This made me smile while I recalled a time from long ago when I used to go buy rice and beans jellof(which was called Sacramento) for my siblings at this small restaurant down our street.
It was frequented by young guys and girls(males mostly). They said the food was really good. I never believed. For 150naira, you get enough food to feed two hungry guys. Maybe they spoke of the quantity and good-enough taste for the price. I don't know. Those times!
This year was the year I ate so poorly. Until recently, by the way. Mostly junks. Five out of the seven days in the week, I had buns and soft drink. Tight schedule, yes, and also because I couldn't eat out. Roadside fast foods are easily the most accessible, affordable even, but I don't want those. Haven't tried but not sure I can hold them down. I'm quite concerned about food preparation and hygiene and those spots don't give quite that appeal.
In my Homeland, so many meals are cheap it's hard to tell the cheapest. A certain amount can get you bread, akara And tea. That same amount can get you noodles. These are affordable everyday meals. Prices go up with each new day but these can still be considered cheap when compared with foods like beans, yam, spaghetti and the likes.
I guess at this point, I can say that the cheapest meal I've had is buns and drink. Every meal I've ever eaten cost more. Some might argue that it's a snack, so closely following, the other cheapest meal I've had lately is Oats with bread. Occasionally with pancakes. Oats is easy to prepare. Fast food. Requires just sugar and enough milk (bananas and groundnut, if you like to be a little extra like me). Still, it's the cheapest.
Unto the most expensive, it's not so easy to tell. Home made meals, especially soups take up some really good amount. Meals from luxury restaurants are relatively pricey too. Last I ate at this big restaurant, meal waa slimy. It cost so nuch, i could have made similar meal at home for better quality. I barely had spoonfuls. Was my second time there. The first, the meal came out salty, my sister said it was the spice. Better than the second tho. Id rather not call that a meal. I affirmed then that expensive doesn't equate good quality.
I like good food and I'm a picky eater. Since I don't eat so much, I like my meals made of really high quality and a small portion. If i can afford to splurge, then I treat myself to some very rich meal. If I don't have enough money and opt for something cheap, still, I go for quality using the amount at hand. Cheap or not, quality is key.
The last expensive meal i had was Banga stew and rice. Home made. That was about three weeks ago. Had been years since I had it so I decided to go all out. The ingredients used are not so many but proteins had to be plenty. It's not a regular meal for me and I'm not bothered about eating it often, as it can get boring. So, I'd rather just have it when I get the craving.
That's okay for me.
Thanks for gracing this post.
Greetings!