TOMATO TANTRUM: LAGOS TURNS TO PALM KERNEL & CUCUMBER TO SAVE STEW

TOMATO TANTRUM: LAGOS TURNS TO PALM KERNEL & CUCUMBER TO SAVE STEW

Tomato prices in Lagos have gone from “just pricey” to “pay up or stew-less,” pushing residents to get creative in the kitchen. With a small basket costing up to N50,000, many are swapping fresh tomatoes for palm kernel stew (ofe akwu), tin tomatoes, or even blending cucumbers, spring onions, and cabbage into their sauces. One food vendor lamented that soaring tomato costs are squeezing profits, while others hope for a price drop before their next stew session. As fresh tomatoes become a luxury, Lagosians are proving that when life gives you sky-high tomato prices, you make palm kernel stew instead.

TOMATO TROUBLES: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LAGOS , IN FACT, ALL OF NIGERIA, SKIP THE RED JUICE?

Missing tomatoes on your plate? It’s more than just a flavour fail. Experts warn that dodging this juicy fruit could mean saying goodbye to vital nutrients like vitamins C, A, K, potassium, folate, and antioxidants such as lycopene and beta-carotene. The fallout? A weakened immune system, slower healing, and a heart that’s not quite as happy. Plus, without tomatoes, your risk of certain cancers, vision problems, and even skin aging might just shoot up. So, while Lagosians, and all Nigerians, get creative with palm kernel and cucumbers, nutritionists remind us: skipping tomatoes isn’t just a culinary compromise—it’s a health gamble. Time to rethink that stew!

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