Diet Mail - Diet Mail - July 2014, Childhood Obesity | Page 11

TIPS FOR HEALTHY EATING DURING A SUMMER RAMADAN
Be picky at social gatherings
Be picky about what you put on your
plate. Ask yourself: What do I really
want to eat? What is special on the
menu tonight? If the food doesn't
give you pleasure and you can easily
have access to it later, then pass.
Know the Foods That Hydrate Your
Body
It can be difficult to eat a lot of
watermelon or squash, even though
they're super-hydrating foods, but
make juices out of the fruits and
soups out of the vegetables to give .
body the additional water it needs. Avoid salty spice mixes and condiments that sneak their way into our rice and

meat dishes only. A great way to break the fast is to enjoy your favorite dates, of course, but also consider having
coconut water, or making smoothies, coolers and fruity drinks which are super-hydrating. They can be consumed at
the Suhoor (pre-dawn meal before the fasting day begins) or at the Iftar (meal at the time of breaking the fast)
followed by soup to preface your main meal. Consider limiting coffee and tea which are very dehydrating to the
body, to about half of what you normally drink.
Avoid Fried & Sugary Foods
Fried foods are heavy in oil and that makes them harder to digest, especially when they're the first foods to be
eaten after a long fast.
Use real honey or natural raw cane sugar in your recipes, or eat fruits that are a bit more on the sweet side to satisfy
the craving... naturally.
Go Easy on the Carbs
Carbohydrates are converted into sugars and can eventually take their toll on