Break Your Fast The Healthy Way

After spending the day in devout prayers and beating the hunger pangs, the Iftar is often met with voracious eating and drinking. This brings with itself lethargy and heaviness for the night prayers called Tarawih.

It also invites constipation and food poisoning.

How to break the fasts the healthy way?

Minimize Oily and Spicy Food: Ramadan feasts or Iftar parties become very common in this month. And they are full with relishing Mughlai cuisines like Korma, Kebabs, Biryani and varieties of Chicken and Lamb gravies. They are tempting beyond limits but their consumption can be minimised. Start off with fruits and dates as entrè, so your stomach has some base before the main meal is served.

More Salads and Fruits: Having fresh fruits is the perfect choice for Iftar. Not only they bring a freshness but also having them during Iftar maximises their nutrient absorption. Fruits like watermelon, mangoes, melon are commonly available in summers. They also quench thirst and are a better alternative to desserts.

Yoghurt and Drinks: Yoghurt is rich in proteins, Vitamin B12 and phosphorus. Having a bowl of yoghurt during iftar boosts your energy levels and compensates for the day’s meal. Also, sherbets are very common which have excessive sugars in it. Instead, you can have fruit juice or sugar- free shakes. Avoid desserts as they are sure to make you drowsy and restless.

Small Portions, Big Benefits: A lot of your consumption depends on the size of your portion. It is not necessary you have one full bowl of fruits and then one full bowl of yoghurt and then a glass of juice and so on. That will leave no room for the main course that has chapatis, which is excellent on fibres and carbs; and chicken and meat, which fulfil your protein requirement.

Ramadan doesn’t mean you give an absolute no-no to all the delicacies, but it means having all of them in appropriate portions. In this way, your cravings are met and don't cause any adverse effect on health.