National Children’s Day: How to Get Kids to Enjoy Traditional African Meals

Celebrating culture, comfort, and the little ones who carry our food traditions forward.

Every year on November 20, Canada recognizes National Children’s Day — a day dedicated to honouring children’s rights, well-being, and bright futures. At Arinka, we believe that one of the most beautiful ways to nurture that future is through food: the traditions it preserves, the memories it builds, and the identity it helps shape.

For many African families across the diaspora, guiding children to enjoy traditional meals can feel meaningful — and sometimes a little challenging. Bold spices, leafy greens, and deep flavours may not be what Canadian-born kids are used to. But with patience, creativity, and a little cultural magic, children can grow to love these dishes.

Here’s how to make it easier — and more joyful — for everyone at the table.

3 Easy Tips for Getting Kids to Eat Traditional African Food

1. Start Early — Introduce Traditional Foods During Weaning

Across West Africa, many families begin introducing babies to traditional soups and swallows during weaning — and for good reason. Early exposure is one of the strongest predictors of food acceptance later in childhood (UNICEF, 2019).

For example, in Yoruba households, caregivers often serve smooth, gentle swallows like Amala (yam flour) paired with silky Ewedu (molokhia leaf sauce) to weaning babies. The soft texture makes it safe, and the natural flavours help little ones grow up recognizing — and loving — their cultural foods.

Other baby-friendly puree ideas include:
🥣 mashed ripe plantains
🥣 blended beans or lentils
🥣 soft vegetable purees made from squash, sweet potato, or peas

These early steps make African flavours feel familiar — long before picky eating sets in.

2. Incorporate Familiar Ingredients into Traditional Foods

Kids are more open to new foods when something on the plate feels recognizable. You can bridge tradition with familiarity in simple, effective ways.

Take Pap/Ogi, a corn-based, custard-like breakfast staple consumed widely across West Africa. It’s usually served warm and smooth — perfect for toddlers and school-aged kids.

Try giving it a North American twist by adding:
🍇 dried fruits
🍯 a touch of honey or maple syrup
🍎 diced apples or berries
🌾 a sprinkle of oats

This keeps the dish rooted in culture, while making it feel comforting and kid-friendly.

3. Adjust the Heat — Not Every Plate Needs to Be Spicy

Many African and Caribbean dishes are built around bold, spicy peppers. But for diaspora-born kiddos, the heat can be overwhelming at first.

Here’s what works:
🔥 Use fewer hot peppers than the recipe calls for
🔥 Add heat only to the adult portions
🔥 Start with mild pepper sauces

Our favourite kid-friendly option?

Taltis Jollof Pepper Sauce — a mild, tomato-based blend that gives you all the rich, savoury flavour without overpowering spice. It’s perfect for introducing little palates to Jollof rice, stews, or any tomato-pepper-based recipe.

Remember: flavour before fire. Spiciness can always be added later, but it’s harder to take away.

More Ways to Help Kids Embrace Traditional Meals

These additional research-backed strategies can make everyday mealtime smoother and more fun:

Make the Food Fun to Explore

Kids taste with their eyes first. Colourful stews, fluffy fried rice cups, bright Jollof — these visual cues encourage curiosity. Try offering meals in small portions with appealing shapes or containers.

Let Them Help in the Kitchen

Children who help cook are significantly more likely to eat what they help prepare. Let them wash spinach, stir a pot, or sprinkle spices. The pride they feel translates into excitement at the table.

Serve Familiar Sides Alongside New Foods

Pair efo riro with rice. Offer plantain chips next to new stews. Use mild coconut rice as a base for spicy proteins. This softens the learning curve and removes pressure.

Explain the Stories Behind the Food

Food is culture. When kids understand the meaning — who cooked it for you as a child, which region it comes from, why it’s important — they form an emotional connection that encourages eating.

Kid-Friendly African Snacks to Add to Lunchboxes:

Available at arinka.ca with fast delivery across Canada.

Why This Matters on National Children’s Day

Food builds identity. It builds connection. It carries memory.

Helping our children enjoy traditional meals is a gift — a way of passing down love, culture, and belonging through something as simple and beautiful as dinner.

Today, we celebrate our kids — and the flavours that help shape who they become.