Food and Nutrition in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a country whose most citizens are Muslims. Therefore, some foods that are popular among the Christians are conspicuously absent in Saudi Arabia. Such foods include pork, which according to the Islamic faith, is forbidden. Pigs are believed to be impure and therefore pork is considered to be bad for human beings. 

The most popular foods in Saudi Arabia 

Carbohydrates 

Carbohydrates are the most popular type of foods in the country. Various studies that have been carried out have shown that most residents of Saudi Arabia prefer cereals to other types of food. The studies have shown that Saudi Arabians do not have a lot of preference to proteins as is the case in some countries. The most popular foods among Saudi Arabians are the Saudi Arabian rice, bread and wheat products. What is shocking about the results of the different studies is that linoleic acids, minerals and vitamins were unpopular among most of the citizens of Saudi Arabia. 

Yogurt Salads 

Some people prefer yogurt salads as a substitute to salads which are served together with rice. Saudi Arabians use it as a late night snack during the summer. 

Chicken and fish 

Although pork and some proteins are unpopular among Saudi Arabians, chicken and fish are loved by many people. They are loved because they are inexpensive and affordable even to the low income earners. 

Kabsa 

This is a Saudi Arabian meal that constitutes rice, chicken and lamb. Kabsa is by far the most common type of meal and is considered to be iconic. 

Mashkoul 

This is Arabian rice cooked with onions. It is one of the most preferred choices by many residents Saudi Arabia. 

Honey 

A lot of people in Saudi Arabia enjoy honey because it has no negative health effects on human beings. However, when consumed in large quantities, honey can cause nausea and loss of appetite. However, these effects last for a short while. Another reason for the popularity of honey is that some people believe that it can cure some human disorders although the belief has been rejected because there is no scientific evidence to support it. 

Fast foods 

The most popular fast foods in Saudi Arabia are the Boston fried chicken, Corndogs, burgers, crispy chicken and the famous 19th century burger. 

The state of nutrition in Saudi Arabia 

Although there are plenty of carbohydrates in the country, vitamins and fruits are scarce. This is the reason why most meals contain carbohydrates but very small amounts of vitamins. Some cases of malnutrition are reported in Saudi Arabia because a significant portion of the land is a desert. However, the cases of malnutrition are not too popular. Reports of obesity amongst Saudi Arabians were common.