African Diet

African diet says that the main meal of the day is definitely the lunch – having a combination of vegetables, legumes, and at times meat. But keep in mind that Africans are not able to eat meat frequently as thy have pecuniary constraints. Beef, goat, and sheep (mutton) – all are really very expensive in Africa, which are in a way stored for special occasions. But you get abundant fish in the coastal areas and also in the nearby areas.

African diet usually by and large comprises of the food called stew, soup, or sauce – a combination of various foods. The name is decided on to by the region where it is consumed. The food is then served on porridge or on rice, corn, millet. There are regional differences in the basic meal in African diet especially in case of stew.

Regional differences are reflected in variations on this basic meal, primarily in the contents of the stew. There are differences in the flavors and spiciness in the African diet chart.

Way to cook African diet

The traditional way of cooking an African diet involves steaming the food in leaf wrappers (banana or corn husks), then boiling it and frying it in oil and grill it beside a fire and roast in a fire and bake it in ashes. They generally cook outdoors or in a building away from the living quarters. African meals are usually eaten with the help of hands.

Food habits in different parts of Africa

North Africa – The North African diet is reflective of Islamic traditions and thus eating pork or any other animal product is prohibited. The bulk of the diet comprises of grains. They cook with olive oil, onions, and garlic. Cumin, caraway, clove and cinnamon are majorly used. The staple food of North Africa is flat breads.

West Africa – Rice is the staple food in West Africa. The chief crop in West Africa is Yam and is served in a variety of dishes, including amala (pounded yam) and egwansi (melon) sauce. The vegetables which are specifically eaten are eggplant, cabbage, carrots, chilies; french beans, lettuce, okra, onions, and cherry tomatoes.

East Africa – The staple diet which are eaten in East Africa are Beans or a stew with meat, potatoes, or vegetables. They are often accompany by the porridge, beef, goat, chicken, or sheep.

Southern Africa – In Southern Africa, bananas, pineapples, paupau (papaya), mangoes, avocadoes, tomatoes, carrots, onions, potatoes, and cabbage are the list of food that are eaten. The staple diet in Southern Africa is rice or maize. They are served with a stew.



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