When it comes to healthy Nigerian food, the list is endless. Why should you consider eating healthy?
Well, “health is wealth” is undoubtedly one of the most popular health adages because a healthy mind + a healthy body equals a healthy you.
When most people hear the word “healthy foods,” their minds start to wander off to fruits, vegetables, an English breakfast, or just basically doing a vegan diet.
Most people would love to eat healthily, but emptying their pantry to restock with new foods would be too expensive for their budget.
Still, for some people, it’s the fact that they struggle with eating foods they don’t find tasty and end up in a struggle fighting off the allure of tempting street foods.
Looking to plan your meal for a healthy lifestyle but can’t resist eating local dishes, or you’re looking for ways to prepare your favorite Nigerian food in the most beneficial way possible well, then Below are listed healthy Nigerian food you should eat:
Healthy Nigerian Food Ideas
Here are 8 Healthy Nigerian Food to try out:
Pepper soup
This would be the number one food on my list because it is relatively easy to prepare, and its ingredients could be obtained in the local markets at very affordable prices. It alleviates colds and also helps in boosting the body’s immunity.
If you’re a night owl, then consider this dish, as it is a great way to keep your body active at night. Ingredients for preparing this soup include scent leaves, pepper (you could go for chili, habanero, or any pepper you love), and onions, and it could be designed using fish, beef, chicken, or goat meat.
If you want to make it very healthy, then consider adding ginger and garlic, as both have numerous health benefits. The irresistible aroma of this dish would make you want to make more of it.
Read Also: Yams: A Nutritious and Diabetic-Friendly Food Choice
Edikang Ikong soup
This soup is a native of the Efik/Ibibio people in southern Nigeria, and it’s prepared using fresh vegetable leaves like the waterleaf and pumpkin leaves. The Edikang Ikong soup is known by various names in different tribes across Nigeria; one of its names is the “Efo riro,” and the Yoruba call it this.
The pumpkin leaf is locally known as the “ugwu leaf.” Being prepared with vegetables, this soup is a good source of vitamins like vitamin C, an antioxidant, and minerals such as iron which helps in blood formation.
The soup can be prepared preferably using beef or goat meat and garnished with shrimp, snails, and fish, all of which are good sources of proteins. This soup can be eaten with rice, eba, fufu, wheat, plantain, yam, and semolina. It is also a very healthy choice for people recovering from an illness.
Moi-Moi
This bean cake pudding, locally known as Moi-, is an excellent protein source because it is made from beans. This local food can be packed as a get-up-and-go or an on-the-move food as it is straightforward.
It’s also very nutritious, but its nutritional content largely depends on the variety of ingredients used to prepare it. This Nigerian food can be eaten with pap taken with garri, some people prefer to eat it with rice or vegetables, but it can also be eaten on its own.
A healthier Moi-moi could contain shrimp, onions, garlic, ginger, and other spices to make it enjoyable. This Nigerian dish leaves a satisfying feeling in the consumer and helps the body sustain a healthy weight.
Plantain porridge
For plantain lovers, this is a highly nutritional Nigerian food prepared with plantains, pepper, vegetables (like scent leaves, pumpkin, or spinach), spices, and other ingredients. It could be eye-catching by garnishing with fish, shrimp, or meat. Some people do not use vegetables to prepare but instead use coconut milk, making it yummy. For people with a sweet tooth, ripe plantain is ideal for its practice, but it would be healthier to use unripe plantain. It is a good source of vitamins and minerals like iron, carbohydrates, and copper.
Tiger nut
Tiger nuts, grown mainly in Northern Nigeria, are a very nutritious Nigerian food. It has a high monounsaturated fat content which makes it great for your heart health. Research has shown that it helps with blood circulation by significantly reducing your chances of having blood clots in blood vessels, thereby slimming your chances of having a heart disease.
Tiger nut is also a known local aphrodisiac that is great for sexual health as it increases libido. This healthy Nigerian food has a lot of benefits and can be chewed as a nut or crushed and made into a drink. If you choose to have it, it’s still a healthy food.
Bole
This popular Nigerian food is mainly known by its street name, “Bole,” as it is found on the corners of most streets and close to any beer parlor or bar. Bole is the local name for roasted plantain, whether ripe or unripe.
Boli is eaten with a spicy tomato sauce and garnished with leaves and onions. It is also eaten with roasted fish or chicken, whatever your preference is.
It is rich in vitamins and minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fiber. When choosing your roasted plantain, go for the unripe or semi-ripe if you have a sweet tooth.
Vegetable fried rice
As the name implies, this rice is prepared using a variety of vegetables such as carrots, green peas, and sweet corn, amongst others. While this is a continental dish, this is also a Nigerian delicacy. While most will argue that this dish is unhealthy and contains carbohydrates, I would say the vegetables add vitamins and minerals making it fit. Suppose you garnish it with chicken or beef, a protein source. To get the full rich and nutritional benefits of this meal, please do not overcook your veggies.
See too: Proteinous food for weight loss
Peppered snails
This tasty dish is prepared using well-washed snails(snawithhave litter or no slime on their bodies). The snails, after washing, are then cooked in low heat with a spicy sauce. The slight crunchy yet soft nature of the snail and its particular flavor makes it very distinct and enjoyable.
The peppered snail is one the healthiest chewy foods as it is shallow in fat compared to other proteins. Peppered snail is also fast becoming a favorite tough street food.
Conclusion
Eating healthy food is one of the best investments you can make because, without good health, very little is achievable. The famous saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” could be paraphrased and said as Eating healthy food every day keeps the doctor away.
To avoid health complications in the future and to live a healthy life till the ripe years, start eating healthy today, and if you’re not a fan of the diet plans that don’t give you that tasty Nigerian goodness, then here is a list of healthy Nigerian foods you should eat. Now you don’t have any reason not to stay healthy.
