Plant based diets, also known as Vegan diet is increasingly becoming popular as the days go by. Considering the high mortality rate and rampant cases of various illnesses which seem to have hit the world like a storm, people seem to recognize the importance of healthy eating more. And what better way to do this than going vegan?
One of the challenges however, is the speculation that a typical vegan diet is boring and lacks deliciousness. Another wrong notion concerning vegan diets is that there are only limited varieties available. Hence, vegans seem to keep going around in circles, repeating meals time after time. They couldn’t be more mistaken. A vegan diet could be as tasty and fulfilling as any non-vegan food. This article sheds more light on some of these plant-based diets.
Yam with Tomato Sauce
This is a very interesting and nutritious combination. While the carbohydrate, yam provides the body with energy, the fruit provides the body with vitamins and minerals. Now, here is the tricky part: the sauce. Temptations might set in and you just might want to spice the tomato sauce up with specs of crayfish or beef. If this happens, you have totally transformed it into a non-vegan diet so be sure you have enough determination to see you through your mission.
Steamed Bean Cake
This is popularly called moin moin in Nigeria. The idea of most people’s vegan diet is a serving of raw leaves and vegetables, garnished with lots of fruits. This is so wrong. A typical vegan diet is one that is free of any animal by-product like egg, meat and so on. Therefore, moin moin just fits into the picture perfectly. It is made from grounded beans and pepper without the addition of any of the products listed above. While some enjoy eating it alone, others prefer to have it with pap, custard or even as a side dish with jollof rice. Moin moin is a highly nutritious meal which is rich in proteins so why not vegan diets?
Beans and Plantain
It’s so funny to realize how much of a vegan we have all been unknowingly. Beans and plantain is a popular choice of meal in Nigeria, especially in the Western part. It is a nutritious combination of protein and carbohydrate which can be eaten at any time of the day. It is also quite filling so you can be sure of getting value for every dime spent on making it. Beans is a tasty dish on its own, but with the plantain, even better!
Jollof Rice and Salad
Okay, end of discussion. Who says vegan diets are boring with this? It’s very simple. Rather than the usual jollof rice with chicken/turkey, how about something less fatty, more nutritious and equally sumptuous for a change? Salad! Incorporate the likes of cabbage, cucumber, lettuce and so on into your meal and you just might end up with a bowl of balanced diet in no time. Or maybe almost balanced?
Tigernut
Did you know that Tiger nuts are in fact tiny tubers and not actual nuts? They are fast gaining popularity in Nigeria as they are widely sold and eaten. While some enjoy it dry, others prefer the not so dry ones. The interesting part is that tiger nuts can be enjoyed alone or used in combination with other natural food substances for the production of a highly nutritious drink called the tiger nut drink. The delicious drink has become widely accepted and a lot of people even make some extra dough from its production and sales. It is a highly nutritious drink made from tiger nuts, ginger, date and coconut.
Tiger nuts are a healthy option for diabetics as it is vegan and gluten-free.
Abacha
Talk about having at least 5 classes of food in a single meal! Abacha, as it is popularly called by the Easterners, is a healthy serving of shredded cassava, utazi leaves, pepper, potash, palm oil, ugba and garden eggs. No wonder why it is believed to offer a lot of nutritional benefits and the fact that it is also gluten-free is definitely a plus.
Yam Pottage
This is a simple meal that can be made from just 2 main ingredients: yam and palm oil. And guess what? It’s vegan. Yam pottage is an energy-giving food that is widely eaten in many parts of the nation. It can be enjoyed alone without the addition of anything at all.
Puff puff
Who says snacks are left out? Puff puff is one of the easiest and cheapest snacks to make and the fact that it doesn’t require the addition of eggs and milk makes it a vegan diet. So if you are thinking of using the excuse of not being able to enjoy snacks as a vegan, well think again. Of course, puff puff can be enjoyed alone but you might want to consider taking it with a chilled bottle of tigernut drink. Yeah, and that’s you living the life without deviating from your vegan lifestyle. How cool is that?
Bean Cake
This meal is popularly called akara by Westerners. Just like moin moin, it is equally made from grounded beans and pepper but is fried rather than steamed. Akara is quite filling and can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Some even consider it to be a kind of snack. While akara can be enjoyed alone, you might also want to consider serving it alongside a steaming bowl of pap or custard.
Roasted Plantain and Pepper Sauce
And we are once again ditching the meals and going snacky. Obviously, vegan dieting has it all. This is a meal that qualifies to be eaten as an appetizer (because of the peppery sauce), a main meal or even a dessert and it’s vegan. Just remember not to add fish in the pepper sauce. Roasted plantain is also called boli and an alternative to this meal is the very popular choice of boli and groundnut.
Yam and Eggs
Can we take a minute to think about this? Why not yam and eggs? Does it contain meat, fish, milk or any of the animal by-products? The obvious answer is no so we are still talking vegan here. This meal can be eaten with boiled or fried eggs but the latter is the most preferable. You can even decide to introduce veggies into your fried egg. It only gets better.
Yam and Garden Egg Sauce
Garden egg sauce is a gluten-free dish that can be made without the addition of any animal by-product. It also has a very special taste and aroma that just happens to relish one’s appetite. Its most popular go-with dish are nicely cooked slices of yam.
One very encouraging fact about vegan diets is that they are mostly prepared with materials around us and you don’t need to break a bank to enjoy a sumptuous, relaxing and totally nutritious meal. They also offer a full course option as even snacks aren’t left out. Talk of killing two birds with one stone!
