Healthy Nigerian Foods

There are healthy Nigerian foods, and you can learn to switch over to them.

I will start this article by reiterating the age-old saying “health is wealth”. I suppose we have validated this statement over the years as people are learning how to improve their health by improving their recipes. Saving money that should have been spent in hospitals.

We cannot overemphasize the importance of eating healthy foods. The benefits outweigh the drawbacks, by far.

By eating healthy Nigerian foods, you will visit the doctors less often.
healthy Nigerian foods
I have emphasized in time past that this healthy eating habit will, in no way displace any of the delicious foods you love to eat. You will keep your yummy recipes; we can just make them better.

People sometimes imagine that healthy foods would be less delicious.

Take Ginger for instance.
Ginger
I wouldn’t ask you to eat them raw as I do occasionally, but you can add it to some of the wonderful foods you make every day.

Ginger can single-handedly save your sex life (for married folks). No Kidding. Sugar kills your cells but ginger kills the sugar, I think ginger is one of the best herbs created by God.

Ginger as Spice in Foods

I use ginger for jollof rice, stew, peppersoup, porridge beans, pap, etc. I use fresh ginger; I pound or blend them. Try ginger and save yourself lots of money.

Healthy foods no doubt ensures longevity, I have fully stressed this point in a free ebook I wrote a while back. You should have it if you are subscribed to my newsletters.

So, if you want to live long and live well, you must watch what you eat, I will list some of the healthy Nigerian foods below. Incorporate these foods/spices into your diet, you will thank me later.

More Of Fish and less of meat

fish
Fish, when compared with meat appears to be a healthier alternative. White-fleshed fish, in particular, is lower in fat than any other source of animal protein, plus that fishes are high in omega-3 fatty acids or the “good” fats. Since the human cell can’t make significant amounts of these essential nutrients themselves, we get them from fish.

There are hundreds of fish species in Nigeria If you don’t like catfish you can try Mackerel, Cod or Tilapia. We have lots of different beautiful fishes in Africa.

There are more than a thousand ways to prepare fish. You can, cook, grill or roast them. We all know that a well-grilled fish taste way better than red meat.
Have you tried Catfish Peppersoup? You can check it out.

Replace Red Meat With Chicken

chicken beef
If you have the money, eat more chicken and less red meat. Red meats (beef, pork, and lamb) have more cholesterol and saturated fat (the bad fat) than chicken. Cholesterol and saturated fat can raise your blood cholesterol and cause heart disease. Chicken and fish have less saturated fat than most red meat.

Don’t forget the vegetables.

Carrot/green beans is a perfect combination and they are pretty cheap this season. Observe the plate of rice below.
Jesus Food
That is plain tomato stew with turkey meat. Simple right? Just slice the carrot/green beans and add them while you are boiling the rice. 3 minutes before you turn off the heat.
Try porridge yam or porridge plantain with some vegetables.

Also, there are lots of fruits to enjoy in Nigeria. Try some of them, you can even make fruit salads and fruit juice

Spice up with garlic.

garlic
Most People avoid garlic because of the accompanying smell that ruins your breath afterward.

I get it, it is amazing how something that makes food smell so nice and yummy can make a person smell so differently.

However, garlic has a list of gory health benefits that are not easily disputable. From helping to manage cholesterol and blood sugar levels, to the prevention of gynecological disorders, to supporting immune function, the list is endless.

Don’t make a pot of stew or peppersoup without one or two cloves of garlic

Aloe Vera is wonderful

Aloe Vera Juice

I recently created a drink recipe with aloe Vera as its key ingredient. You can find my Detoxifying Aloe Vera plus lemon juice here

These herbs are meant to heal and nourish our cells, but we avoid them for several reasons.

Ginger is hot

Aloevera is bitter

Garlic smells

But you will do yourself lots of good by incorporating them into your diet. We live in a toxic environment, some of these wonderful herbs and fruits help in detoxifying our cells and we are as healthy as our cells.

What do you think? Are you going to try some of these? Use the comment form below.

Learn more about Nigerian foods

See this recipe for Vegetable Soup

50 Comments

Ogegenius
Reply

Superb tips, I’m already a lover of ginger and garlic but yet to try aloes with lemon drink.

December 2, 2023
Ngozi Obi
Reply

Am in this category. Thanks for the tips.

February 23, 2023
Mitch
Reply

I’m liking your recipes… Don’t get much Nigerian food in Australia… I use garlic in almost everything I cook and ginger almost as much… If you’re new to garlic and ginger just use one clove for a meal big enough to feed four adults… Once you get used to it you will be adding lots more… Also with your breakfast recipes you say use peppers (egg/yam sauce specifically) ..does that mean chillies or do you mean capsicums (which in America is referred to as peppers)… I’m Australian and we don’t actually refer to anything as peppers so I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be using…thanks heaps

July 25, 2022
Chy Anegbu
Reply

Peppers…. chillies (scotch bonnet, habanero etc)

July 25, 2022
Oge Victor
Reply

Pls I need a healthy food time table for my family. I use tiger garlic and ginger powder, is it good?

November 11, 2020
innocent
Reply

Please i need a balanced and aproper meal time table to be following i consume alot of fast food this days.

September 2, 2020
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

OK, I will add that to my ‘to do’ list.

September 3, 2020
Progress
Reply

Chidi thanks a lot you are a darling
Do you know I have started the Aloe Vera Recipe since two weeks now and am enjoying it, though it’s very bitter
Pls Chidi I want to know if this Detoxification recipe also helps in burning down fats?.
Thanks so much once again.

April 14, 2020
Love
Reply

I heard there are some alor Vera that are not edible ie they are poison

April 8, 2020
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

It is possible, there are always species of many good plants that are not edible. But I am guessing you won’t be seeing those in Nigerian market.

