Jollof rice with stew, chicken, plantain and veggies. Jollof is hands down my fav. Nigerian dish. Made with health boosting ingredients such as tomatoes and red bell pepper that contain antioxidant lycopene and carotenoids, fragrant herbs and spices such as thyme and garlic. What’s not to love?
As a Nigerian American Registered Dietitian, it has always been important for me to honor an individual’s cultural and food preferences.I have seen clients from diverse back grounds perplexed because they have either been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol and were given vague nutrition advice from their doctor or another dietitian, which was not culturally relevant. They were confused as to how to fit in their staple foods with these recommendations. They didn’t want to give up their favorite foods, and they don’t have to.
With diet culture, it’s been perpetuated that healthy food should only look a certain way. I’ve been blasted on a forum, the commenter discussing a video I made on How to build a balanced plate. Summarized, the comment was: “She’s a dietitian. How can she tell people that it’s okay to eat white rice?”.
Come again?
I wouldn’t tell my clients that they COULD NEVER eat white rice, which Is a staple in most cultures. My recommendation was to watch the portion size, and to pair it with vegetables for added fiber so as to reduce the blood sugar spikes that come with eating ANY carbs. Sounds reasonable enough, right?
With a few tweaks I create sustainable plans for my clients that works. I teach my clients how to incorporate their favorite foods into their diet, while addressing their health conditions, without sacrificing their cultural preferences, taste or food quality while feeding their body with all the good-for-you nutrients that it needs.
If you too are tired of depriving yourself of your favorite foods, struggling with creating a healthy balance with your food choices, and want to get rid of the dieting mentality, then my nutrition coaching program is perfect for you. Want to learn more? Let’s chat. Book your spot for a free dietary assessment call today.
