The first time I had a pumpkin in America I was greatly disappointed. No one had bothered to inform me that the huge pumpkins sold in the supermarket around October were rarely for eating but rather for carving as people celebrated Halloween. The pumpkin was watery and virtually void of any flavor. For years,  I shied away from […]

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 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 […]

During a recent visit  to my local “African Store” I overheard two ladies debating the use of palm oil when cooking. One lady stated that she had read that palm oil was bad for the heart while the other lady claimed that it contained “many vitamins” and should be used everyday. I was so tempted to give my opinion on […]

Do you like plantain? Try this very easy recipe for a plantain dish that is low in fat (and calories) and still delicious.

While industrialization has had some positive effects on the people of the African continent, it has had a deleterious effect on the health of the African people as it has promoted a nutrition transition in which the healthy, wholesome, nutritious traditional foods have been replaced by processed, high fat, high sugar foods of significantly lower […]

A few months ago, a friend of mine told me about how she had joined one of the big franchise weight loss companies in a quest to drop a few pounds. She ate the foods that were suggested to her, followed the plan as prescribed and before long, the weight began to drop. However, the […]