1. Keep yourself hydrated
Although more than half the day passes by in the fast, it is imperative to hydrate yourself during the hours after iftar and before sehri. Drinking enough fluids keeps you hydrated and helps control sugar cravings after you break your fast. A good two litres to eight glasses of water should suffice. Break it down like this:
- Two glasses at iftar
- Four glasses between iftar and sehri (one glass per hour)
- Two glasses at sehri
Avoid caffeinated drinks, they tend to dehydrate the body. Drink herbal teas instead, they make a great alternative to water and aid your digestion.
2. Have a light, balanced iftar
While you may want to gorge everything on the table, it’s best to control the cravings. Remember: Your iftar is not meant to make up for the hours your spent without food. Fasting causes your metabolism to slow down, giving you low energy levels, so the first thing you should reach for during iftar is a date, one is more than enough. They provide a quick source of sugar your body needs. The second food item should be a small bowl of soup, preferably lentil or vegetable, avoid creamy soups. Follow it with a vegetable salad with 1-2 teaspoon of olive oil.
Take a break. Don’t overwhelm your digestive system. Go for a 5-minute walk.
After the break, opt for only one main dish; avoid fried foods and make sure you eat in proportions, with a balance of carbs and protein. Chholay are always a good and healthy option on the side.
3. Don’t skip sehri
Eating hours are limited this year so don’t skip sehri, it’ll only make you hungrier the next day resulting in overeating. Plus your body needs energy to survive the day.
While we all enjoy parathas and naamkeen lassi for sehri, salty foods leave you feeling thirsty the rest of the day. Eat whole grains, ditch the white bread or white roti and incorporate cottage cheese and eggs, drink meethi lassi. This will provide your body with a stable level of glucose avoiding hunger pangs.
4. Stay active
Don’t make Ramazan an excuse to be lazy and sleep all day. Maintain your usual daily activity but avoid the heat and sun.
You burn more fat on an empty stomach, so the best time to workout would be an hour before iftar, that way you can fill yourself up with a good healthy post workout meal.
5. Skip processed sugar
It’s not only the number of pakoras sailing down your throat, it’s also the sugary beverages like Rooh Afza and Limo Pani and all that meetha you’re gulping and gobbling down. In fact, sugar is the number one cause for weight gain in Ramazan.
Keep a light hand on sugar, and try to eat only fruits and honey to kill sugar cravings. Best dish to satisfy that sweet tooth: fruit chaat