Nutrition
How to spice Sallah meat
Eid al-Adha is one of the biggest occasions on the Muslim calendar.
During this occasion, Muslims across the country sacrifice an animal, usually a ram, cow, or camel, to commemorate Prophet Abraham’s great act of genuine submission to the will of God.
Also portion of the meat prepared is for yourself, another portion for the neighbours and friends, while the last portion is for the less privileged.
Muslims prepare different kinds of meals with the meat.
The Spectator’s nutrition column is here to give readers creative ways of spicing up meat dishes to last longer.
-Grilled meat can be grilled as it involves direct dry heat to make the meat tender. The meat is cut into sizeable amount, seasoned and grilled until cooked.
-Fried meat: Another way of preserving meat is by frying. This is one of the oldest and simplest methods of spicing meat. Meat is steamed and fried for 30 minutes.
-Peppered meat: The peppered meat is another delicacy that can be prepared using the Sallah meat. First, wash the meat, cut and season with the ingredients allow it to marinate. This marinating process helps the meat not only to be well seasoned, but to be tender.
-Meat stew can be used to prepare tomato stew. When slices of meat are stewed they add flavour to the stew and become tender and delicious to eat.
-Shredded meat: This beef recipe is from the Northern part of the country. The dried, shredded meat floss can be eaten as a snack or sprinkled over rice or stuffed inside bread. It also goes along so well with ‘masa’ (baked rice or corn flour).
-Pepper soup: The ram head and legs can also be used to prepare pepper soup. After scrapping the hair, the ram head could be cut into pieces, making sure that the essential parts are properly washed and used for pepper soup.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Nutrition
Back to Our Roots: Growing what we eat, eating what we grow
Did you know you can grow tomatoes, peppers, kontomire, and even carrots in plastic bottles, buckets, or old cooking pots right on your balcony or backyard?
Across Ghana, families are rediscovering the joy and power of growing their food, even with limited space and resources. With rising food prices and growing concerns about chemically treated produce, more people are turning to home gardens as a low-cost, healthy, and empowering solution to address malnutrition and food insecurity.
Malnutrition remains one of Ghana’s most urgent challenges, with children facing stunted growth and anaemia, while adults battle increasing cases of obesity and diet-related illnesses. But solving this crisis isn’t just about eating more, it’s about eating right, eating safely, and eating smart. And that starts with going back to our roots.
By planting vegetables at home, families can cut food costs, eat fresher meals, and reduce dependence on produce grown with harmful chemicals. Schools, churches, and even workplaces are joining the movement by creating small gardens to promote good nutrition and self-reliance.
The revival of traditional Ghanaian foods
At the heart of this movement is a revival of traditional Ghanaian foods. Once staples in every kitchen, crops like millet, legumes, baobab, and cocoyam are naturally packed with nutrients our bodies need. These local superfoods are making a comeback, not just for their health benefits, but also for their cultural pride and affordability. They grow well in our soil, suit our climate, and nourish our families.
Ensuring food safety and sustainability
Good nutrition also means knowing how our food is grown. With increased use of pesticides and environmental threats like illegal mining contaminating farmlands and water sources, the need for safe, sustainable farming is urgent. Home gardening allows us to control how we grow, what we grow, and how we feed our families.
Education and awareness are key. Through school programs, community cooking demos, and social media, more people are learning that nutritious eating doesn’t require imported products or expensive supplements. It starts with what’s already around us, our land, our seeds, our knowledge.
The fight against malnutrition in Ghana doesn’t have to be complicated. It starts with a simple act: planting something. Whether it’s in a sack, a bottle, or a backyard plot, growing your food is a powerful step toward better health, lower food costs, and stronger communities.
Ready to start your own garden? Here’s how
Starting your home garden might seem daunting, but it’s easier than you think. Here are three simple steps to get you going:
Choose your spot: Look for an area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. This could be a balcony, a small patch in your backyard, or even a sunny windowsill.
Pick your container: You don’t need fancy pots, you can use old buckets, used plastic bottles (cut in half with drainage holes), or even firm sacks can be perfect. Just ensure they have holes at the bottom for water to drain.
Select easy to grow crops: For beginners, start with resilient and fast-growing vegetables. Good choices in include kontomire (cocoyam leaves), spring onions, garden eggs, and various types of peppers. These thrive with minimal attention.
For more in-depth guidance and local tips, consider connecting with your local agricultural extension officers in your community.
Feature Article by Women, Media and Change on its Nourish Ghana: Advocating for Increased Leadership to Combat Malnutrition Project.
Nutrition
‘Pipinaso’
‘Pipinaso’ is a special delicacy prepared during the Ohum festival of the people of Akwapim (Larteh) in the Eastern Region.
It is mostly served with light soup and dried fish. The traditional meal is served with okro soup.
‘Pipinaso’, is also used to perform rituals at funeral grounds and also served as food to infertile to boost their chances of making babies.
Ingredients
-2 cups of roasted corn flour
-Water
Preparation
-Put water on the fire to boil
-Add roasted corn flour to water and stir gently
– Continue stirring until it mix uniformly
-Add some of the hot water to soften it if it’s hard
– Allow it to boil for sometime and serve with light soup.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
