Natural and social science studies have commonly referenced a ‘typical’ or ‘habitual’ Nigerian diet, without defining what such a diet entails. Our study, based on a systematic review of the existing literature and an analysis of household-level survey data, describes the general outline of a common Nigerian diet and how it varies based on spatial, demographic, and socio-economic characteristics. We further try to establish whether Nigeria has embarked on a dietary transition common in most modern economies, marked by a greater consumption of processed foods, fats, and sugar at the expense of traditional whole cereals and pulses. We conclude that while a traditional Nigerian diet is still relatively healthy from an international perspective, it has indeed been transitioning, with an increasing inclusion of high-energy, high-fat, and high-sugar processed foods and a related growing incidence of overweight, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases.

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12030443

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Ranjana Bhattacharjeehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5184-5930

https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12030443

Biotech and Plant Breeding

Agronomy; Food Security; Food Systems; Livelihoods

Diet; Nigeria; Living Standards; Measurement; Surveys

Africa; West Africa

Nigeria

Headquarters and Western Africa Hub

Foods