Food and nutrition is a great part of every day; it’s that component of the meal time that is normally awaited with anticipation and chemistry to satisfy a natural call of feeding.

Socially food is an important element, it brings people together in celebrations of many sorts, cultural ceremonies and a source of survival because it is principally a basic need to humans.

Wikipedia defines food as any substance, usually composed of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and water that can be eaten or drunk by an animal, including humans, for nutrition or pleasure.

Items considered food may be sourced from plants, animals or other categories such as fungus or fermented products like alcohol.

Food and culture are two subjects inseparable, just like cultures are diverse and rich, the aspect of food also stretches diversely across places, cultures, beliefs, values and traditions.

All cultures have their distinctive cuisines and a specific set of cooking traditions and practices. Many cultures have diversified their foods by means of preparation, cooking methods and manufacturing.

This also includes a complex food trade which helps the cultures to economically survive by-way-of food, not just by consumption.

Many cultures study the dietary analysis of food habits, while humans are omnivores religion and social constructs such as morality often affect which foods they will consume.

Just like many other societies, the Rwandan culture has its distinctive range of traditional foods, among these include Isombe, Ubugari, Indagara, pumpkin, yams, among others, however the intrusion of western cultures especially the French culture has significantly influenced Rwandan cuisines.

Unlike other East African countries, the western way of preparing food and its general concepts of food have penetrated more in the Rwandan society; in Rwanda is where you can find a home that prepares fried chips and other exotic-oil wet foods for the whole year.

Fried chips have become the dominant food served in many Rwandan homes, restaurants and hotels, though it’s made out of our locally grown Irish potatoes, its preparation and what it is served with in most cases is what makes it more western.

Other local foods like matooke, cassava, yams, millet bread and others which are grown and staple foods in neighboring countries have increasingly become popular in Rwanda due to the Rwandan returnees who came stayed in those places for many years and have adopted foods and habits of those societies.  

Food safety is also a concern with food borne diseases claiming many lives each year, complications like food poisoning; diarrhea and epidemics like cholera have been due to poor preparations or intoxications with germs.

For this reason the Ministry of health has been carrying out operations to improve sanitation and close down those restaurants that seem to be in dire conditions.

This week the World’s Health Foods a website devoted at highlighting nutritious and safe foods is celebrating garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas) as part of the healthiest way of eating.

The enjoyment of these nutrient-rich beans dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Not only are they a valuable dietary staple in the Middle East, where they originated, but garbanzo beans are the most widely consumed legumes in the world!

The nutrient-rich foods are important for the obvious reasons; they contain an abundance of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, fiber, omega-3s, and phytonutrients (nutrients only found in plants, many of which are antioxidants).

Nutrients are important because your body needs them to grow, create energy, and maintain its physiological functions. Nutrients can also help to reduce inflammation and antioxidant nutrients protect your body from free radical damage, which can cause disease.

Health food gives more energy and vitality to the body, strengthens the immune system  n improves the skin fragrance and memory because these foods act as an anti-inflammatory and on top of that they promote better heart health and they experience many other health benefits.

Many people who eat the World’s Healthiest Foods do so because it helps them to feel connected with the earth. Plus, they taste great.

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