Protein is the building block of every cell in the body — muscle, bone, skin, hair, enzymes, and hormones all depend on adequate protein intake. Yet protein is consistently the most expensive macronutrient, creating a widespread gap between what families can afford and what their bodies need.
The good news: plant proteins are abundant, affordable, and nutritionally complete when properly combined. Nigerian cuisine already relies heavily on beans, lentils, melon seeds (egusi), groundnuts, and soy — all excellent protein sources available at most markets.
"Key affordable protein combinations: beans and rice (incomplete proteins that become complete when combined), egusi soup..."
A practical meal plan for a family of four: breakfast — Nutri-Win cereal with one egg per person; lunch — bean stew with ogi or rice; dinner — egusi soup with any available green vegetable. This simple structure delivers adequate protein at a total cost of approximately ₦2,000–3,000 per day.
For young children, protein needs per kilogram of body weight are higher than for adults. Prioritise protein at every meal for children under 5 — this is the period when protein deficiency does irreversible damage to growth and brain development.
