As we all know, a nutritious breakfast is the most important meal of the day. In light of this, we’re shining a spotlight on typical breakfasts that can be found in six different African countries! Nutrition is vital in promoting and sustaining healthy living around the world. Check out these delicious breakfast foods and a few nutrition facts below!
Kenya: Chai and Mandazi
This breakfast is a rich, sweet treat that is also known as a “Swahili Coconut Donut.” It is fried dough made with coconut milk, cardamum, and coconut flakes. Sound like something you want to add to your breakfast routine? Check out the recipe and other dishes here!
Mozambique: Tea, coffee, and sandwiches
Who doesn’t love a good ol’ breakfast sandwich? In Mozambique, it’s fairly common to have tea or coffee with a sandwich made with ovos (eggs), fresh peixe (fish), or pequeno almoço (sweet bread-cake) for breakfast.
Nigeria: Akara
This Nigerian breakfast is deep-fried and made from peeled black-eyed beans and cooked with spices. Though typical as a breakfast, this is a great snack that can be eaten at any time of the day. It is often eaten with pap(ogi), a custard made from corn.
Tanzania: Tea and bread
Tanzanian breakfasts, like many others, are kept quite light, and never without the accompaniment of a steaming cup of tea. White bread with butter or mandazi (see above) are typical additives for breakfast in Tanzania. Sometimes, breakfast can also consist of sweet crepes, or pancakes.
Ghana: Ampesi, Pumpuka, or Kenkey
Unlike the Tanzanian breakfast, Ghanaian breakfasts tend to be heavier. A typical breakfast food found in Ghana is called Ampesi. This dish consists of cassava, cocoyam, yam, and a plantain mixture that’s boiled with fish and onion. Pumpuka, a second breakfast item, is made from ground millet. Another typical dish is Kenkey; this breakfast food may be eaten at any point during the day and consists of ground cornmeal soaked in water and then fermented for two days before being rolled into a ball. Once it is in ball-form, it is boiled, wrapped in plantain leaves and served with stew or fish.
South Africa: Putupap, mealie, or beskuit
Some kinds of breakfasts that can be found in South Africa include putupap (a cornmeal porridge that is very similar to grits), mealie bread or corn bread, or beskuit—a crispy, sweet bread that is very similar to rusk. As usual, breakfast is not without a cup of coffee or tea!
Getting the nutrition needed for the day is an important part of eating breakfast—but as we know, the world’s poorest don’t always get the chance to thrive: According to the World Health Organization, undernutrition, including vitamin and mineral deficiencies, contributes to about one half of all child deaths, and impairs healthy development and life-long productivity. About 159 million children globally are stunted, according to 2014 figures, resulting from not enough food, a vitamin- and mineral-poor diet, inadequate child care and disease. Stunting rates among children are highest in Africa and Asia. In sub-Saharan Africa, 36% were affected as of 2014. This is why our efforts to eliminate global extreme poverty are so important!
