Plantain in Diets: A Didactic Study in Ivory Coast

This book examines plantain (Musa spp.), a vital energy source providing over 200 calories daily to 60 million Africans and ranking fifth in global production with 30 million tons annually. Despite abundant food diversity in African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, malnutrition persists due to seasonal availability issues and urban preference for imported foods. The text highlights plantain’s nutritional value (87 kcal/100g dry matter), cultural importance-including as first solid food for infants in some regions-and presents approximately twenty traditional dishes and packaging systems for small-scale industrial production. This practical resource aims to revitalize plantain consumption by educating students, farmers, and processors about its nutritional benefits and culinary versatility.