''What do I feed my family today?'' is one question whose answer eludes many home makers today. With a lot of Nigerian women also bringing home the bacon, and the state of the economy not being any less harsh on us, it's a wonder that we still manage to provide our families with the sort of nutrition they require.
A well balanced diet is a basic requirement for a healthy family. As home managers we ponder what to serve, how much to serve, how much to spend, where to shop, how much to buy, what dishes to make and how to serve meals. Getting sufficient information on nutrient requirements and individual preferences is an essential part of preparing a delicious meal.
Most importantly, your meals have to be planned within the family income. Time, labour and gas need to be economised. Meal planning is a skill no doubt but it doesn't have to be complicated. After all, practice makes perfect.
I remember my earlier days of planning meals for myself, mostly in the bid to shed off some weight (hmmn, I think I'm getting there), I would only consider food options that were tasteless, had very little nutritional value, and potions that couldn't feed a todler, let alone a full grown adult. Well turns out I was always hungry and would fall off my diet, leaving sheets of abandoned meal plans lying around. But I learned the art, and years later, it paid off.
Planning your meals in advance saves time and money - reducing your trips to the market and impulse or last minute spending. You already know what it is you are going to prepare, and have the ingredients ready and available.
My tip for you:
Have a weekly meal plan. This eases the daily chore of meal planning and cooking. No more random buying. Prepare a grocery list and shop for the entire week. A meal plan adds variety to your diet and gives you an interesting menu.
Sample Weekly Menu:
Day Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Monday: Bread,Tea,Eggs/Soup,Garri/Moimoi & Ogi
Tuesday: Boiledpotato & Egg sauce/Beans Pottage/Boiled yam & fish in veg sauce
Wednesday: Bread,Tea or cereal/Soup,Garri/ Potato Pottage
Thursday: Dodo & Egg Sauce/Jollof or coconut rice with chicken/Unripe Plantain in Fish peppersoup
Friday: Potato chips & fish stew/Soup & p-yam /Moimoi & Ogi
Saturday: English Breakfast/Spaghetti bolognaise/Akara
Sunday: Pancakes & cornedbeef stew /White rice & Ofada stew/Dodo & fish in veg sauce
Soup Options: Egusi soup/Edikang-ikong/Afang /Efo-riro/Ogbona/Okra soup/
Oha/Okazi etc.
This is merely a guide (as most Naija men must eat 'solids' or they don't feel they've had a meal), as a rule I try to ensure a daily meal includes one carbohydrate meal, one protein meal, and one vegetable meal. It doesn't matter which you have as breakfast, lunch or dinner, that's up to you, but I like to leave my night meals very light.
Why not try working with the menu above, substitute where you see fit. You can keep the soups to two types per week and a pot of stew ... they do come handy for a quick meal fix.
Let me know how it works for you, what challenges you face.
PS: Soups and stews can be ordered from SimpleSoups ... call us at simple pleasures on 07023345039, 08099537164 0r email- simpleasures@ymail.com
Warm regards,
Kela.
