In many Kenyan households, instant noodles have become a staple food.
In many Kenyan households, instant noodles have become a staple food – affordable, quick and easy to prepare.
For working parents, particularly mothers who juggle demanding jobs with family responsibilities, noodles are a vital solution on hectic evenings.
Mary Wambui, a mother of two from Nairobi's Kasarani estate, has crafted an evening routine that has become almost too predictable.
“I get home at 7pm. By that time, the children are hungry, there's homework to be done, and I'm exhausted. Noodles boil in three minutes. If I can, I throw in some vegetables or eggs, and then we eat,” Ms Wambui says.
But she is not alone.
Across urban and peri-urban Kenya, the pace of life has changed drastically.
Women are increasingly entering the workforce or running side businesses, leaving little time for traditional meals that require hours of preparation.
In almost all middle-class neighbourhoods, packets of noodles can be found stacked alongside maize flour and rice.
For exhausted parents, instant noodles are an easy solution. Children love the taste, they require no cutting or stirring to prepare, and they are budget-friendly, with a packet of four selling for as little as Sh135.
However, a question begs: What are we feeding our children?
Health experts are sounding an alarm about this easy to cook delicacy.
Global studies have linked frequent noodle consumption in children to obesity, metabolic syndrome and nutrient deficiencies.
In South Korea, national health data revealed that women who consumed instant noodles more than twice a week were at a higher risk of metabolic issues, and these concerns also apply to children.
In the Philippines and parts of Indonesia, nutrition surveys indicate that noodles are a staple filler food among low-income families. Children often eat them daily due to their affordability. However, the high sodium and saturated fat content of these noodles poses long-term cardiovascular risks and can hinder proper development.
Harmful metals
Closer home, a study from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, found that popular noodle brands contained traces of harmful metals such as lead and cadmium. Over time, these metals can impair kidney function and neurological development in children.
In 2015, India banned Maggi noodles after tests revealed lead levels 17 times above safety limits, affecting millions of families who regularly fed their children this brand.
This triggered a ripple effect, resulting in temporary withdrawals in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Nepal, as well as recalls in Canada.
More recently, in June 2024, Denmark made headlines by banning Samyang 'fire noodles' for being dangerously spicy.
These products posed an acute poisoning risk, particularly to children, some of whom required medical attention. Two of the variants were later permitted to return after testing, but the spiciest one remains banned.
Although Kenya never officially banned instant noodles, many stores removed Maggi from their shelves following India’s 2015 ban. Today, the brand has returned, but the controversy has raised awareness.
Even if a product passes laboratory tests, the question remains: Should processed food be a staple in our children's diets?
Chicken noodles. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP
Consumer advocates are calling for stronger labelling laws, clearer warnings about sodium content and better public education on child nutrition.
Not all instant noodles are the same. Some brands have started adding vitamins or dehydrated vegetables to their noodles.
However, nothing can replace a balanced home-cooked meal.
As more and more children rely on these quick options, nutritionists are warning that we may be contributing to a nutrition crisis.
“Instant noodles are ultra-processed. They are high in sodium and fats, and low in fibre, protein and essential vitamins. If eaten regularly, especially by children, they can displace healthier foods and delay proper growth,” says Ms Eunice Lemein, a paediatric nutritionist.
The addition of monosodium glutamate (MSG), artificial flavours and preservatives to instant noodles may trigger hyperactivity or allergic reactions in some children.
Ms Lemein points out that instant noodles are more prevalent than many realise, with an increasing number of children developing a strong preference for them to the extent that they reject other foods.
“It is not a proper meal. It is not the kind of food a growing child should eat regularly. They are more suitable as an occasional snack,” says Ms Lemein.
With seven years of experience in handling nutrition matters in children, Eunice explains that the main issues with instant noodles are their high sodium content, low protein levels and overall lack of nutritional value.
“When you consider the nutritional needs of a developing child, this simply isn’t adequate. It’s like providing them with empty calories,” she states, adding that the spice sachets often contain MSG, which can enhance taste, but which may also trigger headaches, allergies or hyperactivity in some children.
She warns that children can start showing signs of poor weight gain, digestive issues like constipation, and behavioural concerns such as irritability or inattention when these foods become routine – eaten for lunch today, dinner tomorrow, and again the next day. All of these issues are often linked to high sodium and sugar intake.
But what about parents who add vegetables, eggs, or sausages to make meals more balanced?
“Adding eggs or vegetables does help, somewhat. You gain some protein and micronutrients. However, this doesn’t negate the fact that the noodles themselves are overly processed and contain additives. You are still consuming processed food.”
Instant noodles
Eunice also mentions that fortified or modified versions of instant noodles still have the same fundamental issues. They contain refined carbohydrates and chemical additives which do not support the growth and development of young children.
Noodles.
Some children request them daily, influenced by their peers, advertising or social media, while others refuse to eat anything else, which can create feeding challenges and exhaust already stressed caregivers.
Kenya's labour dynamics are changing, with more mothers becoming primary or joint breadwinners. With school runs, Zoom meetings, traffic jams and household chores to contend with, preparing a full meal every night can feel overwhelming.
Even stay-at-home mothers often resort to shortcuts due to the emotional and mental demands of childcare, especially when children beg for the tasty noodles they see in advertisements or at school.
Eunice suggests that parents can find quick, nutritious alternatives to instant noodles for their children.
"You can make a simple ugali with eggs or mashed sweet potatoes with avocado in under 30 minutes. These options are affordable, filling and nutrient-rich. Even oats or boiled eggs with fruit are better than fast food,” she advises.
She also encourages parents to involve their children in simple cooking tasks to help them learn to enjoy real food and break the cycle of craving processed food.
Experts recommend limiting noodle intake to once a week or less and adding vegetables, eggs or beans to enhance the meal's nutritional value.
