The Impact of Cost-effective Meal Planning on Food Security in Kaduna Metropolisof Kaduna State, Nigeria

Food insecurity continues to threaten household welfare in Nigeria, particularly in urban centers, where rising food prices and unstable incomes affect access to regular nutritious diets. This study examined the impact of cost-effective meal planning on household food security in Kaduna metropolis, focusing on food expenditure, availability, dietary diversity, and common planning strategies. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and covered a population of 378,000 households within Kaduna metropolis. A total of 300 households were selected using a multi-stage random sampling technique, while 20 key informants were purposively interviewed. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, chi-square, and multiple regression analysis. Findings showed that households practicing meal planning spent significantly less on food than non-planners, with a mean reduction of ¦ 3,300 per month. Meal planning and preservation practices also improved food availability, reducing the frequency of shortage episodes. Dietary diversity scores were higher among planning households, indicating that structured meal preparation enhanced nutritional quality. Common meal planning strategies included reuse of leftovers, market price comparison, and regular scheduling of meals, with adoption levels differing by employment status. The study concludes that cost-effective meal planning significantly improves food security by lowering food expenditure, stabilizing food availability, and enhancing dietary diversity among low-income households. It recommends integrating meal planning, budgeting education, and food preservation training into urban nutrition and food security programs. Such interventions would strengthen household capacity to manage limited resources and promote sustainable urban food security in Kaduna metropolis.