Foods while in Senegal

[WhidbeyGirl 1]

I know I am picky and I am not real into trying new things, although I am doing my best to be a little more open. I did attempt to make fried plantain and yam - failed miserably but I tried, or maybe I cooked it right just didn't like it, I don't know.

Anyways, I am going to be in Senegal for over 3 weeks and I know I am going to have to cook. I am a good cook, I really am, but I don't think the things that I know how to cook well are going to be available there, maybe they will. Most of what I cook is Mexican. So my question is, what can I bring in with me? And how much? Is there a list somewhere? I remember when I was coming back from Paris I found a list of things I could bring back with me but can't seem to find one for going into Senegal. SO says he'll teach me to cook the way he likes, I just hope I can learn well enough for him. The biggest issue with cooking things he likes is that I don't eat seafood at all and can't even touch it without getting sick. I know that he likes a lot of things that have seafood in them.

You must think I am a "princess" type but I'm not, just when it comes to what goes in my mouth. I can handle no power, lack of toilet facilities, getting dirty, working hard - those are all things I can do. He jokes about having me eat a goat and I laugh along with him, but in reality NEVER could I do such a thing, I raise goats and I love them, I could not even begin to think of eating them, it'd be like eating my own child.

So, do you know what I can bring with me?

[idocare 3]

You can try looking on the Senegal website or call their Embassey here in

America. I'm not sure what you can bring. When I went I took bottles of

water, some cupcakes, chips, candy etc.

Just remember most all Cultures include rice in their diet, so if you have to

cook you shouldn't go wrong with making Beans and Rice.

[Simply_Uno 1]

I know I am picky and I am not real into trying new things, although I am doing my best to be a little more open. I did attempt to make fried plantain and yam - failed miserably but I tried, or maybe I cooked it right just didn't like it, I don't know.

Anyways, I am going to be in Senegal for over 3 weeks and I know I am going to have to cook. I am a good cook, I really am, but I don't think the things that I know how to cook well are going to be available there, maybe they will. Most of what I cook is Mexican. So my question is, what can I bring in with me? And how much? Is there a list somewhere? I remember when I was coming back from Paris I found a list of things I could bring back with me but can't seem to find one for going into Senegal. SO says he'll teach me to cook the way he likes, I just hope I can learn well enough for him. The biggest issue with cooking things he likes is that I don't eat seafood at all and can't even touch it without getting sick. I know that he likes a lot of things that have seafood in them.

You must think I am a "princess" type but I'm not, just when it comes to what goes in my mouth. I can handle no power, lack of toilet facilities, getting dirty, working hard - those are all things I can do. He jokes about having me eat a goat and I laugh along with him, but in reality NEVER could I do such a thing, I raise goats and I love them, I could not even begin to think of eating them, it'd be like eating my own child.

So, do you know what I can bring with me? so far...air

I mean this with all good intentions, YOU ARE GOING TO STARVE!!!! LOL

or develop acute onset rickets

calling all international cuisine subbies, help a girl out, she is going to be in a "bad way" fo'real B)

UNO

p.s.

all b.s. aside, you should be fine with chicken and beef,

(my bad "cow" meat, and yes, they do differentiate between cow and beef)

and rice and beans, eggs, toast, and porridge...oh and fruit galore

[Perseverance 1]

LOL I have to agree with Uno, you are going to starve!!

You are going to have to go out on a limb....and try some stuff. Let your SO know that you dont like seafood. Alot of African foods are "soups" (more like the consistancy of our stew) served with rice or some sort of other type of starch. There are usualy some ramen type noodles so you can always eat that. I dont know about Senagal but in Nigeria there are some "fast food" type places there you can get some things like roasted chicken, meat pies kinda like patsys. You really need Omoba or Taureen to help you...

Rice Rice Rice there is Rice, my husband drives me crazy with the rice I have never had so much rice in my life

google is your friend...check out some sites about food in Senegal....find an African restaurant there in Seattle and check it out...we have a Senegalese Restaurant here in Denver so I am sure there MUST be SOMETHING in Seattle.

Look on the brite side...you could loose a few pounds....

[Ta Ta 1]

Take oatmeal for breakfast, the packaged individual one, or creme of wheat. I don't know how you will be set up, microwave , stove, fridge etc. but I would just bring some instant soups for quick lunches, maybe you can doctor them up with adding veggies there. Packaged chicken salad.

I do not eat meat in Sierra Leone ( too scary ! ) and very little in Dakar. I like the fish. I brought beef jerky and high protein bars with me.

Snacks, anything that won't break or crumble in the suit case.

Leave the rest to your SO, he will know what to do.

Eating out in Dakar is expensive and so are the super markets. I hope you will like rice. Careful with eating salads, stick to well cooked foods. Desserts are not usually eaten so bring chocolate if you are a chocoholic.

I brought tea bags and international coffee tins. Again, it would be silly to bring bottled water when you can get it there. You can't fit 3 weeks worth of water into a suit case, just makes no sense, especially with the weight limits on luggage.

Watch your suit case or you will be paying a hefty fine for your groceries you are planning to bring along. It gets too heavy before you realize it.

Consider arranging for a mosquito net over your bed if you are in the provinces.

Our dear VJ member Taurean arranged food being brought to us twice a day and we will be forever grateful for that kind gesture !

