Christmas holiday is never the same when you're in your 50s

When we were young, life was so carefree that we indulged in a variety of foods and drinks without much concern. Despite the array of traditional foods available, many of us, particularly those from the Eastlands, gravitated towards fried or roasted dishes.

“Chapati,” or as we fondly referred to them, “chapos,” held a special place, appearing on our tables only once a week for some fortunate families, or as rare as once a month or during Christmas for others.

Perhaps the scarcity of such treats during our childhood is why people born in the 70s often list chapos as one of their favourite foods. Greens were a staple, insisted upon by our parents for our health, a concept we, as young children, couldn’t fully grasp. While I used to detest murenda, these days I find myself enjoying it whenever it crosses my path.

On the flip side, items like chips, sausages, samosas, and hot dogs were elusive luxuries, except for those lucky enough to attend schools like Khalsa primary in the city center, where occasional visits to places like Munyiris, Cafe de Paris, or Farmers Choices Fish and Chips were a delightful exception.

Relatives from upcountry would bring authentic kuku kienyeji and fish from the lake, creating aromas that would announce their cooking to the entire neighbourhood. Our health and the absence of obesity, perhaps, can be attributed to the abundance of outdoor games we played and the insistence of our parents to spend time outdoors.

Boarding school life introduced us to the joy of home-cooked chapos, a nostalgic taste that topped our menu. Treetop juice was the preferred beverage of our time, as the era of tetra-pack juices had not yet dawned.

Githeri, an evening staple at school, was not a favourite back then, but as adults, we’ve come to appreciate its nutritional value. I recall my grandmother’s ingenious combination of githeri with peanuts, a dish that tasted exquisite and was undoubtedly healthy.

The ugali prepared in her rural kitchen featured a blend of cassava, sweet potatoes, and arrowroots, providing us with sustenance during our days of herding cows, snacking on mapera, and chewing sugarcane.

As we entered adulthood, especially in our 40s and 50s, a shift occurred, and we rediscovered the traditional foods we once disliked.

Everyone is now focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, advising the younger generation to embrace traditional foods early on. Despite our nostalgia for fried foods, we acknowledge the importance of instilling discipline to prevent an overreliance on junk food.