This research was aimed at constructing a nutritionally balanced food basket for Zanzibar (an autonomous region of Tanzania) that relies on traditional foods and is affordable. Using household survey data the author constructed a representative food basket that provides an average daily intake of 2150 calories. The resulting basket is deficient in sever critical nutrients. Adjusting calorie shares of the foods in the basket resulted in a more balanced diet, but the new basket is higher cost and remains deficient in calcium and other minerals.