Tips for a Healthier Ramadan

1. Eat Suhur

The Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, highly recommend eating this pre-dawn meal before a day of fasting. While you may want to pass to catch some more sleep, remember that you can always take a catnap while you’re fasting, but you won’t be able to eat or drink. To make it easier, set out utensils and dry food on the table before going to bed so you can quickly eat and go back to sleep after Suhur.

2. Limit fat intake

That’s right, limit it, don’t cut it out. Otherwise, you’ll have to get rid of what’s considered “traditional” Iftar food in most Muslim cultures. If you’re not sure what kind of food is being referred to, think fried, greasy and/or super sweet.

3. Follow the Prophet’s golden rule of one-third

This especially needs to be said in Ramadan. We should strive to have no more than one-third food, one-third liquid and one-third air in our stomachs when eating.

4. Encourage dip-dunking

Fruits and vegetables get left to the wayside during regular days, let alone at Iftar time. But you can whip out those carrot sticks if you’ve got some tasty dips to eat them with. Check out some healthy recipes.

5. Walk after Iftar

Before you fall over from exhaustion after Iftar and dinner, take a short walk around the block or just around your building. The change of environment and exposure to fresh air may just wake you up in time to go for the next activity listed below.

6. Pray Tarawih

More great exercise, not to mention a wonderful way to build concentration, stamina and brotherhood/sisterhood.

7. Take a short afternoon nap

Experts say you don’t need more than a 15-minute siesta to really refresh you. During lunch hour, find a quiet spot, set the alarm on your watch/cell phone and nap. This can help your body adjust to the daily Ramadan schedule that requires early waking for Suhur.