Is injera [or any type of ethiopian food] unhealthy to eat..?

Question

for a diet? i mean its always in the house and its really hard to aviod it. because when you eat injera its expected to put alot on your plate and the Doro wot has oil in it? im just wonering if is it ok to eat or should i stay away from it?

Answer 1

njera bread isn't bad for you at all.

Answer 2

I would think it would be fine as long as you don't drink a lot of soda or eat a lot of chips. Many people eat a lot of bread and are healthy. Ethiopian food has lots of veggies like the peas and collards and lots of beans as well. The beef and lamb are better than burgers, fried chicken and pork commonly eaten in English speaking countries. If your parents eat a lot of stew maybe you could suggest lentils and split peas. Moderation is the key.

Answer 3

I have an Ethiopian coworker who eats injera with wet 2-3 times a week and she is pretty thin. I think as long as you're not inhaling a whole pound of it everyday you'll be fine.

It's really not a dense or heavy bread so I don't think it's bad to have some everyday.

Answer 4

Injera is relatively healthy unless you are trying to avoid carbs, it is made from a tiny, highly nutritious gluten free grain called teff that is extremely rich in fiber, iron, protein and calcium.  

As afar as doro wot (chicken stew) is concerned, I would say since it sounds home cooked --- it's probably pretty healthy.  I dont know who's doing the cooking, but most recipes I have seen or used only call for 1-2 tbsp of oil (or niter kebbeh) and that's for the whole dish!  That's not bad for a recipe that can feed 4-6 people!

You can always control the amt of fat (oil, butter....) when you make the dish yourself at home.  Just try smaller portions and eat more lentils and vegetable dish.  

Ethiopian food is delicious and healthy!  You're lucky to get home cooked versions, so enjoy it!