Great foods for suhoor and iftar

Here, I have researched the best food to consume at suhoor and iftar time. The list is endless, but try to have lots of fruits and vegetables, and decrease the amount of fried food you eat this month – maybe you can restrict fried food to once or twice a week. After iftar, we should try and perform taraweeh and qiyaam ul-layl as much as we are able to, so we need to make sure that what we are eating will give us an energy boost and not the opposite.

Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is higher in protein and lower in sugar and sodium than traditional yogurt. Greek yogurt will keep you fuller longer, delaying hunger pangs and giving you energy, which is great while you are fasting! Stick to 2% plain or whole fat, you can have this at suhoor in a smoothie or with some fruit or some granola.

Bananas: Bananas are brilliant to eat at suhoor or after iftar as they contain essential vitamins and provide a lasting energy boost. Bananas are rich in potassium, and can reduce salt levels in your body which will make you feel less thirsty. A great suhoor recipe is to mash one and a half bananas with one egg and fry in some olive oil or coconut oil to make delicious, guilt-free and healthy pancakes!

Lentils: Not only are lentils healthy, but they are packed with fibre which means you stay full for longer. Lentils are a great meat-alternative for iftar. Lentils are part of a group called complex carbohydrates, other examples of which are oatmeal and grains, which are great for slow-releasing energy.

Leafy greens: Spinach and kale are high in vitamins A and C, and are loaded with B vitamins, which are known as “the energy vitamins.” You can pop them into your smoothie at suhoor or in a salad or cooked meal at iftar.

Dark Chocolate: Who doesn’t love some chocolate? Dark chocolate contains a natural stimulant called theobromine (similar to our caffeinated friend, coffee) that gives you a buzz. Don’t overdo it though – one piece is usually enough to satisfy your sweet craving and it means you can skip the process of making fatty, time-consuming desserts.

Hummus: Hummus is made from chickpeas and provides a good source of energy that will keep you going for a few hours. It makes a great snack, especially when you use other energy-giving foods for dipping like carrots or cucumbers. Perfect for opening your fast with as a starter.

Melons: Watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe – you really can’t go wrong with this as a food choice. All three of these melons contain antioxidants, taste great, and will give you a real boost as they are bursting with energising vitamins. As melons are 90% water, they help keep you hydrated and this is great to have at suhoor. They are equally as good to have at iftar – after a long summer fast, melons are light, sweet and refreshing!