Food Insecurity – Survival Strategies For Families

BY GEORGIETTA OKOLI

Food insecurity is a complex problem to solve, because it goes beyond just hunger alone. It could lead to other socio-economic problems in any country and also impact negatively at family levels.

Without adequate food, a family’s social balance is threatened. The tendency is for the bread winner to lose respect, and for the children to become vulnerable. Especially where the family income is stagnant and general prices are rising, families may have to fall back on adequate budgeting and wise purchase decisions. Also adapting to what is readily or locally available could be a wise way of maximising resources, rather than always insisting on what we desire to eat.

Budgeting

This has a way of fending off unnecessary and avoidable expenses. Budgeting helps the family to maximise whatever resource is available; and helps target purchasing rather than impulse buying.

Even if the money is not enough, budgeting helps to reduce incidences of overspending. List what are needed and appropriate the money according to your purse. Then sit back and see where and what to eliminate from the budget.

Seasonal Foods As Wise Choice

Those who make purchase decisions within families, eg fathers and mothers, should always be aware of foods that in season and take advantage of these. When foods are in season, they are plentiful in the market and therefore cheaper, since supply at that time is usually higher than demand for them.

Buying foods that are in season is a good way of getting good bargains and therefore keeping all within the family budget. At the same time, it ensures the family feeds well.

Every family has therefore, to plan ahead, by preferring and investing in bulk buying. It reduces the cost per unit.

In the area of budgeting, allocate more resource on items more regularly consumed, and not spread spending on every item in the market.

Having a solid budget works incredibly well, and helps to save even more money than expected.

Prepare Just What Is Needed Per Time

To avoid waste, always cook what is enough at a time for the entire family. “At a time” here does not refer to what is needed per table, i.e breakfast or lunch. It could infer what should serve for the day.

 However, you may not totally avoid leftovers; these could be refrigerated and re-prepared for the next day depending on the nature of the food in question.

For example, white rice left over the previous day, could be turned into jollof the following day. All you need do is add some relevant spices like onions and stew to enhance, both the appeal and taste.

 A new and cheaper diet with same nutritive values could be introduced to the family menu.

Cheap Options

Every food line in the Nigerian market today has a number of varieties and brands, coming in different qualities and of course price ranges.

Families tend to get used to particular brands, even when the quality appears to have dropped. Do not stick to a brand that gulps your budget. Look for competitive alternatives, that, while not harming your budget will also not lower nutritive quality.

The beverage category is an example. Search diligently for the one that suits your budget.

Where Do You Do Your Purchases?

Be careful of long-standing customers and suppliers. They sometimes take advantage of that familiarity and secured patronage to exploit you, both in terms of price and quality of the item. If your focus is best bargains, there is no harm in exploring alternative markets or suppliers.

Some Lagos Markets And What Foodstuffs They Offer

Iddo/Oyingbo: Good for cray fish, stock fish, mangala fish, ogbono, yams and vergatables like ugu.

Mushin: Best for spices like onions, pepper, and tomatoes; also offers good bargains for meat especially cow leg.

Caution: Getting a parking space could be a challenge

Mile 12:  Best for bulk purchases for spices like onions, ginger etc; also good for potatoes, carrots, peas and even fish.

Caution: You would need more money to shop here but the cost per unit is best overral.

Alamutu-Idioro:  For plantain flour, garri from all climes like Ijebu, Benin, Eastern Nigeria and even Cotonou

Caution:  You may have to wade into the puddles in the rainy season because   of the bad terrain

Ketu:  Fruits like apples, oranges, tangerines and grapes

-OKOLI, A HOSPITALITY EXPERT AND HOME ADVISOR ALSO WRITES FOR DUNAMIS PUBLICATIONS