Ramadan Foodie: Sunnah Foods

Food is a vital part of the holy month of Ramadan. From the abstaining from food and spiritual nourishment to the breaking of fasts and being grateful for the foods we love to eat as well as feeding other fasting people, food is important.

And the types of food we eat during this Ramadan are also important. Although we want all the delicious stuff, it is also a good time to break bad habits, consciously eat more healthy and also to remember the blessings in our food.

There are some nutrient and benefit rich foods that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recommended to us and below are some ideas on how to add them to your Ramadan menus!

Dates: Dates are a staple on the table at Iftar time. They are a good source of energy, good for digestion and have many other benefits. Did you also know that Maryam (PBUH) ate these whilst giving birth to Prophet Isa (PBUH) and they are recommended to eat when in childbirth?

You can add dates to smoothies, cakes, cover them in chocolate for an indulgent treat or even eat them with your favourite soft cheeses.

Pomegranates: This fruit was highly recommended by the Prophet (PBUH). They are anti oxidant, anti inflammatory, good for anti ageing and good for your brain.

You can drink pomegranate juice, add them to salads or rice and also add to yogurt for a great suhoor idea!

Grapes: Grapes are good for energy and are packed with antioxidants. They were a favourite food of the Prophet (PBUH) and are definitely refreshing at suhoor and iftar.

You can add grapes to your salad, eat them with soft cheese or you can make fruit kebabs and add other fruits for a fun snack everyone will love!

Honey: You can have honey in hot drinks to help with colds and stomach issues, it is a great way to support your immune system, and is a natural way to sweeten things.

You can use honey in your baking, have it with some warm water in suhoor, add it to smoothies and even have it on toast!

Mushrooms: The Prophet (PBUH) recommended mushrooms to support your eyes. They are also good for immunity, have cancer fighting properties and some mushrooms are great for your skin and ageing!

You can sautee them and have them at suhoor, add them to your omelets, stir fry and soups. You can also make stuffed mushrooms or use larger mushrooms as a meat alternative in burgers.

Olive Oil: Olives are good for you in many ways and olive oil a healthy source of fat, anti inflammatory and said to help with heart disease. You can gain extra reward and support Palestinian people by buying Palestinian fair trade oil!

Use the oil to cook with, to drizzle over salads and dips, to dip bread into or as an alternative to butter or margarine.

Melon and Figs: These sweet and delicious fruits taste amazing at Iftar. They are immune boosting, a good source of energy and hydrating.

Make fruit salads, add them to smoothies, eat with cheese and add to your baking.

Cucumbers: These are great for suhoor and iftar as they have a lot of water and will help prevent dehydration. They are also anti inflammatory and have a lot of anti oxidants.

The Prophet (PBUH) recommended eating cucumbers with dates. You can also add them to salads, sandwiches or simply add sumac or your favourite seasoning or eat with a dip.