[Simply_Uno 1]

Take oatmeal for breakfast, the packaged individual one, or creme of wheat. I don't know how you will be set up, microwave , stove, fridge etc. but I would just bring some instant soups for quick lunches, maybe you can doctor them up with adding veggies there. Packaged chicken salad.

I do not eat meat in Sierra Leone ( too scary ! ) and very little in Dakar. I like the fish. I brought beef jerky and high protein bars with me.

Snacks, anything that won't break or crumble in the suit case.

Leave the rest to your SO, he will know what to do.

Eating out in Dakar is expensive and so are the super markets. I hope you will like rice. Careful with eating salads, stick to well cooked foods. Desserts are not usually eaten so bring chocolate if you are a chocoholic.

I brought tea bags and international coffee tins. Again, it would be silly to bring bottled water when you can get it there. You can't fit 3 weeks worth of water into a suit case, just makes no sense, especially with the weight limits on luggage.

Watch your suit case or you will be paying a hefty fine for your groceries you are planning to bring along. It gets too heavy before you realize it.

Consider arranging for a mosquito net over your bed if you are in the provinces.

Our dear VJ member Taurean arranged food being brought to us twice a day and we will be forever grateful for that kind gesture !

did I not mention "porridge??"

[Sylvia_n_Joseph 3]

I found some of the meat pies contained meet of unknown heritage. They call it bush meat which is anything they choose to throw in including a species of giant rat raised like we do rabbits. I remember when we were at market that the cuts of beef where heaped into a wheel barrow and sold by this man pushing it around. There was a lot of rice and noodles. There is also lots of broths that were usually spicier than I liked but his family would make some milder for me. I ate a lot of bananas and oranges. You don't find a lot of dairy products either. The homes I stayed at didn't have ovens either so if you are cooking you may only have a cook top.

[Tunji&Toyin 0]

What part of Nigeria did you stay at?

I went all over Nigeria, and they took very good care of me, fried eggs in the morning, with the freshly made bread, drank a lot of tea, and lost like 15 lbs. Which I swiftly gained when I came back to the states. Although my situation may be a little different since I am a first generation American, I still some things that I could not just eat. I know I promised my wife after her first feast (prepared by mom)... that I will be preparing American food for her throughout her first week, while she watches, so she can see how I prepare these meals. Burritos are my favorite, spaghetti, mashed potatoes, gravy, and fried chicken, so I am going to introduce her to some common meals throughout that first week, that I will prepare on my own.

Just try what you can, and feed the rest to your SO. For when he comes to the US, you will introduce him to your own foods!

[Ta Ta 1]

Take oatmeal for breakfast, the packaged individual one, or creme of wheat. I don't know how you will be set up, microwave , stove, fridge etc. but I would just bring some instant soups for quick lunches, maybe you can doctor them up with adding veggies there. Packaged chicken salad.

I do not eat meat in Sierra Leone ( too scary ! ) and very little in Dakar. I like the fish. I brought beef jerky and high protein bars with me.

Snacks, anything that won't break or crumble in the suit case.

Leave the rest to your SO, he will know what to do.

Eating out in Dakar is expensive and so are the super markets. I hope you will like rice. Careful with eating salads, stick to well cooked foods. Desserts are not usually eaten so bring chocolate if you are a chocoholic.

I brought tea bags and international coffee tins. Again, it would be silly to bring bottled water when you can get it there. You can't fit 3 weeks worth of water into a suit case, just makes no sense, especially with the weight limits on luggage.

Watch your suit case or you will be paying a hefty fine for your groceries you are planning to bring along. It gets too heavy before you realize it.

Consider arranging for a mosquito net over your bed if you are in the provinces.

Our dear VJ member Taurean arranged food being brought to us twice a day and we will be forever grateful for that kind gesture !

did I not mention "porridge??"

Yes, my dear you did but my emphasis was on instant. Some stove tops want to be coaxed along before they cooperate

[Perseverance 1]

I am hard core all I took was my tea....

[Simply_Uno 1]

I am hard core all I took was my tea....

yea, yea-eeee!!!

[Perseverance 1]

I am hard core all I took was my tea....

yea, yea-eeee!!!

well if I dont have my tea I will get a headache....and we KNOW what happens then...

[Ta Ta 1]

We do B)

[brnidokiegurl 0]

i went to different region (morocco) but i do think u are in for a surprise. Figure on the chicken, fish, i took macaroni cheese box ha, taco shell/seasoning, spaghetti, just for them to try. But as far as cooking mexican soooooo much i found different myself (i know different region) but still one of the first surprised me was WHY ARENT THESE EGGS IN A ICE BOX? they just leave sitting out, milk not the milk we know, the meat was so/so i felt good with most of it, vegetables and lots of fruits. Not alot of chips and dips sitting around for snacks, when they say cakes they dont mean our cakes but again different area, just be careful and enjoy....

[Simply_Uno 1]

i went to different region (morocco) but i do think u are in for a surprise. Figure on the chicken, fish, i took macaroni cheese box ha, taco shell/seasoning, spaghetti, just for them to try. But as far as cooking mexican soooooo much i found different myself (i know different region) but still one of the first surprised me was WHY ARENT THESE EGGS IN A ICE BOX? they just leave sitting out, milk not the milk we know, the meat was so/so i felt good with most of it, vegetables and lots of fruits. Not alot of chips and dips sitting around for snacks, when they say cakes they dont mean our cakes but again different area, just be careful and enjoy....

good observations and definitely excellent advice