The African diet can be balanced and healthy, including rice, potatoes and tubers such as cassava and yam, as well as starchy vegetables such as plantain which form these carbohydrate-based staples.  

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What is the food culture like?

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Food tends to be seasoned with salt and herbs and prepared by frying, stewing or boiling. Common foods such as cassava or yam can be fermented, pounded and mixed with water to produce amala, banku, fufu or gari that are served with soups or stews. 

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What are some common foods consumed?​

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The carbohydrates commonly consumed include plain rice, or with added tomatoes, peppers, onions and spices (e.g. jollof rice), seasoning, and raisins. Tubers such as cassava or yam are commonly eaten fried or boiled.

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Protein in the diet tends to be in the form of meat, poultry and fish, as well as from lentils, nuts and dairy foods. Soups or stews contain meat, fish and/or vegetables. The protein source may be served individually.