps bars moist and chewy without excess sugars

13/08/2025 to 14/08/2025

Now I have to work for reducing these excessive acid from these flour and I am searching for all possible ways to reduce the acidity in these flour after fermentation I disscused with Dixit sir about these also and the finial out for these is as follows

  1. I have to maintain acidity of the flour during fermentation – for that I have to reduce the fermentation time and also with maintain PH also . But according to Dixit sir guidliness , I am selected first option (reduce time of fermentation)
  2. Use of sodium bicarbonate at 0.2 % of flour weight .

Why Baking Soda Works

Fermentation produces organic acids (mainly lactic acid, acetic acid).

NaHCO₃ (baking soda) neutralizes these acids, releasing CO₂ (helps fluffiness) + water + sodium salts (less sour taste).

17/08/2025 to 18/08/2025

Now I am start to work on it and for that I sock another batch of 500 gm of soy beans and after sprouting , I make a paste of it and place for ferment with culture .

Now these time I redused the time of fermentation from 12-15 hrs to 5-6 hrs and also I am using sodium bicarbonate while cooking fermented soy flour .

Fermentation process – adding culture

19/08/2025 To 20/08/2025

Now I reduced the time of fermentation from 12 hrs to 6 hrs and after as I said I have to add sodium bicarbonate , for these calculation I got 2 kg of fermented batter so

Typical Requirement

For fermented batters like dosa/idli or soy flour:

0.5 – 1% baking soda (w/w) is usually enough.

Above 1.5% gives a soapy/salty taste and can reduce protein digestibility.

Calculation for 2 kg (2000 g) Batter

0.5% → 10 g baking soda

1.0% → 20 g baking soda

So your safe range = 10–20 g sodium bicarbonate for 2 kg batter.

Practical Recommendation

Start with 12–15 g for 2 kg (≈ ¾ teaspoon per 500 g batter).

Mix well just before cooking/steaming, not earlier (otherwise gas escapes).

Do not exceed 20 g, otherwise taste and nutrition are affected.

So I used 14 gm of baking soda .

23/08/2025

After completing these treated soy flour I was taken a trial with these flour and other ingredients.

In these trial ingredients proportion is as follows

Treated fermented soy flour – 15 gm
Sprouted moong flour – 10 gm
Youghard + Bhuna chana powder – 10 gm
Roosted peanuts – 4 gm
Pumpkin seeds+ watermelon seed – 3 gm
Date paste – 5 gm
Glucose liquid – 3 gm

And nutritional values are as follows

Nutritional value chart
Energy – 191 kcl
Protein – 15 gm
Fat – 5.2 gm
Total carbohydrate – 22.4 gm

Result of these trial is as follows

  • Blinding is good but not that much perfect ,I am using glucose liquid as blinding agent but still blinding is not proper .

12/09/2025

Binder Issue and Use of Ragi Flour

In our initial trials, I tried using glucose liquid as a binder, but the binding was not perfect. The bar was breaking apart and did not have proper shape stability. After discussing this challenge with Dixit sir, they guided me to use ragi flour as a natural binder. They suggested that the ragi flour should be cooked first, and then other ingredients can be mixed with it. This cooking step helps in activating the starch present in ragi, which improves stickiness and binding.

So I prepare the next trial batch using cooked ragi flour as the binder, and then add our protein-rich ingredients to form a compact and stable high-protein bar.

13/09/2025

Trial with Ragi Flour as Binder

I carried out a trial using ragi flour as the main binder, as per the guidance from Dixit sir. First, ragi flour was cooked to activate its starch, which improves stickiness and helps in binding. After that, the protein-rich ingredients (like moong dal flour, chana flour, yogurt powder, roasted peanuts, seeds, etc.) were added and mixed well.

The mixture was then pressed into a bar shape to check the binding strength, texture, and compactness. Compared to the earlier trial with glucose liquid, this method showed better binding and firmness.

Trial with Ragi Flour Binder – Ingredient Proportion

The following proportions of ingredients were used for the trial:

Treated fermented soy flour – 16 gm
Sprouted moong flour – 12 gm
Youghard + Bhuna chana powder – 10 gm
Roosted peanuts – 2 gm
Pumpkin seeds+ watermelon seed – 3 gm
Date paste – 2 gm
Ragi flour ( cooked ) – 5 gm

Nutritional value chart
Energy – 200 kcl
Protein – 15 gm
Fat – 4 gm
Total carbohydrate – 23 gm
Dietary fiber – 4 gm

Results – Trial 1 (Ragi Flour as Binder)

Binding: Good, the mixture held together well.

