EAT RIGHT - A healthy Ramadan
Ramadan is a time to celebrate, a time to pray, a time to ponder but for most of us it’s a time to reconnect with our families over our dinner tables. It’s the time when all generations in the house sit together during suhoor and iftar and that’s where the usual problem starts to occur. Eating with your family means more conversations, more laughter which ends up in overeating and usually eating the wrong kind of food included fried items and sweet things. Especially being a woman of the house you need the right kind of nutrition to stay energized all day. Let’s talk about the things you should include in your diet and how you can include them.
Oatmeal
Foods which are rich in fiber such as complex carbohydrates (whole-wheat bread) and whole wheat grains such as Oats are a great choice for your suhoor. They are time-released source of energy and will keep you full for longer. Try adding fresh fruits to your oatmeal or better yet add a handful of nuts, almonds, walnuts along with a few dates and you will not feel hunger on thirst in the scorching months of May In Pakistan.
Smoothies
A great way to add milk, fruits, yogurt to your diet all at once. Take a big dollop of yogurt, add some milk, almond milk whichever you prefer, throw in some of your favorite fruits, add some baby spinach and to take it up a notch some honey and you have a whole meal ready for suhoor to last you all day. Add a spoonful of almond butter to this concoction for your protein intake and you will never find the need to eat bread again! You will be able to find these products easily at Al-Fatah, Aghas and all leading grocery stores all across Pakistan.
Protein
Good sources of protein include fish, skinless chicken, lean meat cuts, and legumes (chickpeas, beans, and fava beans) nuts and seeds. Consuming enough protein during each of your Ramadan meals will keep you feeling full until the next meal, preventing you from eating too many sweets.
Hydrate, Hydrate, and Hydrate
After a long day, we all want a cup of coffee or tea to feel revived but the truth is it only dehydrates us, what we need to focus on is hydration. Have at least 2 liters of water to keep yourself hydrated in the Lahore summers. Avoid all cola drinks and sugar infused juices. They are only calories with zero nutritional content. If you want to add some flavor just squeeze some lemon and some kaala namak to your water for that kick.