The month of Ramadan calls for delicious and nutritious Iftar’s and Sehri’s. However, many people struggle with overeating and making poor food choices during this time as eating patterns are different to normal.
It’s more important than ever at this time to prioritise a balanced diet and make the right food choices to keep you energised during the long hours of fasting. Below, we have listed some top tips for a happy and healthy Ramadan!
- Many popular Ramadan desserts such as Baklava have a high fat and sugar content making it not the most ideal thing to be eating every single day. Instead, indulge in your sweet tooth by having a handful of dates or Burfi that contain no added sugar and won’t leave you feeling sluggish. Did you know that a 30g serving of dates provides energy, supports gut health and are packed with nutrients and antioxidants?
- Be mindful of the fats you’re consuming. Opt for healthy fats such as olive oil and other vegetable oils and avoid processed fats like margarine and fried foods.
- This brings us on to our next tip – switch your deep-fat fryer to an air-fryer! Instead of frying foods in lots of oil which can pack a lot of hidden calories, consider investing in an air-fryer which requires no oil. If you don’t have an air-fryer, baking or grilling in the oven is a great alternative too!
- Sehri is one of the most important meals at Ramadan so make sure you don’t skip this! Opt for starchy foods that are slow-digesting such as wholegrain bread, pasta, oats, lentils and rice to provide you with a much-needed boost of energy throughout fasting periods.
- Make sure you’re rehydrating during non-fasting hours and avoid tea, coffee and fizzy, sugar-laden drinks as these can cause water loss and dehydrate you more.
Let Ramadan be the starting point of your healthy lifestyle. Our Adult Weight Management service can support you to find the foods and movement you enjoy so eating well and moving more isn’t a chore, and it’s all free! Call or fill out the contact to get in touch with our service.
