IS PLANTAIN HEALTHY?
Black women in print with Prophet Magazine
85%
SAID YES
8%
SAID NO
7%
SAID WHO'S ASKING ?
WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SAID
DID YOU KNOW....
Whether it’s fried, baked, boiled or mashed, plantain is a staple on many of our plates — but one question keeps popping up: is it actually healthy?
Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a different answer. Some say it’s just a starch bomb, others call it a superfood. The truth? Like most beloved foods, it’s all about how you cook it — and what you pair it with.
Plantain is rich in fibre, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C. It's naturally low in fat and, unlike bananas, holds its form better during cooking, making it a great base for both savoury and sweet dishes.
But when deep-fried in loads of oil (which let’s face it, is how most of us love it), some of its nutritional shine gets dulled.
WHAT DID THE EXPERT HAVE TO SAY...
To explore this question through a cultural and generational lens, we partnered with Prophet Magazine for their Insight Session: Black Women in Print — a beautiful evening of discussion, vinyls, performance, food, and friends.
Griot Kitchen provided all the plantain-based canapés for the event, ranging from spiced plantain crisps to roasted bites layered with pickled vegetables and heritage sauces. We also spent the night speaking to event goers to gather their thoughts on plantain, health, and how culture plays a role in their food choices.
Here’s what we learned from the room:
Many Gen Z guests talked about redefining health through ancestral foods and intuitive eating.
Some shared ways they were experimenting with air-frying or baking plantain at home to honour the dish while shifting how it’s made.
One attendee said:
🗣️ “Plantain is my comfort food. Even when I’m trying to eat clean, I find a way to include it—because it’s part of who I am.”
WATCH THE FULL EVENING HERE
It became clear that the “health” conversation isn’t just nutritional — it’s emotional, cultural, and often political. For many, plantain is both fuel and identity.
Got your own plantain story? Share it with us—we’d love to hear it.
Better yet, submit your favourite plantain recipe to our Griot Kitchen Recipe Vault and be part of the living history of this global fruit.