Texture: Not very smooth, slightly dry and powdery in nature.

Taste: Quite good, but needs improvement in sweetness and flavor.

Review (by Ranjeet sir): Binding is satisfactory, but overall texture should be improved. Additional sweetness and flavoring are required to make the bar more acceptable.

Trial with FOS-L55 as Binder

After completing the trial with ragi flour, I planned another trial using FOS-L55 as the binding agent. FOS-L55 is a prebiotic syrup that not only helps in binding the ingredients but also adds mild sweetness and improves gut health. It is widely used in functional foods due to its role in improving digestive health and providing dietary fiber.

In this trial, FOS-L55 replaced ragi flour as the binder, while the remaining protein-rich ingredients (moong dal flour, chana flour, yogurt powder, roasted peanuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, watermelon seeds, and flavoring) were kept in the same proportion.

The following proportions of ingredients were used for the trial:

Treated fermented soy flour – 16 gm
Sprouted moong flour – 12 gm
Youghard + Bhuna chana powder – 10 gm
Roosted peanuts – 2 gm
Pumpkin seeds+ watermelon seed – 3 gm
Date paste – 2 gm
FOS -L55 – 5 gm

Nutritional value chart
Energy – 188 kcl
Protein – 14.34 gm
Fat – 4.29 gm
Total carbohydrate – 18.81 gm
FOS fiber  – 6.50 gm

Results – Trial 2 (FOS-L55 as Binder)

Binding: Very good, no extra effort required, ingredients blended easily.

Texture: Smooth and compact, not dry like in Trial 1.

Taste: Better compared to Trial 1, but still requires additional sweetness and flavoring for improved acceptance.

Review (by Ranjeet sir): Binding is satisfactory. Additional sweetness and flavoring are required to make the bar more acceptable.

14/09/2025

Modified Composition for Taste Improvement

After feedback from earlier trials, I decided to make a slight change in the composition to improve the taste and sweetness of the protein bar. In this trial, jaggery powder was added along with FOS-L55 to enhance the flavor profile.

Ingredient Composition

Treated fermented soy flour – 23 g

Sprouted moong flour – 2 g

Yogurt + Bhunna chana powder – 12 g

Roasted peanuts – 2 g

Pumpkin seeds + Watermelon seeds – 2 g

Date paste – 2 g

FOS-L55 – 5 g

Jaggery powder – 2 g


Nutritional Value (per bar):

Energy: 189 kcal

Protein: 14.89 g

Fat: 4.24 g

Total Carbohydrate: 17.23 g

Dietary Fiber: 4 g

Observation and Result

Binding was maintained with FOS-L55.

Texture remained smooth and compact.

Addition of jaggery powder improved sweetness and overall taste balance compared to earlier trials.

15/09/2025

Literature & Market Research

To further improve the binding and taste of my protein bar, I carried out background research on natural sweeteners, binders, and market products.

Stevia (Natural Sweetener):

    Zero-calorie natural sweetener extracted from Stevia leaves.

    Can be used to enhance sweetness without increasing calories.

    Needs careful dosage as excess stevia may give a bitter aftertaste.

    Market Research – Yoga bar:

    • Studied ingredients used in Yogabar protein bars, which include whey protein isolate, oats, nuts, dates, seeds, and natural sweeteners.
    • Noted that their binding agents are mostly natural syrups (honey, dates) and sometimes soluble fibers.
    • Gained insight into how commercial brands balance taste + nutrition + texture.

    FOS (Fructo-oligosaccharide):

      • Found that FOS is considered safe as a prebiotic ingredient.
      • General recommended intake for humans is around 5–15 g per day (can vary depending on tolerance).
      • Using 5 g per bar is within a safe and beneficial range.

      Palm Jaggery:

        • A natural sweetener rich in minerals and antioxidants.
        • Provides a unique caramel-like flavor.
        • Can be explored as an alternative to jaggery powder for better taste and nutrition.

        16/09/2025

        Designing New Trials for Taste & Binding

        Based on the research and feedback from earlier trials, I planned four different variations to improve sweetness, flavor, and binding in the protein bar:

        Planned Variations:

        A. Honey – to act as a natural sweetener and binder.

        B. Dark Chocolate – for flavor enhancement, smooth texture, and consumer appeal.

        C. Different Types of Dates – selected stickier and sweeter varieties compared to the earlier trial, to naturally improve both binding and sweetness.

        Trials Conducted:
        On this day, I carried out two trials among the above options: