Must-have fruits and vegetables during Ramadan

Ramadan is the perfect time to adopt better eating habits that can benefit us and others. While drinking enough water is essential during Ramadan, it’s also important to eat foods rich in water that will release into the body and gradually replenish the cells throughout the fasting period. Some of the hydrating foods that will help you feel energetic and healthy.

Having 2-4 juicy fruits per meal is ideal for the fasting month. Fruits like watermelon can hydrate as effectively as water. While cantaloupes keep the blood sugar stable, cucumbers are very nutritious and boast the highest water content of any other solid food. Oranges, grape fruits and strawberries also regulate blood sugar.  Tomatoes are full of water so try to include them in you Iftar menus as much as you can. Radish can be ideal as a salad during Iftar.

Leafy green vegetables are nutritious and vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and spinach provide a very healthy break to the fast. Since fruits are rich in fibre it helps one to feel full and ensures proper digestive functioning. It also helps to maintain a moderate weight. Fruits like apples, melons, citrus fruits, berries and avocados help to maintain a healthy weight.

Words of Wisdom

“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful'” [Quran 39:53]

Another verse of the Holy Quran that reminds us of the greatness of Allah’s mercy, this is another source of inspiration for those who need the gentle reminder that Allah will always be there for us. Knowing that with sincere repentance, Allah can and inshallah will forgive us, this verse is another reminder of the greatness of Allah’s mercy and compassion.

After Iftar activities

Go for simpler exercises

After having Iftar and  Maghrib, Isha, and Taraweeh prayers, many people like to spend their time in sports. Some people hit the gym, while others go for simpler activities, like jogging or walking, to offset their heavier meals. The most common post-Iftar activity for ladies and families is walking, while young men take to the streets and beaches to play  games of football, volleyball, or basketball until midnight or just before Suhoor.

Cuisine
Ramadan food traditions in Turkiye  

In Turkiye, apart from all the Ramadan traditions that are followed, cooking a heart-warming and delicious meal is a significant aspect of their culture. From the popular Doner Kebab, Pide, Kuzu Tandir and Kofte, to Lahmacun, Turkish Seekh Kebab, Iskender Kebab,  Yaprak Sarma, and Spice Meatballs, the flavours of Turkish cuisine is truly myriad. The unlimited variants of Kebabs and Koftes, that one can find in almost every nook and corner of Turkiye, are served with Pide breads or baguettes along with mashed potatoes, green chickpea and legumes that are served in soup-like consistency.  Red lentil soup, rice, yoghurt, and mint soup, and lentil and potato soup are some of the favourite soups served during Iftar. Bread is served with almost every item and hence bakeries in Turkiye are open throughout the day and night during Ramadan. Turkish cuisine is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine and it is often said that in Turkiye they can prepare hundreds of recipes from a simple eggplant. By Firdaus Noorain