April 8, 2020
Adesola Enitan
Reply

Waoh I love this…tank u

April 6, 2020
Ada
Reply

I tried the bitter leaf soup and it came out perfectly well thank u

April 2, 2020
Juliet Tomi
Reply

Thanks for the tips ,but what if I decide to use ginger and garlic powder instead of the fresh ones. Is it also good?

April 2, 2020
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Yeah, if you trust the source or grind them yourslef.

April 3, 2020
VICTORIA CYRIL
Reply

5 stars
YES, I USE THEM AND WILL CONTINUE. THANKS FOR THE REMINDER.

January 10, 2020
Seun
Reply

I used to hate putting ginger and garlic in my food. when I tried it,trust me,its lovely. Those that don’t like using it,it’s probably because you have been using it the wrong way.you don’t need much. just pound it,add little water,and seive it,to get the taste.Thank you for the tips

December 13, 2019
Namcy
Reply

I ALWAYS LOVE COOKING MY WHITE RICE WITH SOME VEGETABLE LIKE CARROT, PEAS AND GREEN BEANS. WHAT I FIND DIFFICULT TO DO IS EATING GARLIC

October 22, 2019
Tosin
Reply

Wow! Thanks for sharing this, although have been using them but this article encourage me to use it the more

September 13, 2019
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Thanks for your feedback, there are lots of healthy foods in Nigeria. We are only just learning about them.

September 13, 2019
Chukwufumnaya
Reply

You can swallow garlic the way you take your paracetamol and other tablets,just peel and swallow with water only.

August 12, 2019
Nikky
Reply

I am a big fan of garlic and ginger. I blend both with lemon and drink the juice all day to raise my PH level. It is also good to lower blood sugar in diabetic patients. Ginger and garlic in jellof rice with a topup of veggies are good to our guts. Thank you ma for this writeup.

August 6, 2019
MBA Nkemakonam
Reply

Wow….definitely I will reduce my meat intake and be using ginger and garlic often, thanks a bunch chy

August 6, 2019
Adeola
Reply

Beautiful! I cannot cook without adding ginger and garlic in one way or the other. Thank you so much for the reinforcement.

August 6, 2019
Ejiogu Loveline
Reply

Thanks for your teaching ma. But my baby doesn’t like it when I add fresh veggies to her meal. Please, is there a way out?

June 28, 2019
Eky
Reply

Blend the vegetables and add to your stew. You can bring out a portion of the stew for this if you don’t want to add the veggies to the entire pot. I hope this helps. Thank you!

May 21, 2020
Rita
Reply

Wow, great am definitely trying the white rice and veggies. Thanks

June 24, 2019
Mercy
Reply

How do I preserve my carrots in the house since I can’t go to market always

June 24, 2019
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

They are meant to be eaten fresh but I guess it lasts up to 5 days if refrigerated, thanks for asking.

June 24, 2019
Osaze
Reply

Grate and put it out to dry. Avoid drying under the sun though. God bless you

April 27, 2020
Derek Dada
Reply

Rice ke? Not that healthy.
Lean meat is also quite healthy too.
Amala is a great option, but portion is important.
Salads I agree.
Moi Moi is great too.

I expected to see a lot more healthier foods.

May 22, 2019
Olawumi
Reply

Please can a breast feeding mother take garlic and ginger

August 20, 2018
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

I eat ginger and garlic in jollof rice and stew when pregnant and never had any issue, You may need to consult your doctor for professional advice.
Chidi

August 20, 2018
mr nath
Reply

I’ll try the ginger
Thanx for the infinformation
Although am wondering if eating,one egg a day is healthyhealthy,what do u thinkn

May 15, 2018
Chef Chidi
Reply

some say one egg a day is healthy, I am yet to do a proper research.

May 15, 2018
Chigbo Okeke
Reply

what time is most appropriate do apply this?

September 21, 2018
Eunice
Reply

I tried it and it wonderful , my meal taste so nice ginger and garlic. Thanks a lot for the encouragement.

March 22, 2018
Kay
Reply

Will try this carrot and peas recipe. Am always restricted to cooking food with fresh vegies like these cos my children don’t always like it. I will appreciate a better method for children. Keep the good work up. Loads of love.

March 21, 2018
Onifade shijuade
Reply

Wow. Am going to try the carrot and green peas with white rice and stew thanks a lot for the wonderful info.

March 21, 2018
Portia
Reply

am going to try some especially the carrot and green peas with white rice an stew thanks a lot for the lecture

March 16, 2018
Akinwande shola
Reply

I recently started cooking my meals with garlic and ginger and believe me everyone in my house Loves it. My food taste better now.

March 16, 2018
nkasii
Reply

people said instead of eating garlic from mouth, its more better to insert it thrru anus, is it true? does it has any effect?

March 14, 2018
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Lol, haven’t heard of that method, I will probably do some more research.

March 15, 2018
Success
Reply

I never knew that Aloe Vera is edible

August 10, 2019
Chidi Anegbu

Lol, it is.

August 11, 2019
Victor
Reply

Does aloe Vera juice cure malaria

December 5, 2019
Chidi Anegbu

Not certain but it sure helps to prevent it.

December 9, 2019
Praise

I really want to start eating healthy, but I thought it was Impossible in Nigerian. But I can tell that it isn’t hard at all, just requires efforts.

September 24, 2021
Alex dacoda
Reply

There is definitely something wrong with you

June 3, 2019
Love
Reply

A gynacologist said it’s a no no please don’t insert garlic it’s unhealthy

April 8, 2020
Mr Osabanjo
Reply

Yes, that’s a great idea, you can try the same with peppers also…

December 29, 2020

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