When TAPN asked if you had ever eaten chicken feet, quite a few people responded that they had. . They may be the lowliest part of the chicken but they are an excellent source of calcium and provide almost as much protein as the rest of the chicken. Chew on the bones to extract the […]

Many Africans joke that salad is “rabbit food” and yet when it comes to health,they will gladly sit down and enjoy a plateful.  While salads can be wonderful and packed with vital nutrients, the ingredients you add to them may cause some unintended weight gain. The more cheese, dressing, bacon, nuts and other high fat toppings […]

I get many (many, many, many) questions regarding the nutritional content of various African foods and dishes. Fortunatley, the research on African nutrition is emerging and I am excited to share with you the nutritional content of some of the foods you may enjoy eating. I hope this helps. Cereals and Grains  (per 100g edible […]

We recently wrote an article on Sadza for a Zimbabwean organiztion. Thought we would share it with you. http://herzimbabwe.co.zw/index.php/herbody/item/50-sadza-is-not-fattening-excess-calories-are    

The African continent boasts a wide variety dishes and tastes. Some dishes are the same amongst regions, some have variations while others are simply limited to single countries and areas. I asked a few of my favorite African food bloggers to share their favorite recipes and they delivered.  In today’s posting, I introduce you to 8 dishes you have […]

Whether you call them samosa, samoosa, sambusa or the little stuffed triangles, one thing for sure is that these are a wonderful appetizer/snack. Unfortunately, the most common method of cooking these is to immerse them in a deep pan sizzling with oil. Not so great for the waistline!  I wanted to make samosas but without […]

This is a dish that a friend from Kenya introduced me to. It is a wonderful  alternative to Ugali/Pap/Sadza/Fufu/Rice/Potato Salad and is highly nutritious with loads of potassium, magnesium, protein, fiber and multiple vitamins. Some recipes include spinach which adds iron and other nutrients to the plate.  Have a picky eater who hates veggies? Irio is a delicious way to “hide” […]

Next to the plate is a glass of milk to serve as a reminder to make sure that you include dairy products in your meal. Given the high rates of lactose intolerance (abdominal discomfort after eating some dairy products) amongst people of African descent, and the evidence suggesting that too much dairy intake may increase […]

The Recommendation: Make 1/4 of your plate from the protein group. When most people think of protein, they see visions of a nice piece of sizzling nyama choma (fire roasted meat). However, there is more to protein foods than our beloved Nyama Choma.  Some plant foods as well as other animal flesh and animal products all contribute […]

The Recommendation:  Make a quarter ( 1/4)  of your plate from the grain group. Grains are truly the staple of the African diet. From maize and sorghum to rice and teff, the continent boasts one of the world’s largest varieties of grains and it is not uncommon to hear people complain that they are not satisfied […]