When money is tight, many people naturally focus on buying whatever is cheapest. But the problem with that approach is that cheap food is not always balanced food. A family can end up eating meals that fill the stomach without truly nourishing the body.

That is why it helps to think about food differently.

Instead of building meals around carbohydrates and then adding protein, which could be expensive, it can be more affordable to make meals that already include protein.

For example, in Cameroon, dishes like

• Koki beans with plantain or potato

• Beans with rice or plantain

• Ndolé with rice, baton, or plantain

• Groundnut paste and baton 

Meals like these already offer nutritional value on their own, which means there is less pressure to buy meat or fish every time you cook. Since meat can quickly drive up the cost of feeding a family, choosing natural, protein-rich meals more often can make a big difference.

Another smart habit is keeping basic cooking ingredients in the house at all times. Things you would use to cook most meals.

Things like:

• Oil

• Seasoning

• Basic spices

• Eggs

These may seem simple, but they make everyday cooking much easier. When the basics are available, it becomes easier to improvise meals without stress. Eggs, especially, can be very helpful because they can replace meat in many dishes and make simple meals feel more complete. And they are affordable.

It also helps to buy staple foods in larger quantities whenever possible.

Items like beans, koki beans, rice, spaghetti, and eggs can serve as the foundation of many meals. Having these basics at home creates stability. It means there is always something to cook, even when money is low. Then, whenever there is extra money, more variety can be added gradually.

Seasonal foods can also help reduce costs.

When certain vegetables are in season, they are usually cheaper and easier to find. That is the best time to cook them more often. Okro, leafy vegetables, and other local produce can stretch a food budget while still adding important nutrients to meals.

The goal is not perfection. The goal is to create a system that works.

A good food budget is not about buying everything at once or serving elaborate meals every day. It is about making sure there is always a base to work with, choosing meals that are both affordable and nourishing, and adding more variety when possible.

That is the heart of budget-friendly feeding:

Do not compromise on nutrition if you can help it, especially when children are involved. Focus instead on finding simpler, cheaper ways to serve balanced meals.

Even with limited money, it is still possible to feed a family well. It takes intention, creativity, and a willingness to plan around what matters most.

Hello, my Radiants ✨

Happy Women's Day 2026!

But here’s the thing — no matter how much it went down, it never really went all the way back. I kept thinking maybe it’s because my belly had been so big and stretched during pregnancy, that even breastfeeding and all the “normal” body recovery tricks just weren’t enough.

What I didn’t know then was that it wasn’t just about the outside. Inside, my stomach muscles were actually open and weak, and that kind of belly needs special attention and workouts to get stronger and close up.

How I Discovered Diastasis Recti

At first, I thought I just had stubborn belly fat. My belly always looked a bit funny, and even when I sucked it in, it was clear something was off. Some days, I would feel like my belly couldn't be controlled.

I stumbled on the term diastasis recti when I asked ChatGPT something about weight loss. I did some reading and even tested myself by pressing my fingers into my belly, and yes, there was a gap. That’s when it clicked: this wasn’t just fat, my abs had literally separated.

What I Started Doing

I made a few changes and additions after reading the recommendations:

• I did more core-safe exercises. Things like pulling my stomach in while lifting my legs gently, or doing controlled moves.

• I avoided exercises that made it worse or that made my recti open up again. I skipped the rope, danced while holding my belly in and releasing it as I danced over and over again. I worked out for my weight loss and also did core exercises for my open stomach muscles to close.

• Most importantly, I reminded myself it’s about consistency, not intensity.

My Tips for Anyone Struggling With It

From my experience, here’s what I’d tell any mama (or even someone who isn’t a mom but has this):

1. Don’t rush into heavy ab workouts. Planks, sit-ups, or anything that makes your stomach bulge out can delay healing.

2. Start with simple breathing and core activations — trust me, those tiny moves are powerful.

3. Mix healing workouts with fun movement (like dancing, walking, rope jumping if you enjoy it). It keeps you motivated.

4. Always listen to your body. If something makes your belly dome or stick out, skip it or slow it down.

5. Be patient. Healing isn’t instant, but the changes come slowly and surely.

Looking back, I now understand why my belly never “snapped back” like i expected after pregnancy. It wasn’t laziness or stubborn fat; it was my body asking for the right kind of care. Some women snap back because their stomach wasn't stretched too much or their body had the possibility to bring thier belly muscles back together to close. I understand better now, and I think that if I had known this earlier, my belly would be in better shape because I would have known which exercises to target. It's at my fourth year postpartum that I'm discovering and actively working on the problem. My belly isn't flat yet, but the changes I've observed are promising. I do test myself to see how much the gap in the belly is changing and there has been improvement.

If you’re like me and you notice your belly just isn’t responding to your usual efforts, don’t panic. You might have diastasis recti. Get informed by doing research on it. Find different types of exercises you can do or which is convinient for you. Start small, eat well, be consistent, and treat your body with patience. Healing is possible, and your belly can get stronger again.