Download FAQs about nutrition during the Holy Month of Ramadan

FAQs about nutrition during the Holy Month of Ramadan
The Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association has compiled this list of questions based on
the emails sent from the community members:
What is the best food to start my Iftar with?
It is best to start the Iftar meal with 3 dates and a cup of warm low fat soup (such as,
vegetable or grain soup) before going to prayer. You may also have a cup of low fat butter
milk, but make sure that it is not chilled (chilled drinks do not support your stomach to
digest food properly). After prayer you should continue with the main Iftar meal. This
approach helps your body adjust to eating again after the long hours of fasting.
Could I delay my Iftar meal to after Magrib prayer?
Yes, you can delay your Iftar meal until after the prayer, but it is better to break your fast
by eating 3 dates with a cup of low fat laban (not very cold) or a cup of warm low fat soup.
Do not delay your Iftar meal more than an hour after the sunset. Delaying your Iftar meal
for many hours is not recommended as it may cause your blood sugar drop.
Why do I feel sleepy after eating my Iftar meal?
Many people feel sleepy after consuming their Iftar meals. This is due to:
 Consuming large amount of food and beverages in a short period of time disturbs the
natural digestive system mechanisms. It requires to be gently alerted by a small
“starting” meal.
 Consuming heavy and fatty meals.
 Sleeping after Iftar meal is not recommended. This disturbs the natural digestion
process which requires a person to be awake. It is better to stay awake for 2-3 hours
after Iftar: breaking the fast.
To avoid it:
 Take 3 pieces of dates and a cup of warm low fat soup and pray.
 Then you could have your Iftar meal considering:
o Do not consume a lot of food at one time.
o Chew your food well.
o Make your meal low fat (avoid fried food and use lean meat or skinless
chicken or baked fish) and if you wish to eat samboosa; eat it baked, not
fried.
o Do not overfeed yourself.
 Drink fluids between the Iftar & Sahoor meals; not with or immediately after the
Iftar meal.
 Walk for 30 min after your meal. Wait for 2-3 hours before any exercise activities.
 Can I drink lemon juice at Iftar meal?
Lemon juice is very acidic and usually cold and sweetened. Therefore, it is not
recommended to start your Iftar meal with it.
Start your Iftar meal with 3 dates and a cup of low fat soup or a cup of low fat laban (not
very cold). However, you can drink lemon juice between the Iftar & Sahoor meals.
How many calories in one piece of samboosa?
There are 250 calories in one piece of fried samboosa and 125 in a baked one.
 It better to use lean meat for samboosa or to have it filled with vegetables, or low fat
cheese, or lentils.
 Bake it, do not fry it.
 Take only 1-2 pieces.
 Two pieces of fried samboosas contain 15 grams of oil more than the baked ones.
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What is the best timing for Sahoor meal and what should I eat at Sahoor?
Sahoor meal should include more slow digesting foods which last for many hours and
help reduce the hunger feeling
The best time for Sahoor meal is as close to Fajer as possible and it is better not to
consume it at midnight or at 1:00 AM.
Sahoor meal should not be heavy, as most of the people tend to go back to sleep
after consuming it.
The best food for Sahoor meal is
o A cup of low fat milk, laban, or yogurt
o 2 slices of whole wheat bread or 1 cup of oat meal
o Low fat labnah, low fat cheese or peanut better
o Fresh fruit, unsweetened fruit juice, or dried fruit
o A cup of cooked lentils or beans
What is the best timing for exercise in Ramadan and what do you recommend?
The best time for exercise is in the evening (2 hours after Iftar meal).
 30-45 minutes of brisk walking or swimming are very good options.
 You also can go to the exercise room, if you wish.
 Make your exercise a fun and daily habit. Do it with a friend or a family member.
What I should eat at Iftar meal?
Your Iftar meal should be well-balanced, nutritious, and low in fat.
Meal’s Contents
 3 pieces of dates
 1 cup of low fat soup (vegetables on grains) or 1 cup of low fat laban.
 One cup of steamed rice or pasta.
 One cup of salad.
 One cup of cooked vegetables.
 One portion of lean meat (150 gram cooked), ¼ chickens without skin or baked fish
(150 gram cooked).
 1-2 baked samboosa.
 You can have fruits, vegetables, and low fat yogurt or laban, as a snack.
 Remember to drink adequate fluids (especially water) between Iftar and Sahoor
meals.
How to reduce my body weight during Ramadan?
To reduce your body weight, you should practice regular exercise (such as 30-45 min of
brisk walking or swimming) and follow a healthy low fat meal plan.
I have high cholesterol level. What food should I avoid?
Avoid commercial samboosas. You can prepare it at home. (Choose vegetable samboosa,
lentils, low fat cheese, or labnah samboosas) and bake them using a little nonstick spray.
