Ramadan Mubarak to all 1.6 billion Muslims out there!
For any of you who don’t know, Ramadan is the holiest month in the Muslim calendar. Muslims around the world fast from sunup to sundown, limiting their eating and drinking schedules to only when the sun is down. Exact times vary depending on your time zone.
Iftar is the act of breaking that fast. Traditionally, Muslims tend to binge-eat high-calorie foods to make up for the lack of eating during the day. However, this creates an unhealthy way of going about the holiday and average weight gain tends to go up in people practicing Ramadan. Here are some healthy ways to pack nutrient-dense foods and drinks into your Iftar.
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Go Green
Photo by Kendall Blizzard
Green smoothies are a fantastic way to drink your vegetables. Having a green smoothie gives you multiple fruits and vegetables while hydrating and nourishing you. Here’s a bomb recipe for a green smoothie to get you started.
#SpoonTip: If you add pineapple to any green smoothie, you are guaranteed not to taste the green. Put it in an opaque cup or just close your eyes if the color throws you off.
Go on a Date
Photo by Kendall Blizzard
Just kidding do NOT go on a date. But dates are the recommend food to break your fast (according to Prophet Mohammed), and he never said you couldn’t jazz them up a little.
Take the pits out, add some mascarpone, a drop of honey and top with seeds or nuts of your choosing and you have a nicely well-rounded date bite.
Carboload
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You’ve heard of athletes “carboloading” the night before a big sports event. Well, Ramadan is basically a month-long marathon, so eat like a marathoner. Make sure to get substantial serving of rice, bread or pasta long with all those veggies you’re eating, right? Try this perfect one-pot pasta packed with protein and veggies.
Prep for 3 am
Photo by Kendall Blizzard
Depending on your time zone and the day, the time you start your fast differs – so make sure you plan ahead. Try out these energy bites that my sister uses. Blend up your favorite dried fruit combined with nuts, maybe some maple syrup for sweetness.
#SpoonTip: Add chia seeds – they’re fantastic for slow-release energy that will keep you going during the day.
Get your gallon of water, food and alarm clock ready for 3 am and start chugging (but then go back to bed, obviously).
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Good luck and Ramadan Mubarak!