The Holy month of Ramadan is a time of spiritual rebirth, community engagement, empowerment, and solidarity. It is also an opportunity to make simple, subtle changes to your diet that will help you to maintain energy levels and give a sense of well-being.
The positive food choices we make for non-fasting hours not only sustain our body, mind, and soul in equal measure, but also help us to gain a better understanding of how we can improve our favourite South Asian meals in general. It gives us a chance to shift our general habits for good and make these positive changes part of our every day lifestyle in the future.
With the days getting longer, it’s essential to have some simple guidelines for choosing the best foods and festive meals to give you and your family the health and endurance to prioritise all the important things you need to do during the fasting hours.
It’s advisable to eat normal-size, well balanced, and nutrient-rich meals during Sohur (the pre-dawn meal before starting the fasting day) and Iftar (the meal at the time of breaking the fast). These should include foods from all the main food types – carbohydrates (breads, rice, potatoes and pasta), proteins (meat, eggs, cheese, fish, and nuts), fats (butter, olive oil, nut and seed oils), fruits, and vegetables.
Proper hydration is important especially on warm days, so don’t forget to drink plenty of plain water, coconut water, fruit and vegetable juices. Adding wholegrains and honey to your soups and smoothies is also a great way of keeping you hydrated and nourished for a longer period.
Avoid sugary, fried, and processed foods even though craving for them is very common when fasting. These types of food can result in digestive discomfort and lower energy levels. Instead, try to opt for brown rice and wholemeal breads made with premium wholegrain atta’s such as our Chakki Gold recipes for how to make the perfect chapattis using this flour). Wholegrain releases energy more slowly, leaving you feeling full for longer and maintaining a good digestive system.
When wholegrains are combined with a good amount of protein such as eggs or meat at each meal, your body finds the optimum ability to keep going. Our new Lahmajo recipe (insert recipe link please) is an ideal festive meal made with our premium Chakki Gold atta, meat, vegetables and herbs – sure to be a great hit with the family and able to keep them going through the day.
We wish you all a very happy, healthy and peaceful time in the blessed month of Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak!
