Advice Column: Ramadan Meals

By Noor Hani Salem

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Questions: I always skip suhoor when I fast, and feel sluggish during the afternoon. What are the best foods to eat during the morning meal (suhoor)?

Answer:

It’s essential to make sure you are getting a meal full of complex carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats and vitamins to get the energy you need. You don’t want salty food that will keep you thirsty all day. Nor do you want to skip the meal all together. Skipping suhoor puts your body on starvation mode keeping you tired all day and giving you that mid-afternoon crash.

Try combing a complex carbohydrate, healthy monounsaturated fats, along with a protein. Go for whole wheat bread with scrambled certified organic eggs, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and fresh vegetables.
Have sliced cucumbers, labneh, or organic nonfat Greek yogurt and thyme on whole wheat bread or ancient grain bread.

Have organic cottage cheese with fresh organic berries and top it with raw nuts for fuel, B vitamins, and magnesium. Here you are combing high quality protein, insoluble fiber, and healthy fats.

End your meal with fresh dates to balance you blood sugar for the remainder of the day and take in copper, B vitamins, potassium, and fiber.

Sprinkle your meals with organic raw hemp seeds, chia seeds, or flax seeds for a boost of omega -3 fatty acids, healthy fats, protein, iron, and calcium. These work well on eggs, on top of your yogurt, oatmeal, or even fruit.

If you’re looking for something light and quick then your best choice is to have three to seven fresh dates and a glass of water, milk, or fresh squeezed juice.

For quick and simple recipes check out my blog at: blackbeanbrownies.wordpress.com

Check out my weekly health advice column with The Muslim Observer newspaper or just visit their website: http://muslimobserver.com// Feel free to email your questions to tmoquestions@gmail.com to be answered in the TMO health advice column.

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