In Nigerian Meals Time Table, Importance of Balance Diets.
In a lot of Nigerian homes, families adopt meals timetables which are not composed of balanced diets. Sadly, this often happens because they are not aware of the importance of balanced diets in a Nigerian meal time table. The human body is a system which requires all classes of foods and water in the right proportion, for its proper functioning, development, and growth. Refusal to do this will result in ugly consequences. Some of these consequences will stay subtle until they develop and get out of hands. To stay healthy, it is important that the body is consistently provided a balanced diet. However, we aren't going to stop here; we'll go ahead to discuss the importance of each class of food to the body.
Importance of Carbohydrate
Carbohydrate stands as one of the most important classes of food. Carbohydrates foods are often called 'energy giving food' because that is what they do. Just like any mechanical system, fuel will always be needed for it to function. The same goes for the human system. The human system requires a chemical substance known as glucose. Glucose is, in short, the fuel of the human system. For you to provide your body with glucose, you need to eat a food classified as a carbohydrate. After eating the food, your body system process it and get glucose from it. Inference, if you do not take carbohydrate, you would feel weak. However, if you don't take carbohydrate for a long time, an individual can die or fall very sick.
Importance of Protein
Protein is another very important class of food, but it has a different use from carbohydrate. This class of food is used by the human body to build new cells as well as repair existing ones. The use of protein is not limited to that; it is also used to by the body to produce certain chemicals it needs. Unfortunately, unlike carbohydrate which can be stored in the form of glucose, protein cannot be stored. This means that the moment you stop taking in protein, the moment your body stops getting a supply of protein. All these make it important for every human to eat enough protein every day.
Importance of Fats
Fat is another class of food you need in a Nigerian meal time table. Some people will raise their eyes over this, but let me educate you. Fats are important for the proper functioning of the human body. They only become problem when consumed in excess. Fats are not the only class of food that causes problems when taken in excess, carbohydrate and protein also cause problems when consumed in excess. Fats primary function is similar to that of carbohydrates. Fats are substance that the body can use as fuel. The body derives energy from fat, and also use it for the production of certain body chemicals.
Importance of Minerals and Vitamins
Here come the last two classes pending discussion. Minerals and vitamins are classes or foods often needed in small quantity. However, a human body can not function properly with them. Minerals are often used by the body as material for the production of fluids in the body. Not only that, but they are also used by the body to form bones. Furthermore, minerals are used for maintenance of the body system. Some popular minerals used by the body include Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Selenium and Zinc. Vitamins, on the other hand, are a class of food that enhance growth and development of the human body. There are five popular vitamins, vitamin A, B, C D, E and K.
Most West African timetables pack way too much starch, chale. Back in Kumasi my mother's schedule was rice or yam back to back. Now living in the Bronx I buy frozen kontomire from the shop on 183rd just to make sure we get green leafy vegetables into the weekly plan alongside beans. A proper timetable needs boiled eggs or smoked fish incorporated into the morning options instead of just pap and sugar oo.
Heavy carbs morning afternoon evening is really the default back home sha. Growing up in Enugu it was always bread and tea Monday morning, then eba for lunch. Over here in Atlanta I try to balance the timetable by adding more efo riro loaded with spinach and mackerel instead of heavy swallow everyday, but finding fresh ugu at the African store in DeKalb is always a struggle. You should have mentioned adding steamed moin moin to breakfast slots to get protein early in the day o.
Chale the main issue with these meal timetables is how expensive protein has become. You write about balancing beans and plantain on Monday with moin moin on Wednesday, but go to Makola market today and check the price of eggs and tin tomatoes. People default to heavy garri and yam because starch fills the belly for cheap. You need to address the cost of ingredients when preaching balance paa.