Ramadan is the Holy Month that Muslims from all walks of life observe. It is a time of fasting and blessings. It brings with it a host of special customs, of which food habits and eating play a big part.

Eating during Ramadan is also about following the right habits for a balanced Iftar.

Overindulging during iftar is to be expected – it has become a tradition; our iftars rarely exclude these items – and so we end up feeling like a bloated, gassy, hungover mess after iftar and rarely able to be productive. We tend to go overboard with food preparations and forget to actually treat our body well after 14-plus hours of fasting.

Benefits of eating fruits in Iftar

Breaking fast with fruits, yogurt, and lots of cooling fluids like sherbets or fruit smoothies is the best way to go. This will give your stomach some time to process and will ensure proper functioning.

We have to remember that Iftar (and Suhoor) help sustain our fast the following day. So consuming the right food is important. Since fruits are rich in fiber, they increase the feeling of fullness and help prevent constipation. Hence, fruits and vegetables are essential during fasting.

A daily dose of fruits can lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Hence developing the habit of fruits at Iftaar will keep illness at bay!

Here we have the four far less offensive ways of having fruits in Iftar, especially for the people who dislike fruits chaat:

1. Whizz up a fruit chiller

Whipping up a fruit chiller drink (or a smoothie minus the dairy) takes just minutes to put together and is a must in hot weather. Cut an apple or two (no need to peel), a sliver of peeled ginger, a handful of ice cubes, a dash of honey, a glass of cold water, and give it a whizz in the blender to enjoy a glass of ice-cold refreshing heaven. There is no hardcore chemistry involved. Unlike baking, you can go rogue and put whatever and however much you want. If you want to really jazz things up, you can throw in an orange, a handful of melon, a slice of watermelon – or all three. Alternatively, if apples aren’t your thing, you can throw together strawberries and limopani and give them a whizz. The blender is your friend, and the sky is your limit, and the world is your oyster. Be bold and venture forth.

2. Eat only mixed fruit without chaat masala

Cut your favorite fruits in pieces and enjoy them while watching TV after iftar.

You can surely take a melon to have as dessert after you’ve inhaled your samosas and pakoras at Iftar.

Slice up apples to go on the side. Have an orange or pomegranate for dessert afterward.

Do it all far away from the tentacles of kala namak or chaat masala. Your body will thank you. If you think your fruit is looking far too lonely all on its own, put it all together drizzle it with lemon juice and honey, and enjoy your pseudo fruit chaat.

3. Strawberries dipped in chocolate

Chop off the ends of the strawberries, and dip them in melted chocolate. If you use dark chocolate, rich in antioxidants if consumed in small enough quantities, you can even, without engaging in one second of guilt, tell yourself that your treat is not only delicious, it is nutritious.

4. Put together a fruit dessert

If you have ample time and a microwave oven in your home, just try an apple pie.

All you need is unsalted butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, baking powder, and four apples. Heat your oven to 180C and knead together 4oz unsalted butter, 1oz sugar, 1 egg and vanilla, 10oz flour and 1tsp baking powder. Split your dough into two balls and roll out one ball into your dish. Top this with four chopped and peeled apples, a dash of ground cinnamon, as much lemon zest as you fancy, 2oz sugar, and a handful of crushed walnuts or crushed almonds. Roll out the remaining dough, spread on top, brush with egg and vanilla, and bake at 180C for 30 minutes.

So you can enjoy the delicious apple pie at home and can have fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants.