After our Food Diary installments (Folly, Nosa), we've opened the floor to Eat.Drink.Lagos readers to journal their eating for a week and share with us.

This week, we have Joy, a banker in Lagos. Joy is an aspiring PhD, bathroom singer, and foodie. You can follow Joy on Instagram HERE

Like Nosa, I work in a bank, and well, they don’t give out anything free so let’s see if I can be truthful with this food diary. For starters, I’m supposed to be on a low-carb diet journey so I prepared my lunch from home for the entire week.

This means one thing: I eat the same thing every day for lunch.

Last week, I settled for Irish pottage garnished with Ugwu leaf, smoked fish and chopped up pomo. Cooked it with coal and it was so it was so yummy. Sometimes I like to ditch the traditional gas cooker for that woody, coal-ish taste. I even barbecued my turkey on it also.

Anyway, for meal prep:

• Irish potatoes - N1250.
• Pomo - N300
• Ugwu leaves - N200
• Smoked panla fish - N500
• 1kg turkey - N1400

Sunday

Breakfast

Nothing. I hardly eat when I’m rushing to church.

Lunch

The boyfriend’s mom makes the baddest Jollof rice every Sunday afternoon so we visit the family house for some.

Spent: N0

Dinner

Branched at Glover court for some suya. Bought two sticks of beef suya, a stick of gizzard, and a stick of shaki. All dipped in that dangerous looking vat of trans fat oil. What can a girl do? The thing is just juicy sha.

Spent: N2000

Monday

Breakfast 

Typically, I have a cup of Twinnings tea with two lemons squeezed into it. I’m weird, but I like the tangy taste. No need for sugar or milk either. Lactose intolerant and all. Also, three boiled eggs, one sausage, and a burrito (a funny bread roll thing sold at my office cafe).

Spent: N1050

Lunch

My meal prepped potato pottage and roasted turkey

Spent: N0

Dinner

Branched Bukka Hut on Awolowo road (Ikoyi). Their caterers are pretty bleh these days. The Bukka Huts in Lekki and Gbagada are a lot better. Got half a portion of spaghetti, half a portion of coconut rice, and three pieces of beef.

We cheat on the low carb diet sometimes every time, you know?

Spent: N1250

Tuesday

Breakfast

Ordered a plate of plantain and mince meat sauce from Ekaaro, a breakfast delivery service.

Spent: N1200

Lunch

I gave my lunch out to a colleague so he could have it for dinner. His wife was out of town. I’m such a nice person. Had lunch in the office cafeteria with a colleague. Some Jollof rice and fried rice, with two turkey pieces.

Spent: N800

Dinner

Bukka Hut, again. it’s so close home so I just swing by when I’m almost home. Same order as Monday.

Spent: N750

Dinner, again

LOL...so I decided to have dinner again.

Chicken Republic on Awolowo road for their rice + chicken + salad combo. Been a bad girl, but made up for it though. Played basketball at YMCA that evening sooo…that’s why I was hungry, I guess.

Spent: N800

Wednesday

Breakfast

Moimoi and Eko from a woman near Tinubu Square in Lagos island. Not the most hygienic, but she makes real badasss moimoi. I always take some stomach drugs after consumption, but I can’t help it. The hunger was real

Spent: N250

Lunch

My meal prepped lunch.

Spent: N0

Dinner

Glover Court suya.

Spent: N2000

Thursday

Breakfast

Another plate of sweet potatoes and minced meat sauce from Ekaaro, plus lemon tea. This belly must be flat.

Spent: N1000

Lunch

Had my meal prepped lunch. Getting a bit boring though. Had an apple and a box of grapes also

Spent: N1320

Dinner

Got another box of grapes and Glover Court suya. Might as well be the Glover Court brand ambassador at this point. My God, will I ever lose this weight? I love food so much.

Spent: N3200

Friday

Breakfast

Sausages, burrito, eggs and a bottle of water. It’s a boring breakfast, but it works.

Spent: N600

Lunch

Wanted to splurge and order something from Mr Chang, but I changed my mind abeg. In this recession, a man must be wise and well. And I’m sorta saving for my wedding coming soon. Lord, send the groom! Nosa, are you available?

Anyway, someone was celebrating something in the office and left a plate of rice, turkey, and dodo on my table. Halleluyah!

Spent: N0

Dinner

Had some home-made Ofe Nsala and a helping of wheat straight from mummy’s kitchen

Spent: N0

Saturday

Breakfast

Got a crate of eggs and whipped up scrambled eggs with veggies and a side of Irish potatoes. I definitely have to play basketball on Sunday when I get back to the Island. The parents stay on the mainland, while I stay on the island during the week. Proximity to work etc.  

Spent: N1200

Lunch

Nothing.

No one really eats much on Saturdays at home, save my father. He likes food so you see where I get it from.

Dinner

Made a mad pot of fried rice and turkey. Turkey will not kill me!

Spent: N0

Total Spend: N23,020

WHATT???

I’m amazed! I actually spent this lot on food this week. I’m sooo going back to my Cambridge diet. Oh wait, that, too, is expensive. No fine dining this week either. Just regular food and I spent this much? I didn’t even realise. I need to reevaluate o!

*every Nosa/provider hovering around me, show by fire… fire… fire…lol*

 Interested in sharing your food diary with us? Shoot us an email with it to editor[at]eatrinklagos.com