DIETING ON NIGERIAN FOODS

Even though most Nigerian diets consist mainly of carbohydrates, you can still eat and stay trim n Nigerian foods. The secret is making the right choices and counting your calories. It is wiser to stick to the healthier carbohydrate and low calorie foods.

The following diet menu is a guide on a weight loss programme.
BREAKFAST: 1. Bowl of cereal [oats, cornflakes, pap [corn cereal]; one boiled egg white.
2.1 slice of whole wheat bread with boiled egg white/ 2 sardines.
3.3 -4 akara balls/one moimoi, pap.
Use honey instead of sugar. All options should be accompanied with low/non-fat milk, glass of fresh orange/grape fruit juice/one apple /slice of pine apple; tea/water.
LUNCH: 1. 2 dishing spoons boiled beans/brown/black eyed peas, or one moimoi or ½ medium unripe /half ripe plantain or ½ medium sweet potato.
2.One boiled/roasted /half – ripe plantain.
3.One slice yam/ sweet potato/ 2 eko agidi [corn-meal].
4.Two dishing spoons of unripe plantain/yam pottage .
Since it is unwise to deprive yourself of some of your favorite foods, some of the less healthy carbohydrates can be eaten. 2 dishing portions of rice,/ a small wrap of garri/ pounded yam/ semovita/ few cuts of fried ripe plantain, cake, ice cream can be eaten ONLY once a week.
Meals should be accompanied with good portion of no-fat beef, fish, chicken, low fat tomato stew/vegetable soup, fresh fruit/ fruit juice, low fat milk/diet coke/water.
DINNER: 1. Chicken beef or fish pepper soup.
2.3 -4 akara balls/one moimoi
3.Vegetable salads, fruit salad.
4.1 slice whole wheat bread/few crackers.
All meals should be accompanied with beef, chicken or fish; water, fruit, fruit juice, low fat milk.
Use French dressing for salads instead of salad cream/mayonnaise.
If you stay up late and feel you are peckish, snack on fruits/fruit juice, vegetable, tea, cereal.
To ensure that you have your essential minerals, vitamins, eat your vegetable/fruit salad/fruit/fruit juice before tour main meal. This way you will half- fill your stomach with fruits and vegetables so that you do not have too much space for carbohydrates and high calorie proteins. You are thus ensuring that you have your –oxidants to fight diseases in your body. You are sure to loose at least 1kg every fortnight, if you stick to this diet programme.