 Do not add butter or ghee on top of Harees, Jareesh or to any food.
 Use very lean meat or skinless chicken to prepare Harees.
 Use skimmed milk, butter milk or yogurt in your meals
 Do not use egg yolk or organ meat (liver, kidney, heart, brain).
 Replace sweets with fresh fruits.
 Replace Gishda (heavy cream) with non-fat labnah
 Increase your intake of salads, vegetables, and fresh fruit.
 Avoid pancake and other eggs containing dishes.
 Do not use palm oil, coconut oil, ghee, butter, or animal fat in food preparation.
 You can use olive oil, canola oil or corn oil, but in moderation.
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Remember: Keep your body weight within the normal range and practice
regular exercise, as advised.
How much water I should drink?
It is recommended to drink 8-10 cups between Iftar & Sahoor meals.
 Do not over drink at Iftar meal, drink 1-2 cups every 2-3 hours
 Other good fluids for the body are unsweetened juices, low fat or non-fat milk or
butter milk, and low fat soup: but limit them to one cup/day, as they provide
calories).
How many dates can I eat?
You can have 3-5 dates a day.
Each piece provides 20 kcal and contains one teaspoon of sugar. It is best to start your Iftar
meal with dates.
What should I eat as a snack during the night?
You can eat the following:
 One cup of non-fat, low fat milk, yogurt, or buttermilk.
 One fresh fruit or 1 cup of unsweetened fruit juice.
 2 slices of low fat cheese or 2 tablespoons of low fat labnah.
 2 slices of whole wheat bread or one cup of oat meal.
 One cup of salads or vegetable.
I have diabetes and I want to fast, what should I do?
First you should speak to your doctor, as he/she may adjust your medication. Some diabetic
patients can fast safely; however, some are advised not to fast.
If your doctor clears you to fast, you should do the following:
 Divide your meals into 3 (Iftar, midnight, Sahoor).
 Take healthy Iftar meal as:
o 3 pieces of dates
o 1 cup of low fat soup (such as vegetable)
o 1 cup of low fat laban, yogurt or low fat milk
o 2 choices of carbohydrates (one cup cooked rice or pasta or 2 pieces of boiled
or baked potatoes or 2 slices of whole wheat bread)
o One cup of cooked vegetable
o One cup of salad, without salad dressing. You can squeeze lemon on it
o One portion of lean meat (4 ounces cooked), chicken without skin, or baked
fish.
Remember:
 Drink more water between Iftar & Sahoor meals
 Check your blood sugar before Iftar and 2 hours after the meal and before Sahoor
time. Report the blood sugar results to your doctor.
Can the children fast?
It is not recommended for small children to fast. But older children can fast for a few hours
(from morning to noon time) to train them for the future and to share the fasting values
with their families. It is best for them to eat their Iftar & Sahoor meals with their families to
get the social and spiritual values of the holy month.
Can the pregnant or lactating women fast?
Pregnant and lactating woman are not recommended to fast. If they want to do so, they
should speak to their doctors.
If allowed:
 They should consume adequate water & fluids between Iftar and Sahoor meals.
 Have adequate rest at day time. Practice walking at night time.
 Consume 3 meals (Iftar, midnight and Sahoor)
 Ensure adequate nutrition and consume 4 cups of low fat milk or laban on yogurt
per day to ensure adequate calcium intake.
* One more time, they have to speak to their doctors, as fasting in Ramadan can
cause low blood sugar which could harm the development of their babies during
pregnancy, and does not permit adequate milk supplies for breast feeding.
What is the best soup to be consumed during Ramadan?
The best soup is low fat.
Examples
 Vegetables (onion, spinach, mixed vegetable, celery, tomatoes, asparagus,
cauliflower, broccoli, peas, green beans).
 Grains (wheat, rice, oat, barley, corn)
 Legumes (lentils, beans)
 Noodles or macaroni
 Cream (made with skimmed milk)
 Broth
 Minestrone
Note: You can mix a little chicken, beef or lamb meat with the soup and you can
combine many ingredients, such as vegetables with legumes.
I have constipation, what should I do to have regular motion?
Many fasting people may suffer from constipation during Ramadan. To avoid it:
 Consume adequate fluids (especially water 8-10 cups) between Iftar and Sahoor
meals.
 Include low fat soup in your meal.
 Take decaffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, diet drink) between the meals.
 Increase your fiber intake by:
o Use of whole wheat bread rather than white bread.
o Increase your vegetables & salads intake.
o Mix dried legumes or vegetables in your soup.
 Dates have natural laxative. Take 3 pieces at Iftar meal.
 Consume 3 fresh fruits (with its edible skin) between Iftar and Sahoor meals (such
as apple, grapes, and pears).
