As food prices continue to soar, nutrition experts are urging Nigerians to embrace cheaper but nutritious protein alternatives to beef, chicken, and fish.
Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, former President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, advised households to consider both conventional and unconventional sources of protein to prevent malnutrition.
“Now, as for cooking, there are alternatives. These include beans, soybeans which can be processed and also some unconventional protein sources, such as edible insects,” Afolabi told Punch.
He noted that Nigerians once consumed crickets, termites, toads, and frogs as part of their diets, though such practices are fading among younger generations. Other viable options, according to him, include snails, mushrooms, lentils, and locust beans.
“Mushrooms are a delicacy that provide both protein and fibre. Soybeans can also be processed into plant-based products that look and taste like meat,” Afolabi explained. He further advised that fermented locust beans combined with ground crayfish could serve as a substitute for meat in soups and stews, though crayfish itself is becoming costly.
Supporting this view, Prof. Ignatius Onimawo, Vice-Chancellor of Ave Maria University, Abuja, stressed the need for nutritional education to help families identify affordable substitutes.
“If you do not eat meat, chicken, or fish on a particular day but you eat beans, groundnuts, or bambara nuts, you still have taken protein for that day,” he said. “Though animal proteins are superior, the body can still survive on plant-based options.”
Both experts stressed that with the right knowledge and openness to dietary diversification, Nigerians can maintain good nutrition despite the economic hardship.
