For Ramadan 2021, put wellness high on your priority list while you devote this joyous time to prayer and faith. Taking care of your mental and physical health is important to ensure that you can reflect spiritually with your loved ones. While fasting is an important Pillar of Islam, it also brings risks of dehydration and indigestion. This means that it is essential for you to maintain good nutrition during your daily Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and Iftar (fast-breaking meal).
Many ask, “Can you fast without suhoor?” The quick answer is no. Suhoor proves to be an important, albeit tricky, component of the feasting period. This meal should not be skipped as you need this energy boost to carry on till post-sunset. Most nutritionists recommend having high-fibre foods that are not too sugary or salty. Instead, opting for more natural sources of fibre and energy will prove to be your best aid during this fasting season. The All Kurma Team wishes you and your loved ones an early Ramadan Kareem while bringing to you 5 healthy Suhoor recipes that will be your fuel for your upcoming fasting days!
Date Energy Balls:
While dates are an obvious choice for breaking your fast during Iftar, they can also be quite useful during Suhoor as they are high-fibre foods. Dates aid in digestion while providing much needed nutrients to your body like Vitamins B & K, calcium, iron and magnesium. An exciting way to consume them before dawn could be to make date-filled energy balls with nuts and seeds, adding a touch of chocolate. This delicious recipe will also give you the dopamine boost to reflect in a zen mood!
Recipe:
- Blend a cup of Medjool dates, nuts and salt together in a food processor 2. Scoop the mix and make into 2-bite size balls
- Bake in the oven or enjoy as is!
Pitted Prune Oats:
Making wholewheat oats with pitted prunes would serve as a perfect pre-fast meal, giving you the right amounts of healthy carbohydrates, fibre, vitamins, iron and potassium. These soft textured delicacies would add natural sweetness to the oats, while also promoting good gut health. If oats aren’t your thing, you could try a simple smoothie to hydrate yourself with ingredients like milk, prunes, cinnamon and bananas, keeping you pumped for the rest of the day.
Recipe:
- Soak oats in milk and microwave for a few minutes
- Chop dried pitted prunes and mix well into the oats
- Add other toppings like banana or ginger for more new flavours!
Homemade Dried Figs Salad:
A bowl of greens and dried figs with a light hand of balsamic vinegar would make a great source of fibre for your day. Regular intake of fresh veggies with the Vitamin A, K & C filled figs would make your tummy super happy! This kind of a salad can be taken as a meal or in smaller quantities as a side dish to a more wholesome carb meal as you see the sun rise with your loved ones. The antioxidant properties of figs will also reduce neuroinflammation to combat symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Recipe:
- Mix mustard, olive oil, salt and balsamic vinegar for the dressing
- Wash and dry arugula leaves (or any other greens you enjoy)
- Chop figs and other nuts and toss everything together!
Golden Raisins & Pistachio Energy Bars
This Ramadan, move beyond the traditional suhoor meal. Experiment with this snacking option that will keep you filled and fueled from dusk till dawn. A simple delicacy with oats, raisins and chopped pistachios, this dish can be baked in under 35 minutes! Golden raisins add a sweet and sour goodness while giving your body the needed iron, vitamins, potassium and copper for a power up during your fasting hours.
Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and heat oats inside for 12 minutes on a baking sheet.
- Whisk heated butter (preferably sunflower seeds butter) & oil with vanilla, salt and egg whites
- Combine golden raisins, pistachios and the butter mix with the oats and bake for 20 minutes before cooling!
While many tend to overeat their favourite foods during iftar, the pre-dawn meal is often overlooked. This Ramadan eating time is essential to power you through your fasting day in a healthy way to aid good digestion. Fueling yourself with high-fibre meals doesn’t have to be a big feat! Try any of these simple 3-Step healthy Suhoor recipes for the perfect energy booster. You can shop for your ingredients with All Kurma, your trusted one-stop healthy snack provider, to get premium dates and dried fruits delivered to your doorstep: https://allkurma.sg/collections
Wishing you Ramadan Mubarak,
The All Kurma Team
Sources:https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/date-energy-balls/
https://www.health.com/recipes/oatmeal-with-prune-banana-compote
https://myeverydaytable.com/arugula-salad-with-dried-figs/
https://www.cookinglight.com/recipes/pistachio-raisin-bars
https://www.kyleecooks.com/healthy-cranberry-oatmeal-breakfast-cookies/ https://www.healthxchange.sg/food-nutrition/food-tips/healthy-ramadan-fasting-tips
https://www.healthxchange.sg/food-nutrition/food-tips/ramadan-fasting-eat-suhoor https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/seasons/ramadan.html
https://www.fitnessfirst.co.id/blog/stay-fit-and-healthy-during-ramadan-fasting http://wellbeingcenter.co/article.php?Ramadan-Tips-316