A different kind of menu

A new dish may soon be appearing on our dinner table and in most restaurants, if it hasn’t already, as prices of fuel and food shoot to the skies.

“Change” is the popular joke making the rounds since the Buhari administration took over the reigns of power on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC. This happens to be the mantra upon which the political party clinched power.

 Unfortunately, many are starting to complain as we experience the 'change' saying, ‘this is not the change we anticipated or hoped for’. But change is change, and change we must. Willingly or reluctantly, people are starting to change.

 Our whole life is changing- every facet: from our diet, to the clothing, the way we talk and work etc- the changes are reflecting.The most conspicuous of these changes is in our diet.

 No doubt the recent removal of oil subsidy, which invariably has led to an increase in the pump price of petrol has led to a concomitant spike in the prices of every other thing. Most felt are the prices of foodstuffs. Consequently, many are starting to edit some staples from their menu, leading to changes in the dishes presented on the dinner tables. For instance, a small basket of fresh tomatoes which used to go for N8,000 now sells for N14,000 – almost double the price.  This in effect means that many consumers will be required to spend more on fresh tomatoes than ever before to make the same pot of stew for the same number of family members.

But as the saying goes: ‘when the going gets tough, the tough goes shopping’. Most managers of household income are donning their’ thinking caps’, saving money, energy and time by simply making a ‘wise buy’, and slightly changing the menu.

Some smart mothers have devised ways of using the same or slightly more amount of money to providing still or even more qualitative and healthier food for their families, despite the rising prices.

Recently, I talked to a few women who gave me some insight on how they have continued to ensure that their families continued to have the desired nutrition in their diets.

A few gave me some tips on how they have avoided fresh tomatoes in their diet or better still limited its use in the daily preparations of meals for their families.

Mrs Tessy Okonkwo  a working mother of five said she had devised a whole new ‘healthier’ menu for the family on Sundays. Instead of making tomato stew she now makes use of fresh palm nuts for her stew.  She does her shopping herself on Saturdays where she purchases fresh chunks of palm nuts and other ingredients. She brings them home washed, cooked and pounded to extract the oil, which she uses to make her vegetable stew- a more desirable, sumptuous and healthier meal for her family. Others, however, claim they use more of dried red pepper with tomato paste to make their stew when necessary.

Vegetable stew (google pix)Add caption

Fresh tomatoes have its undeniable importance to the human body. It is known to have more useful fibre than the pureed or processed one. We can still use them for garnishing our salads or other food, albeit in small quantities, or for making gravies or frying eggs.

Here are a few tips on how you can plan your family meals

Learn to add menu planning into a family project. Perk up your dinner by serving your family a new dish each week. If possible exchange recipes with your friends and neighbours.

 Don’t be afraid to try unfamiliar foods, fruits and vegetables. Fortunately, we can tap into Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity.

Change your meal pattern, instead of the same old routine for dinner everyday, serve a hearty soup, something unusual but which you are sure the whole family will love.

Learn to eat as much of what is in season as possible. Fruits in season are known to be cheaper and are easily available. Besides, many believe they are medicinal as well – they help to fight or ward off the seasonal diseases. This could be a huge medical savings for some.

Try and spare time to cook your own meal, if possible. Home- made meals are more economical safer and healthier.

Learn to stay cheerful and remember to share tips on survival with friends and families.

Many households can still do decently despite the odds. From reports gathered most families are eating healthier now. Who says there is no silver lining in a thunder cloud. Good things come out of what is seemingly bad. Look on the sunny side of life and learn to be grateful to God and all.

Points to ponder

Nigeria’s borders are a smugglers paradise. In our border with Benin Republic, everything finds its way through: from rice, cars, wines, tinned foods etc. But the most lucrative trade of all is petrol. Consequently, Nigeria loses tons of dollars to these smugglers.

Time and time again, both prior and subsequent governments say the major cause of the problem is petrol subsidy. They claim that petrol is highly subsidized in this country, and as a result it is too cheap, cheaper than a bottle of water or coke. And this has made smuggling very lucrative as the product is sold at very high price to the neighbouring states. Therefore, almost all presidents and Heads of States have always nipped at the subsidy. Over the years, there appears to be no end to this removal of subsidy, despite the untold hardship the people have had to go through every time the subsidy is removed.

From all indications, it seems that subsidy removal is not the solution, having failed to check the smuggling of the petroleum product to other nearby countries. I should think that it is about time government begins to think outside the box. Government should proffer an unconventional solution to a seemingly intractable problem.

The Nigerian Government, I suggest, should have a meeting with its neighbours bounded on the North, South, East and West to get them fully involved in this fight. Better still, why not build a huge wall the entire length of our borders and get the neighbouring governments to pay for it. Trump’s proposed measure with Mexico might suffice here.