Food in Lesotho pt. 2

It’s been almost two full months on my own at site… so let’s talk about food.

Short answer?

It’s repetitive.

I must admit — during training we constantly complained about the bland, “seasonless” meals. Only to later find out that Basotho were told we only like salt as seasoning, love peanut butter, and apparently need eggs to survive. That, paired with Peace Corps intentionally feeding us repetitive meals to prepare us for limited food access at site…we were very much tired of PST.

Well friends — Peace Corps was right about ONE thing: there are no food options at my site.

Fortunately, I came prepared. I brought creole seasoning with me and found a shop in my camp town that sells things I recognize. Like pickles!! Most people in rural villages have never had them… tragic honestly.

So with that being said, welcome to the life of a lazy volunteer’s diet in Lesotho.

Breakfast:

Almost always 1–2 eggs or porridge. Every. Single. Day.

If I’ve gone to town recently or bought potatoes, I might upgrade to hash browns and eggs, toast (if I have butter), or fruit and eggs. Still eggs though. Always eggs.

Eggs and toast!

Hash browns and eggs!!

Lunch:

I used to skip it — but now that school has started, I eat daily. Lunch is usually papa and moroho, samp and beans, peas and papa. Honestly? My body needs the calories and it hits the spot.

Samp, beets and chicken - chicken is rare due to lack of refrigeration but this was a good day!

Dinner:

This is where creativity goes to die.

Peas and rice. Beans and rice. Chicken and rice. Corn and rice. Butter and rice. The occasional ramen. Or my personal favorite: a mayo and tuna sandwich 🕺🏽

Sometimes I get spontaneous. My tomato and onion plants started producing, so I made spaghetti! My former coworkers sent me gumbo mix and I used it over the holidays — life changing.

My poor host mom feels bad that I eat peas and rice every day, so she tries to feed me whenever she can. She loves papa and moroho, so when I’m tired of my own cooking I get variety. Sometimes she makes sardines and papa (shockingly delicious), makoenya (donuts), or fries for dinner — and those are GOOD nights.

So honestly? Being a lazy volunteer when it comes to food isn’t that bad.

Now… I do have a friend in my district who went to culinary school. This man sends me photos of homemade tortillas, quesadillas, mochi, restaurant-level pasta — knowing full well I survive off rice and vibes.

We’ve agreed that I’ll be visiting his house for food. I’ve been given an open invitation.

He’s absolutely going to regret that.

Today he texted me a recipe for egg drop soup with noodles!!! Sounds delicious and takes only a few steps! Bless culinary schools and people with food skills!

Anyway — if anyone has other recipes that take five steps max, please drop them below 😅

Signed a girl tired of peas, beans and rice.

Enjoy my food pics!!