MY TOP 5 HEALTHY GHANAIAN LUNCH MEALS

There are always real challenges when thinking about a mid-day meal; And I believe you want healthy options that will keep you full enough for the rest of your day. So, when you do pay me a visit right here in Ghana, try these foods for lunch:

1. Fufu

This food would have been the national dish if not for the fact that, every region has it's own cuisine. Yeah, this country has such a diverse cultural and traditional background.
Mashed yam, plantain and/or cassava is/are what fufu is made up of. It is usually pounded into a pulp and served with soup. It is eaten by scooping some fufu into a morsel, dipping it into the soup, then off you go! Straight into the mouth. But, do ensure that, your hands are properly washed, and eat with your right hand. This is because, using the left hand is mainly associated with being impolite. . .





Anyway, Fufu is very satisfying as it is a 'heavy food.' Fufu contains carbohydrates, which is actually good for you, although many fear to gain weight, so won't venture. But fear not! Carbs give energy as we all know, thereby helping the body to ward off diseases. And like every other food or anything in general, too much unnecessary intake will be detrimental to you.

 2. Fried rice with/and chicken or fish.
This is obviously not Ghanaian you may say, and it's true; but it is on the menu of every top Ghanaian restaurant, Frankies, Barcello's, don't let me even get to Papaye! Arguably, the McDonald's of Ghana. lol

 

 A good name is better than riches, and the word ''fried'' certainly has neither of a good name nor a good reputation about it, because of what it connotes, health wise. But you should try this delicious food at lunch time. It should be eaten in moderation, especially if you are patronizing the usual ''check-check'' ones, as most use large quantities of oil, which aint healthy.
The benefits of rice is enormous and we shall get there soon.

 3. Waakye

 

One dish of Waakye will do you lots of good, I tell you. One dish alone contains rice, salad, gari, beans, spaghetti (we call it 'talia' here, so beware!), etc. It is so nutritious and healthy, in that it contains all the six food groups and even more! Yeah, so, you can never go wrong with Waakye. The black pepper plus stew also contains many nutrients that fight lots of diseases. For example, pepper has Vitamin C in it, which helps fight against a disease like Arthritis. Pepper can help decrease cough and common cold as well. It also increases libido, so take note, husbands and upcoming ones, like myself.

As for rice, it's health benefits are just enormous. Rice contains amino acids that help maintain a healthy skin, muscle tissues and also helps to lower blood pressure, due to it's calcium content (especially, brown rice).

 4. Kenkey

 

 I've already talked at length about pepper's health benefits and why you should try it.
Kenkey, whether Fante or Ga Kenkey, plus pepper, whether black or red pepper, with/or/and fish/sardines is as brutal as how a combination of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in one team, will be. Very tasty.

 

5. Jollof rice, with/and chicken or fish

 Jollof isn't just the baptism of plenty beef or chicken stew and red palm oil to make rice red, it is the creativity and the patience to wait for a well cooked rice!
Jollof rice does take time to be ready and well cooked, but believe you me, it is worth the wait. It is a very common Ghanaian meal, almost eaten at every occasion. I've already stated the health benefits of rice, so I won't go there. As for the stew to mix it up, it all depends on you.
Oh, and by the way, I enjoy jollof too. . .



(ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON July 28, 2015, UNDER A DIFFERENT TITLE )