The new school year is back with a bang and unless your school serves meals, you are probably scrambling for some fresh lunchbox ideas. Your kiddo will need food that adds stamina to help them face the daily lessons, tests, exams, and extra-curricular activities.
To help them keep up, Zambian-born food blogger Clara Kapelembe-Bwali has a few ideas for wholesome and easy-to-make school lunches. She believes second to breakfast, lunch is an important meal.
Bwali, the founder of the Kalulushi-based food styling and photography hub Black Garlic, is the mother of two busy boys. She says, “A packed lunch made at home can be a healthy and delicious choice and gives you control over the foods and ingredients included for school the next day.”
Putting Africa on the map
When food influencers like Mogau Seshoene and Siba Mthongwana are household names in kitchens throughout the globe, you would be crazy not to cement yourself in the global food space too, says Bwali.
She explains that Mzansi is her second home and it’s here where she was first influenced by international food influencers. She has ventured on a mission to become the first female food stylist and food photographer in Zambia.
The world is your oyster, she believes. In 2020, she founded Black Garlic, a food styling and photography hub in Kalulushi.
“For the longest of times, it was not really a thing [in my country] to take your own pictures. That is where the journey started.
“One thing that I find extremely joyful is the fact that now the narrative of getting pictures online has changed – it feels like I have made a difference, like I have pioneered something different for my country.”
Foodies united
South African food is on the map, she adds with praise.
“My inspiration has been drawn from foodies all over the world who are taking over the culinary space. The way they represent their countries delicacies was always an inspiration.”
Today, her own list of clients includes Unilever, Rajah and luxury alcohol brand owner Pernod Ricard.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought I would make a living out of food.”
Try out her healthy school lunches
Crumbed fish and loaded hotdogs
A taste of the sea
Try Clara’s bread crumbed fish fillet, roasted potato wedges and veggies. “I always love a fish fillet that is flaky and delicious,” she says.
Ingredients
2 fish fillets (store bought)
2 tbsp bread crumbs
Flour for dusting
1 large egg
Method
- Coat fish fillet with flour, dip in egg then generously coat with bread crumbs. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to an hour.
- Fry until golden brown.
- Serve immediately.
How about these hotdogs?
Ingredients
6 viennas
1 cup shredded cabbage
1 cup carrots
Butter
Bread rolls
⅓ cup mayonnaise
1 tsp curry powder
1 onion
Method
- Grate cabbage, carrots and onion. In a clean pan add butter. Once melted fry cabbage, carrots and onion. Add salt and curry powder.
- Fry viennas or microwave.
- Apply mayo on a toasted hot dog roll.
- Assemble.
ALSO READ: Give chef Mbombi’s saucy liver pasta some love
Get the Mzansi Flavour newsletter: A weekly serving of craveable recipes and handy lifestyle tips.
