Changing food habits in Africa

In planning for the improvement of Nutrition in Africa there is a need to change food habits. This paper reports on studies of food taboos and food habits in Nigeria and discusses their implication in the present‐day eating habits of the people. The great interest of Africans in education will play a great part in helping to change food habits and a plea is made for much more use of formal and informal education for changing food habits on the continent. The paper also discusses the factors that come into play in informal changes of food habits and discusses ways in which these could be used to improve the diet in Africa.

Notes

Based on a paper presented to the Association for the Advancement of Agricultural Sciences in Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, August, 1971.