Eid al-Fitr 2024: How to break your fast in a healthy way to avoid digestive troubles
Eid al-Fitr is one of the most celebrated festivals across the globe and will be observed on April 11, 2024. This day marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the beginning of the Shawwal month. During the month of Ramadan, people fast from sunrise to sunset every day and it is considered the holiest month for the Muslims. During this fast, Muslims have their first meal before the sunrise known as Sehri (also called Suhoor) and the other meal is Iftar, which is served after sunset.
How to eat right on Eid 2020
They follow this fasting routine for 30 days and at the end of this fasting period, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with much fanfare around the world. Eid is usually celebrated for two to three days where people meet their friends and families and dress up in new clothes. It is also a time for reflection and charity as people distribute food and drinks during the Eid celebrations. Moreover, family and friends sit down together to enjoy a spread of mouthwatering delicacies and savouries after a month of fasting.
However, after a month of fasting, our body actually adapts to the fasting diet and breaking the fast with high-salt and oil-laden food during Eid can lead to bloating and other digestive troubles. This is why it is important to follow certain precautionary steps to break your fast healthily and safely without wrecking your digestive system.
Drink a glass of fresh juice
To break your fast, we advise drinking a glass of freshly squeezed juice, instead of relishing on high-salt and oil-laden dishes. You can also begin your day by drinking a glass of warm water with a dash of lemon juice.
Start slow
Instead of gorging on a plate of mutton korma and biryani, it is strongly recommended to break your fast with simple and light food items. Alternatively, you can also begin your day with a small portion of fresh fruits and salad.
Eat often and in small quantities
Yes, as tempting as the platter of delicacies may seem right now, we suggest eating in small portions, instead of filling yourself all at once. You may also reduce the interval between the meals. Make sure to include a variety of food items in your plate but keep the portion size less.
Tone down the sugar
While sweets like sheerkurma and sewaiyaan (vermicelli and milk pudding) remain an integral part of the festivities, make sure not to go overboard with the same. If you have a sweet tooth and can’t resist gobbling down the whole baklava, we have a piece of advice for you. Instead of reaching out for the traditional sweets, break your fast with dates or whole fruits.
No junk food or packaged food
Make sure that you eat a balanced diet after breaking your fast and include a variety of food items in the same. Additionally, try to include proteins, carbohydrates, fibre and fat in your meals and steer clear of junk food and packaged products. Remember that your body has currently adapted to fasting diet, so including aerated drinks and packaged food items in your routine may actually lead to gastrointestinal issues like bloating.