December 7, 2019
Lora Iannotti
Photo by Field to Feast available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5
Recipe by Recipe by Benjamin Akande, Submitted by Joe Steensma
The Nigerian fried fish stew offers a range of nutritional benefits. Most notably, it is rich in brain-selective nutrients and antioxidants that reduce inflammation and stress in the body. The colorful stew provides carotenoids from the tomatoes, bell peppers, and bonnet peppers that protect eye health and support immune system functioning. Colors also show the variety of foods in the stew and therefore contribute in part to dietary diversity. Mackerel or hake fish coming from the ocean offer iodine, an important mineral necessary for the production of hormones in the thyroid and beyond. Zinc, selenium, and other minerals are similarly provided by the fish ingredients. For young children especially, the fish stew can support growth and development with. The long-chain fatty acids coming from the fish are essential for a child’s rapidly growing brain. Furthermore, the soft texture and mix of flavors should not be forgotten in its importance for young child nutrition and development!
