When the Economy Decides What Is on Your Plate

Rising food prices are making balanced meals increasingly difficult for Nigerian families to afford. The National Bureau of Statistics says the average daily cost of a healthy diet for one adult rose from ₦858 in January 2024 to ₦1,451 in November 2024 and about ₦1,589 by April 2026, excluding transport and cooking costs. UNICEF’s 2026 mid-year report ranked Nigeria as having the world’s second-highest burden of childhood stunting. To eat healthily on a tighter budget, the article recommends local and seasonal vegetables and legumes such as beans.