Nigerian food has always had a bad reputation when it comes to weight loss. Following fitness content creators who only dished out salad and foods my taste buds weren’t used to, I found myself still hungry; then sneaking to eat what I actually craved. One day, I asked myself: What’s wrong with me? Why am I sneaking to eat food that I bought with my own money, in my own house?
That was when I decided to redefine what “healthy” means for me.
My Wake-Up Call
In my search, I came across Ronke Edoho, who debunked many myths about Nigerian food. Her lessons reshaped my relationship with food. I realized that carbs, though calorie-dense, are still our body’s main source of energy and can absolutely be part of a balanced diet.
So, I went on a hunt for calories in common Nigerian foods. Google sometimes gave me wide ranges, but Ronke had a post where I finally saw it: 1 cup of garri = about 550 calories!
That hit hard! On a good day, I could use 1 whole cup of garri to make eba for myself, and that’s before soup and protein. No wonder the weight was piling on!
How I Manage Eba Calories
Now, instead of using a whole cup, I measure 1/3 cup (59g) of garri, which comes to 183 calories. That’s one serving of eba. It gives me portion control, keeps me satisfied, when paired with a big portion of oil-free/reduced oil vegetable-heavy soup, and still allows me to enjoy my food in peace. You can check out my seafood okro, efo-riro, or even my weird spinach sauce.
I know some people measure prepared eba, but that method doesn’t work for me. If I make too much, I either waste it or eat the extra, both of which defeat my goals. Measuring the garri itself before cooking is my foolproof method.
A Note on Method
My mom would probably bite my head off if she saw me make eba this way. She taught me to put hot water in a bowl first, then sprinkle garri in. But ever since I started measuring, I noticed I don’t know the right amount of water to add that way. It always comes out soupy, and then I add more garri to fix it; undoing the whole point of measuring! So, I pour boiling water over my measured garri instead. Simple, effective, and calorie-friendly.
Ingredients
Method
- Bring water to a rolling boil.
- Place garri in a bowl.
- Pour boiling water gently over the garri until it slightly covers the level of garri. Stir immediately.
- If it’s too hard, add more hot water in splashes until you reach your preferred consistency.
