For a long time, bread and a cup of tea have been a staple of the Kenyan breakfast diet. Bread especially being readily available has proven that it’s not difficult to eat it every day. Over the years though, bread prices have gotten a bad rap as they keep rising.

According to data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) on January 31, Kenyans should brace for tough times over increased inflation.

Nearly all bread brands in the country have recorded a price increase, with a 400-gram loaf going up between KSh 53 to KSh 60, a 600-gram loaf is going between KSh 74 to KSh 90 and an 800-gram loaf is going between KSh 94 to KSh 120 and a 1.5-kilogram loaf is going between KSh 164 to KSh 220.

The overall year inflation rate as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 5.39 percent in January 2022, 5.56 percent in March 2022, and 6.47 percent in April 2022. The report said that food prices skyrocketed by 12 percent with cooking oil denoting the highest increment of 41.7 percent, wheat flour had a 24.7 percent increment and fuel prices revealed an 8.5 percent surge.

With food prices going up, it’s only natural to look into other breakfast alternatives.

Sweet potatoes, arrowroots, and cassava

These are considered healthy because they are full of fiber and healthy carbs. The preparation methods include; boiling or roasting, baking, or deep frying.

A kilogram of sweet potatoes (red and white) at the supermarket ranges between KSh 112 to KSh 175. At the open market, a kilogram of the same ranges between KSh 90 to KSh 120 for 3 pieces.

A kilogram of arrowroots at the supermarket ranges between KSh 159 to KSh 175. At the open-air market, a kilogram of the same ranges between KSh 100 to KSh 150 for 2 pieces.

A kilogram of cassava at the supermarket ranges from KSh 145 to KSh 157. At the open-air market, a kilogram of the same ranges between KSh 80 to KSh 100 for 3 pieces.

Fried wheat products

Mandazi, mahamri, and kaimatis are slightly similar and are made from deep-fried dough. Chapati and pancakes are flatbreads made from dough and fried on a pan. For all, wheat flour and cooking oil are the staple ingredients.

Kenya imports vegetable oils such as sunflower oils, corn oil, and crude palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia, but weak production over the last six months in Malaysia due to floods and labor shortages has seen Kenya resort to Indonesia’s palm oil.

Manufacturers of cooking oil in the country recently warned Kenyans of a looming shortage of the commodity as well as increased prices amid Indonesia’s ban on palm oil exports. A liter of cooking oil is currently going between KSh 385 to KSh 530.

Wheat prices have also been rising since Russia’s announcement that it would be invading Ukraine in February, both of which supply Kenya with 66 percent of the total wheat that is consumed locally.

Millers are now paying KSh 57,000 for a ton of wheat landed in Mombasa from KSh 45,600 in January, representing a 25 percent jump. A kilogram of wheat flour is currently going between KSh 73 to KSh 123.

Breakfast cereal (cornflakes, oats, muesli, Weetabix, granola)

Breakfast cereals also offers an array of alternatives.

A kilogram of oats is currently going between KSh 354 to KSh 585 at the supermarket while a kilogram of porridge oat flour ranges between KSh 384 to KSh 450.

A 750 grams pack of cornflakes, muesli, and granola ranges between KSh 449 to KSh 962, KSh 718 to KSh 742, and KSh 718 to KSh 1200 respectively, across different supermarkets.

A 900 grams pack of Weetabix ranges from KSh 588 to KSh 660 across different supermarkets.

Uji (Porridge)

This is also another Kenyan breakfast meal rich in fiber and nutrients, made by boiling a mixture of porridge flour and water.

A kilogram of porridge flour is currently going between KSh 125 to KSh 239 at retail shops and supermarkets and between KSh 100 to KSh 110 at the open-air market.

These are examples of breakfast alternatives you can look into. Each one of them can be used in place of the other but that is dependent on availability, convenience, lifestyle, size of your family, and majorly, your pocket.