Breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it has a direct impact on how your body will function throughout the day. Breakfast gives the body and brain with energy after ‘fasting’ overnight.
In addition to the above, some other reasons you should eat healthy foods at breakfast is because breakfast influences your mood, appetite, energy, digestion, among others.
This is why you need to eat foods that contain some of the essential nutrients your body requires for adequate functioning as your breakfast to enhance your activities for the day. Healthy breakfast can also be good for losing weight; research shows that those who regularly eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight.
A huge number of Nigerians are fond of skipping breakfast, because of their busy schedule or they don’t know what to prepare. To help you live healthy and eat healthy as a Nigerian, find out some healthy Nigerian breakfast ideas and recipes.
5 Healthy Nigerian Breakfast Ideas and Recipes
A healthy Nigerian breakfast should contain the right amount of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals that will help you start the day. It should also contain the best amount of calories (600-800 calories). These healthy Nigerian breakfast ideas are perfect for you.
1. Dodo and Eggs
Dodo (Fried Plantain) and Egg is a traditional breakfast option in typical Nigerian homes, and this food combination are very delicious and healthy for human health. It is one of healthy Nigerian foods for weight loss. Fortunately, preparing Dodo (Fried Plantain) and Egg is very easy, and you don’t need expensive ingredients to make yours. The ingredients needed and the cooking procedures are as follow:
Ingredients
1 finger of Plantain (Cubed and Fried till golden brown)
3 Small Eggs
1/2 small bulb of Onion
A handful of chopped carrots
A handful of chopped green and red bell peppers
2 scotch bonnet peppers (ata rodo)
A tablespoon of chopped coriander (not mandatory)
1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan Cheese (not mandatory)
Chicken seasoning cube
A teaspoon of black pepper
1 tablespoon of butter
A teaspoon of vegetable oil
How to make Dodo and Egg Recipe
- Heat your butter and mix with vegetable oil
- Toss in your already fried plantain in the butter.
- Now, break the eggs over the plantain and sprinkle the chopped vegetables, cheese, as we as seasoning all over the eggs and plantains.
- Reduce the heat a bit and cover your cooking pan until the food is finally done and serve hot.
2. Omelette and Bread roll
Bread and egg is a very popular breakfast recipe across the world, and it is widely consumed in Nigeria as well. Eating this food combination will help brighten your day and give your body some of the nutrients it requires for adequate functioning. Details on how to prepare this delicious recipe are as follows:
Ingredients
2 slices of bread
1 large egg
A handful of chopped vegetables of choice
1/2 seasoning cube
Pinch of curry
Pinch of thyme
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
How to make Omelette and Bread Roll
- Turn on your cooker and heat the vegetable oil in a pan [on low-medium heat]
- Stir fry the chopped vegetables, add the seasonings, break in the egg and stir vigorously to scramble it in the pan.
- Immediately the egg is done, set it aside and proceed onto the next step.
- Lay your slices of bread on a chopping board and flatten them while trimming off the edges.
- Place a smaller quantity of your egg in the bread and roll
- Cut it into two halves and do the same thing for the remaining slices
- Your delicious Omelette and Bread Rolls are ready!
3. Yam and Egg
Yam [boiled or fried] and egg is one of the perfect and healthiest breakfast options for you. The reason being that they are super delicious, easy to make, and more importantly, they help boost your satiety levels, i.e. you will feel full for a longer period of time after eating the super combo. Yam and Egg is also a gluten-free Nigerian food. Fortunately enough, you don’t have to spend hours before you can come up with this sauce. All you need do is to boil or fry your yam, and also fry the appropriate egg quantity – your food is ready under few minutes!
However, you can add certain spices or ingredients like curry, thyme, etc. to further enhance the taste and the savor of your meal. Aside from breakfast, you can eat this food combination any time of the day; be it morning, afternoon, or at night.
4. Bread and Beans
If you are the type who is often engaged with several tasks during the day, this food combination is a perfect one for you.
Bread and beans are an excellent breakfast option as it keeps you full all day long while also providing your body with some of the essential nutrients it requires to function effectively.
On the plus side, bread and beans is an easy-to-prepare recipe; all you need do is to get a fresh bread and eat with beans [the one you cooked manually or the one you bought from the nearest food canteen]. You can also eat Ewa Agoyin and bread as your Breakfast.
5. Akamu and Akara or Moin Moin
Akamu, often regarded as Ogi or Pap in Yoruba and English respectively, is a locally processed food with lots of health benefits. It is commonly combined with Beans cake [Akara] or Moin Moin, to form a healthy breakfast meal.
Preparing Akamu is pretty easy, and it does not require extensive ingredient list or prolonged preparation period. To prepare your pap, you will need the following items:
Wet Corn Starch
Water (Hot and Cold)
Evaporated Milk [preferably Evaporated milk]
Sugar (to sweeten it)
How to Prepare Pap
- After getting all those above, the next thing is to place the appropriate water quantity on your cooker.
- While waiting for the water to get hot, start mixing the Wet Corn Starch in a small bowl for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Immediately the water becomes excessively hot; you can then add some water to the wet corn mixture you have on the ground, and begin to stir until it forms whole.
- Repeat this for about 5 – 10 minutes, and then add your milk and sugar to it while you stir the mixture once again.
- Your pap is ready now you can then combine it with your beans cake [Akara] or Moin moin, depending on your choice.
Other healthy Nigerian breakfast ideas include:
Boiled Plantains and pepper sauce
Plantain Moi Moi (Ukpo Ogede)
Agidi Jollof (Agidi Jellof)
Okpa (Bambara nut pudding)
Pineapple juice and light meal.
Bottom LineÂ
Enjoying a healthy breakfast is important to staying healthy, and eating the right foods can help you achieve that. There are so many healthy Nigerian breakfast recipes and ideas that you can choose from to start your day healthily.
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Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.
