I looked in the plate in front of me and saw some slices of fried plantain, looking so enticing. I could not resist the urge to have a bite, at least.
While my mind was still thinking of what to do, my fingers grabbed a fork and went for them. I took few in the fork and guided them to my plate.
I took the table knife and cut one into two. In anticipation, I picked up a part in my fork and guided it to my wide-opened mouth.
Unfortunately, my desire for the plantain disappeared once I took a bite.
It was not my first time noticing this. Most times, when I eat fried plantain prepared by other persons, I get this same feeling.
As a result of this, I decided to write about it.
Indeed, some persons are making their fried plantain so unhealthy and causing more harm than good to their health.
Plantain is a great meal, but how you prepare it, especially the process of frying it, could make it unhealthy for you.
1. Keep Salt Away From Your Fried Plantain
Plantain has its own amazing taste, but because of tradition, you just want to add salt.
You have seen your mother or someone else you are close to add salt while frying plantain. Unfortunately, you now assume it is okay to do same.
Nutritionally, 100 grams of ripe plantain contains 181 calories, 1.9g protein, 0.6g of fat, 47.2g of carbohydrates, 3.4g fiber and 22.2g sugar (1).
Daily, there is a limit to how much salt your body can handle.
Removing salt from your plantain is one way of reducing how much salt you take.
You may not know, but excess salt makes your body retain water and that will cause weight gain.
In fact a study says salt intake is associated with obesity; since people with higher sodium intake consumed more energy and presented worse eating habits.
Additionally, sodium intake itself appears to be related to obesity (2).
So, that salt you add to your plantain could be the reason you are doing your best to lose weight and it is not happening.
2. Don’t Deep Fry Or Use Plenty Oil
Who says oil must cover your plantain for it to fry well?
In fact, when we prepare ours, most times we begin by boiling the plantain till it is ready and then we add small oil and leave till it is brownish.
You see, the more oil you have in your pan, the more the plantain finds oil to take in.
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At the end, you have much oil in the plantain and that is trans fat that you are loading your body with.
This trans fat also contributes to weight gain and even goes to the extent of clogging your arteries.
In fact, according to a report, trans fat is responsible for that your big tummy that you are battling to force in (3).
You can just put little oil on your pan and fry your plantain. When the part on the pan is ready, you turn the other side.
Also, one thing to do is use olive oil. Assuredly, if you remember how much it costs to get it, you will use it with caution.
All you do is reduce how much oil you fry your plantain and other things with.
4. You Don’t Need To Add Sugar Or Ketchup
One other thing I have seen is ketchup on plantain. That is adding sugar and more calories to your diet.
Remember that when the calories you eat does not match the one you burn, the balance stores as fat in your body.
What we often use for our kids is beetroot and little honey. That gives you the colour of ketchup. The child won’t even now.
In fact, that jam on the plantain above is little beetroot in honey.
With these simple adjustments to how you eat your fried plantain you will make it healthier to eat.