To preserve good health and general wellbeing, one must eat a balanced diet. Food that is healthy gives the body the vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids it needs to function correctly. It can also keep your immune system healthy, give you more energy, and help your brain work better.
Eating well can be good for a person’s mental and emotional health as well as their physical health. It can give happiness and fulfillment, and it may even lessen stress and boost your mood. In other words, maintaining one’s total health and well-being requires an appropriate diet.
It can be difficult to select the perfect dinner in Nigeria. especially if you lack the means to be picky and don’t have a meal plan you can stick to.
Ways to Know Whether a Food is Healthy or Not
A healthy lunch should give the body the vitamins and minerals it needs to work well and keep its energy up all day. Here are some ways to tell if your lunch is good for you:
- It has a good mix of nutrients. A healthy lunch should have just the right amount of carbs, proteins, and healthy fats to keep you full and healthy all day.
- It includes a range of whole, minimally processed foods. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins that haven’t been changed much from their natural state.
- It is portion controlled. Pay attention to the size of your servings and aim for the right amount to help control your calorie intake and stay at a healthy weight.
- It doesn’t have much added sugar or sodium. Limit your intake of foods with a lot of added sugars and sodium, as these can lead to health problems like obesity, heart disease, and high blood pressure.
If you follow these tips, you can make a healthy, filling lunch that is good for your health and well-being as a whole.
However, do you find it hard to think of a long list of foods to eat for lunch? Let’s find out some healthy Nigerian lunch ideas.
10 healthy Nigerian lunch ideas
Here are 10 healthy Nigerian lunch ideas and some of their key nutrients:
- Jollof rice and chicken: Jollof rice is made with tomatoes and spices, and it’s a good source of vitamin C and other antioxidants. The chicken adds protein.
- Eba and egusi soup: Eba, also known as garri, is made from ground cassava and is a good source of complex carbs. Egusi soup is made with melon seeds and is high in healthy fats.
- Okra soup and pounded yam: Okra soup is high in fiber and antioxidants, and pounded yam is a good source of complex carbs.
- Plantain and vegetable stew: Plantain is a good source of complex carbs and potassium, and the vegetable stew adds a variety of nutrients.
- Brown rice and beans: This dish is high in protein, fiber, and complex carbs.
- Moin moin and dodo (fried plantain): Moin moin is a steamed bean cake that is high in protein and fiber. Dodo, or fried plantain, is a good source of complex carbs.
- Fried rice and grilled chicken: Fried rice is a good source of complex carbs, and the grilled chicken adds protein.
- Tuwo shinkafa and miyan kuka: Tuwo shinkafa is made from ground rice and is a good source of complex carbs. Miyan kuka is a soup made with baobab leaves and is high in vitamins and minerals.
- Efo riro and amala: Efo riro is a leafy green stew that is high in vitamins and minerals. Amala is made from yam flour and is a good source of complex carbs.
- Nkwobi and yam pottage: Nkwobi is a dish made with cow foot and spices, and it’s a good source of protein. Yam pottage is a stew made with yam and vegetables, and it’s a good source of complex carbs and fiber.
It is essential to keep in mind that the preceding are merely a few examples, and that there are a great deal more suggestions for nutritious lunches that are typical of Nigeria. It is also essential to eat a varied diet and to incorporate a wide range of nutrients into each of your meals.
