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Ramadan nutrition tips to help you celebrate with health and energy
5-27-2019
Every year Muslims in our communities, our workplaces and around the world celebrate Ramadan. Ramadan falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It marks the date the sacred book of Islamic scripture, the Quran, was first introduced to the Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims spend Ramadan renewing their faith by fasting during the day, praying, and joining charity and community events.
It can be challenging to know which foods are best to eat during Ramadan to keep your energy up and body fueled, especially as food and drink can only be eaten at night, from after sunset to before sunrise. Here are some nutrition tips to help you feel your best during Ramadan.
1. Stay Hydrated – Drink Lots of Water!
Drinking fluids keeps your body hydrated and replaces water lost during the day. Not drinking enough fluids leads to headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Water is the best choice. Keep a reusable water bottle or glass of water with you during non-fasting hours and make a note to sip water frequently. If you do not enjoy the taste of plain water, add fruit slices and herbs, cucumber slices or mint to your water for more flavour. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine like coffee and tea as caffeine dehydrates the body. Instead choose water, herbal teas, and other decaffeinated beverages.
2. Break the Fast
The day time fast is broken by eating a snack. A traditional, healthy choice is eating a few dates paired with low fat milk. Dates are a dried fruit high in potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, and fibre, and milk is a good source of calcium, water, and potassium. This combination helps replenish electrolytes and rehydrate the body. You can replace dates with other dried fruits such as prunes, apricots, figs, raisins, and peaches. Other ways to include more fluids is enjoying a bowl of soup or a stew. Not only will this add extra fibre but it will hydrate your body as well.
3. Eat a Balanced Meal at Iftar and Suhour
Eating a balanced meal after your iftar snack and shortly before the next day’s fast begins (suhour) is important to help you feel your best. The best nutrients to include in a meal are a combination of complex carbohydrates, fiber, and protein.
Good complex carbohydrate choices are whole grain bread, pita, oats, cereal, brown rice, and wild rice. They provide a variety of nutrients to your body like B vitamins, iron, magnesium, and fiber. The fiber in these foods will help you digest food slower and keep you full for longer. Whichever complex carbohydrates you choose, it is important to pair it with a protein food. Protein can come from vegetarian foods and non-vegetarian foods. Good protein choices are meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and meat alternatives such as baked beans, lentils, nuts and seeds, and nut butters. Balance your plate with a serving of fibrous and vitamin rich fruit and vegetables.
Here are some meal ideas:
Suhour
- Oatmeal topped with sliced almonds, chia seeds and fresh or frozen berries.
- Whole grain toast topped with smashed avocado and hardboiled egg. Add a side of unsweetened yogurt and berries.
- Scrambled eggs with spinach and feta wrapped in a whole wheat pita and a fruit on the side.
Iftar
- Tandoori spice chicken breast, rice pilaf, and steamed vegetables.
- Lamb sprinkled with fresh herbs like thyme with pan roasted potatoes and carrots.
4. Avoid processed, fried, and foods with a lot of added sugar
Since non fasting hours are limited, it is important to limit foods that provide little to no nutritional value. Avoid indulging in highly processed foods like cheese buns, deep fried foods like samosa and pakoras, and sugary foods like sweets and desserts. You may be offered these foods during non-fasting hours by others or you may be used to keeping them in your home. Just remember while they may fill you up right away, they will not provide you with lasting energy through the day. Instead, choose whole foods packed with nutrition that will hydrate your body before the next fasting day begins.
May this Ramadan be filled with joy and prosperity for you and your loved ones. Enjoy this time with family and take the opportunity to bond over a healthy, wholesome meal.
Footnotes: Footnotes: Sharon Heer, Registered Dietitian, Sehat Program at Fraser Health South Asian Health Institute (SAHI)
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