 Practice walking, as the exercise helps regulate the bowel.
 Do not consume bananas or baked/boiled potatoes, as they are constipating foods.
 Replace yogurt with milk.
 Do not delay evacuation. Train your bowel to evacuate every morning or evening.
I noticed that the color of my urine became dark during fasting? Why is that?
Dark color of urine is an indication of dehydration. To solve it:
 Drink 8-10 cups of water between Iftar and Sahoor meals.
 Increase your intake of other fluids; such as low fat soup, milk, and unsweetened
fruit juice.
 Replace dried sweets (such as baklava, or Lugaimat) with custard, jello, puddings, as
these contain more water.
 Replace caffeinated drinks (tea, cola, coffee) with decaffeinated ones, as caffeine is a
diuretic and depletes the body of its fluids
 Reduce salt intake.
 Do not consume a lot of meat?
 Do not exercise in the hot season or in daytime. Do it in the evening.
How to reduce the thirst feeling during Ramadan?
To avoid or reduce the thirst feeling:
 Drink 8-10 cups of water between Iftar and Sahoor meals.
 Increase your intake of other fluids, such as low fat soup, milk, and unsweetened
fruit juices.
 Replace dried sweets (such as baklava, or lugaimat with custard, jello, puddings), as
these contain more water.
 Replace caffeinated drinks (tea, cola, coffee) with decaffeinated ones, as caffeine is a
diuretic and depletes the body of its fluids
 Reduce salt intake.
 Do not consume a lot of meat.
 Do not exercise in the hot season or in daytime. Do it in the evening.
 Reduce the intake of fried, spicy, and salty food (pickles, olives, canned food, zaater,
salted cheese, and salted sauces).
How to reduce the hunger feeling during Ramadan?
To reduce the hunger feeling:
 Eat your Iftar meal at the sunset time, as permitted.
 Divide your meals to 3 (Iftar, midnight, Shaoor)
 Delay your Sahoor meal to Fajir time (as close to sunrise as permitted).
 Consume more of protein at your Sahoor meal, such as:
o Low fat cheese, labnah, peanut butter, low fat yogurt, laban, or milk.
 Consume more of slow-digesting foods at Sahoor time, such as cheese, labnah,
yogurt, lentils, beans, oat meal, peanut butter, dried fruits, and lean meat.
 Increase your fiber intake at Sahoor meal, such as whole wheat bread, legumes,
salads, vegetables, and dried fruit.
 Reduce your intake of sweets (such as jello, jam, honey, pudding, sugary drinks);
sweets do not satisfy the hunger for long hours.
 Avoid food scents or food visuals, as it increases the appetite and hunger feeling
 Do not exercise during the day time; evening time is better.
 Your body will adapt itself and your hunger feeling will subside when Ramadan days
go on.
 Do not think of food during your fasting. Pray or read or visit a friend to take your
mind away from food.
Is it good to sleep after Iftar meal or Sahoor?
It is not recommended to sleep after Iftar or Sahoor meals due to the following:
 After consuming a meal, the digestive system needs to digest the food and then
absorb the nutrients. Some food items are easily digested (such as rice or potatoes)
while others need many hours to digest, such as meat or fried food. The digestive
system slows down during sleep.
 Sleeping after consuming the meals leads to improper digestion, and may cause
constipation and gas problems. Therefore, it is better to consume low fat food, avoid
large meals, practice walking 2 hours after the meal, and then sleep around 3 hours
after consuming the meal.
I have gastric ulcer and plan to fast, what foods should be avoided?
First speak to your doctor, as he/she may adjust your medications (in particular antacids).
If cleared to fast, do the following:
 Avoid consuming large meals and avoid overeating. Divide meals into 3 (Iftar, midnight snack, and Sahoor).
 Take antacids as advised by doctor.
 Consume Iftar meal at the sunset (as permitted) and Sahoor meal as close to Fajer
(as permitted).
 Chew meals properly and avoid eating too fast.
 Reduce fat intake, consume low fat products (milk & its products) and choose lean
meat or skinless poultry or fish. Bake food rather than frying it.
 Do not smoke.
 Do not consume food with temperature extremes (very hot or very cold).
 Avoid stressful situations and practice relaxation.
 Get enough sleep and rest.
 Avoid foods that may worsen the ulcer:o Fried food and fatty meals. (Samboosa, Falafel, fried pastries, fatty meats).
o Spicy food, hot sauces, highly seasoned foods, chili, mustard, black pepper,
nutmeg, and paprika.
o Caffeine containing beverages & food (tea, coffee, cola, chocolate).
o Highly salted foods (pickles, olives, ketchup, and zattar).
o Gas forming foods (garlic, onion, lentils, cabbage, dried beans, dried peas,
soft drinks, nut, and popcorn).