We won’t cook a lot of fried things this Ramadan

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“We won’t cook a lot of fried things this Ramadan,” my mother said one day before the first fast last Ramadan. And guess what, we ended up having fried samosas every day. I can’t blame her because samosas are the only things that jump in an average Desi’s mind when they think of the shape triangle.  

If you turn on your television during Ramadan, you’d find all advertisements related to fried food and high starch fries. This constant advertising association of the iftar table with fried food is one of the reasons many people make poor menu decisions. Fried Pakoras, samosas, tikkis, fried chicken and fish, and spring rolls seem to be a must for Iftari. This along with overeating speed run right after the imam says Allah-o-Akbar does the opposite of this month’s purpose. Moreover, either of the two styles of sehri – skipping it entirely or overeating unhealthy food– aren’t recommended.

Ramadan is the time for healthy detox, to cleanse your mind, soul, AND body. The foods we often eat and our eating habits deter the process. To carry out a soulful cleansing of the body, we should eat smart: eat mindfully, fresh, and nutritious.

Eating green and fruits provides easy-to-digest good sugars, fibers, antioxidants, and subtly hydrates you thanks to their high-water content. Most fruits and vegetables are dense in minerals, and lentils have protein; these foods hold immense nutritional value. Protein helps you feel full for longer while providing raw materials to repair muscle and tissue loss. Adding nuts, flax seeds, yogurt, and milk will provide you with the required healthy fats. 

Instead of ignoring sehri or eating Iftar’s leftovers, you should try foods with high satiety value and low sugars (we want to avoid excess sugars). Consider making Tunisian Egg Brik: a healthy high-protein delight with egg, tuna, onion, and parsley. You can try Egyptian ful medames, a robust mouth-watering bean stew; it will keep you hydrated and fulfilled for a long. Oatmeal, Chia pudding, and spinach casserole are a few other delicious huger-defeating options. Using new recipes with healthy ingredients, you can make your Sehri experience appetizing and flavorsome. 

For Iftari, the possibilities are endless too. You can make anything from a traditional Arab-style lentil soup to a fruit salad with apple cider vinegar. Trying salads like levant Tabbouleh or Egyptian Mahshi, you won’t miss pakoras. Instead of the Jame-Shirin, make fresh juices, smoothies, and milkshakes. Taste and consume natural so you can feel more thankful for food. If you want normally-deep-fried food, try air frying, dry frying, or grilling to cook them. To make your samosas and rolls healthier, have a variety of vegetable filling instead of starchy potatoes. You can use The Farmette’s inventory and the tantalizing original healthy recipes in our recipes section to make this Ramadan a healthy foody adventure.  

This one-month journey is the time for spiritual and physical detoxification while fulfilling our religious obligations. It is high time to make the right choices and use soulful food for this soul-enriching month. Ramadan Mubarak and happy healthy eating!