African Diet

Question 1

Jollof rice, and where is it from

Answer 1

One pot rice that includes tomato paste, palm oil, and veggies; from West Africa

Question 2

Semolina

Answer 2

Middlings of durum wheat; mostly composed of the endosperm but has some bran, which causes the yellow colour

Question 3

What does Whole Foods predict will become popular?

Answer 3

traditional West African foods; cereal grains like sorghum, teff, and millet are ones in particular

Question 4

What religions influence African food culture?

Answer 4

Eastern Orthodox Christian (Ethiopia) and Islam (Northern Africa and Nigeria)

Question 5

Dairy consumption and typical dairy products

Answer 5

Lactose intolerance is common, so fermented milk products are consumed (if at all)
Some herders are persistent, and countries with large European populations will consume more

Question 6

Animal protein sources

Answer 6

• Fish near coastal regions, and lakes
• Cow, sheep, goat, camel, chicken, wild game (bush meat)

Question 7

Why is red meat less popular in Africa?

Answer 7

Economic constraints which makes protein deficiency is common in some regions

Question 8

Pros and Cons of bush meat

Answer 8

Pro: source of valuable protein for humans, especially if choices are limited
Cons: threatens some wild animal species, and risks the spread of zoonotic diseases

Question 9

General carbohydrates in African food culture

Answer 9

Rice, couscous, plantains, unleavened wheat flat bread, fermented teff or sorghum flat bread, stiff mash or porridge made from maize, coarse grains, plantains, or tubers

Question 10

Chapatii

Answer 10

Unleavened wheat flat bread of South Asian origin, often eaten in East Africa

Question 11

Ugali

Answer 11

Corn porridge

Question 12

Tanzanian meals are composed of?

Answer 12

Lots of fresh foods, minimally processed foods (ugali, vegetable sauce, fried plantain, fried white potato, goat, vegetables)

Question 13

African coarse grains

Answer 13

Sorghum, millet, teff

Question 14

what is the agricultural benefits of african coarse grains?

Answer 14

They grow in harsh environments prone to drought where other crops (cereals) grow poorly

Question 15

Nutritional benefits of African coarse grains compared to wheat and rice

Answer 15

• Higher in protein with better amino acid profile (methionine, cystine, and lysine)
• Rich in insoluble fibre, iron zinc, and phytochemical with antioxidant properties
• Gluten free

Question 16

How are African coarse grains healthier than Western grains in terms of processing?

Answer 16

They are too small to be milled, where healthly components could be discarded

Question 17

What is the social issue around homemade sorghum beer?

Answer 17

It is traditionally made by women, but is predominantly consumed by men. This perpetuates nutritional inequality.

Question 18

Injera

Answer 18

East African fermented sourdough teff bread (has a slightly sour taste)

Question 19

What is the issue with the nutrition transition regarding coarse grains?

Answer 19

Coarse grains consumptions has declined significantly in favour of wheat and rice
This is bad because:
- not as nutritionally dense
- takes more water to produce which is troubling in water scarce areas (however it produces more crops to feed people)

Question 20

What is one of the biggest drivers of food insecurity in Africa?

Answer 20

Conflict

Question 21

What are reasons for the existence of food insecurity?

Answer 21

Climate change (drought, flooding, locusts), agricultural practices (poor soil management), poverty, war, and civil unrest

Question 22

Hidden hunger

Answer 22

Deficiency of micronutrients (iron, iodine, vitamin A, zinc)

Question 23

What issues does hidden hunger cause?

Answer 23

Affects early childhood development, as the child’s brain and CNS are compromised

Question 24

Who does hidden hunger affect predominantly?

Answer 24

Women and children; this causes a self-perpetuating cycle as undernourished female children become mothers

Question 25

Sociocultural reasons for nutritional deficiencies

Answer 25

- Food taboos and cultural beliefs over food can cause malnutrition/hidden hunger - in some regions, newborns are deprived of colostrum - Pregnant women should take iron, but women who associate pills with disease may refuse to take them

Question 26

Why are women more likely to have nutritional deficiencies?

Answer 26

Cultural and religious rules are usually held over women more seriously

Question 27

What are taboos in African food culture and who are the victims?

Answer 27

Often women of reproductive age and children Taboos often include protein-rich animal food, and micronutrient rich foods: - protein-rich in form of meat, fish, eggs, and legumes are often considered taboo foods for pregnant women - some communities believe that children should not eat eggs

Question 28

Top food taboos in pregnancy (South Africa)

Answer 28

- Oranges and orange juice (baby with yellow skin and eyes) - Fish (born with scales and a skin rash) - Chicken (may grow up walking like a chicken) - Baboon and vervet meat (will be naughty and behave like a monkey) - Antelope meat (will behave like an antelope)

Question 29

Facts about Palm oil

Answer 29

- Native to West Africa - Highly productive oil crop - Palm oil from palm fruit - Palm kernel oil extracted from palm seed - One of the biggest crops in the world

Question 30

Similarities between palm oil and palm kernel oil

Answer 30

- Semi-solid at room temp. - Stable at high cooking temps. - High in saturated fatty acids (Palmitic and Lauric acid associated with cardiovascular disease risk) - Use in commercial cooking, and processing

Question 31

Why is palm kernel oil preferred for commercial cooking and frying?

Answer 31

Remains stable at high temps, low cost, and longer shelf life than other vegetables oils

Question 32

Differences between palm oil, and palm kernel oil

Answer 32

PO is from pulp of fruit, while PKO is from seed (kernel) , PO is 50% saturated while PKO is 85%, PO is for traditional cooking while PKO is chemically similar to coconut oil, PO has carotenoids (A), and members of vitamin E family while PKO has none or little

Question 33

What is the fatty acid composition of palm oil?

Answer 33

50% saturated, 10% poly-un, 40% mono-un

Question 34

Health concerns of palm oil and palm kernel oil

Answer 34

mice study found palmitic acid promotes metastasis in mouth and skin cancers, lauric/palmitic acid raise blood cholesterol levels

Question 35

What is the cost of palm oil?

Answer 35

Cheaper than others like peanut

Question 36

Environmental effects of palm oil

Answer 36

- Tropical forests worldwide are being cut down for the plants, contributing to deforestation/climate change/death of animals

Question 37

What animals have become critically endangered because of palm oil?

Answer 37

Sumatran orangutan and tiger because of habitat loss

Question 38

How has palm oil effected indigenous peoples?

Answer 38

Some have become homeless due to deforestation

Question 39

Why is palm oil a complex issue?

Answer 39

No other crop yields as much oil per acre, and requires fewer pesticides and chemical fertilizers than other vegetable sources of oil