Healthy eating during Ramadhan

With long hours of fasting and a wide spread to choose from, eating healthy at an elaborate, appetising Iftar can sometimes be a distant dream. But that need not always be the case, because it is quite easy to eat and keep your weighing scale happy during this holy month. All you have to do is prepare and eat food made from fresh ingredients, cooked in a healthy manner for a nutritious Ramadhan meal. This will keep you nourished while setting a good example for your family and friends.

 Preliminary preparations for healthier foods in Ramadhan

· Choose fresh vegetables as they contain higher amounts of vitamins and minerals

· Use fresh fruits to prepare juices and serve them in moderation without adding sugar

· Use low fat milk and other low fat dairy products

· Avoid using butter and ghee in cooking and substitute them with vegetable oils in small amounts

· Try using lean meat, fish and skinless chicken, and prepare them by grilling, boiling and baking rather than frying

Here are a few things to choose from and a few to avoid:

To help you choose the right foods during the holy month, we have prepared a simple guide, loaded with many healthy food choices to keep you energetic and nurtured all through Ramadhan.

 Meat and other protein sources

Choose:

 Fish

Grilled or boiled skinless chicken or turkey

Lean veal or lamb

Moderate amounts of prawns

Legumes such as beans, lentils, and peas

Eggs (egg yolk) 3 times per week (including eggs in cooked foods)

Avoid:

Fried chicken and duck

Fatty meats

Liver and organ meats

Hotdog and sausages

Large amounts of prawn, shrimp

Milk and dairy products

Choose:

Skimmed or low fat milk

Skimmed or low fat yoghurt

Low fat cheese

Avoid:

Whole milk

Ice cream and whipped cream

Full cream yoghurt

Full cream cheeses especially yellow cheeses

Creamy and cheese sauces

Fruits and vegetables

Choose:

All fresh vegetables, boiled, baked, steamed or cooked with a little oil

Seasoned vegetables or vegetables with lemon juice or a little oil

Fresh fruits and natural fruit juice (in moderation)

Avoid:

Coconut (the only fruit rich in saturated fats that are unhealthy for the heart)

Fried vegetables

Boiled vegetables with butter

Juices with added sugar

Bread and grains

Choose:

Arabic or brown bread

Plain spaghetti or rice (without ghee or high fat sauce)

Grains with no added fat

Baked or boiled potatoes

Avoid:

Pastries that contain large amounts of fat (doughnuts, croissants)

Fried rice

Fried potato chips or French fries

Sweetened deserts

With such an assorted list of food available for you to choose from, this religious journey will surely be a pleasantly, healthy trip. And with a better view of your choices this Ramadhan, you now hold the key to a nutritious diet.

Source: rafed.net

Other links:

Health tips for Ramadhan (Part 1)

Health tips for Ramadhan (Part 2)

Health tips for Ramadhan (Part 3)