[Progniusis]

I'm looking for good foods to eat for iftar and suhoor. I'm going to be eating by myself a lot of nights during Ramadan, so easy and inexpensive is better. Obviously, dates for iftar... but what else is recommended?

[RichardFG435]

fruits, vegetables, milk. You dont want to eat samosas and pakoras because they are so heavy tht you cant stand in taraweeh after it.

[Pmeidstc]

Good question. From the hadith can we make a list of the food and drink the Prophet consumed at these two times?

He didn't eat samosas, pakoras, chaat and other Asian foods because he was Arab! Not that there is anything wrong in eating them. But a complete list of foods would be useful - we can use that and add our own ethnic favorites!

[sztc38tg]

fruits, vegetables, milk. You dont want to eat samosas and pakoras because they are so heavy tht you cant stand in taraweeh after it.

ASWW
Yes.. but the heart wants what the heart wants!

[crycleascentyv]

I like Haleem for Suhoor, it's easy to make and filling, and plain old water is probably the best drink for Suhoor. Even if you drink coffee, tea, soda, etc. normally, you should try to drink at least a glass or two of water before the fast begins (don't chug it five minutes before the athan though) and it will help you stay hydrated throughout the day.

[oraltyrap]

I like Haleem for Suhoor, it's easy to make and filling, and plain old water is probably the best drink for Suhoor. Even if you drink coffee, tea, soda, etc. normally, you should try to drink at least a glass or two of water before the fast begins (don't chug it five minutes before the athan though) and it will help you stay hydrated throughout the day.

What exactly is haleem, and how can you make it?

[aliceingoogs]

What exactly is haleem, and how can you make it?

ASWW
A bit like shareed.

[mikelangr]

What exactly is haleem, and how can you make it?

Here's a description of haleem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleem

Some people (like my family) make it especially spicy so we don't eat it during Ramadhan but our masjid does serve it - not for suhoor but for futoor. It is filling but it isn't really good for you. It also takes quite a bit of hard work to make but you can make a large quantity and freeze it and then defrost/reheat it to eat every day. But again, I would not recommend making it if you're not familiar with how it tastes. Try it out at a Pakistani restaurant and see if you like it.

We usually have mixed fruit chaat for futoor, which is basically apples, grapes, pomegranates, bananas, and pears - all sliced and mixed together with some chaat masala added on top. We also have samosas and pakoras but these aren't healthy for you. We also have chick peas with onions and tomatoes.

For suhoor, we tend to just reuse food from the night before or in cases like the Ramadhan coming up, just have "dinner" since the night is really short (should be about 2 hours from the end of Taraweeh to the start of Fajr).

[nilliraq]

Everybody knows this, but still.

It is narrated from Anas ibn Malik (radiyallaahu anhu) that The Apostle of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa salam) used to break his fast before praying with some fresh dates; but if there were no fresh dates, he had a few dry dates, and if there were no dry dates, he took some mouthfuls of water.
[Dawud: Book 13 (Fasting (Kitab Al-Siyam)) Hadith 2349]

[EspanaCamsInfo]

Here's a description of haleem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleem

Some people (like my family) make it especially spicy so we don't eat it during Ramadhan but our masjid does serve it - not for suhoor but for futoor. It is filling but it isn't really good for you. It also takes quite a bit of hard work to make but you can make a large quantity and freeze it and then defrost/reheat it to eat every day. But again, I would not recommend making it if you're not familiar with how it tastes. Try it out at a Pakistani restaurant and see if you like it.

There's also Arab and Persian Haleem. So if someone doesn't like Indian or Pakistani Haleem they can try those (Persian food in general tends to be pretty bland so if you don't like "spicy" food it may be worth a try).

And it can be healthy, it just depends on what you put in it and whether or not you eat it with bread and/or rice. When I make it I don't go crazy and put a bunch of lentils and grains in it. I just use barley, although this tends to give it a "slimier" texture.

[Juersdodfs]

Why are you going to be eating alone is it unavoidable? It would be better if you ate with others if at all possible there is baraka ( unseen blessings by eating in a group). This year I plan to eat alot of boiled or steamed vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, carrots, leafy greens. I am not going to eat processed foods or white flour, white rice, or much meat.

The food that we eat is usually the cause of diseases todays processed food is highly dangerous contains too much sugar and lacks nutritional content. We have to be very careful what we eat, it may taste very good but it is harming us. One should mentally prepare before Ramadan to change ones bad habits, it is a wonderful opportunity for physical, spiritual and emotional renewal and strength. People in the Mediterranean eat food that is high in colestoral but they have fewer diseases and it is suggested it is because they eat meals together with others. We as Muslims must remeber to take the name of Allah before, during and after the food. Insha- Allah we will all have a prosperous and immensely beneficial ramadan.

I'm looking for good foods to eat for iftar and suhoor. I'm going to be eating by myself a lot of nights during Ramadan, so easy and inexpensive is better. Obviously, dates for iftar... but what else is recommended?

[Peabelilt]

Ukht,

Hmm...I have cereal for suhoor and for iftaar you could make sandwiches. Before ramadan starts make or buy a pack of somosas, and when ramadan starts you could heat one or two a day for your iftaar. Drink lots of water too, that's a cheap and inexpensive way to get full quickly

I hope you find someone to spend your ramadan with ukht, like family, because as someone said previously there's more blessings in eating together.

I'm looking for good foods to eat for iftar and suhoor. I'm going to be eating by myself a lot of nights during Ramadan, so easy and inexpensive is better. Obviously, dates for iftar... but what else is recommended?

[gymnAnemoe]

Why are you going to be eating alone is it unavoidable? It would be better if you ate with others if at all possible there is baraka ( unseen blessings by eating in a group). This year I plan to eat alot of boiled or steamed vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, carrots, leafy greens. I am not going to eat processed foods or white flour, white rice, or much meat.

The food that we eat is usually the cause of diseases todays processed food is highly dangerous contains too much sugar and lacks nutritional content. We have to be very careful what we eat, it may taste very good but it is harming us. One should mentally prepare before Ramadan to change ones bad habits, it is a wonderful opportunity for physical, spiritual and emotional renewal and strength. People in the Mediterranean eat food that is high in colestoral but they have fewer diseases and it is suggested it is because they eat meals together with others. We as Muslims must remeber to take the name of Allah before, during and after the food. Insha- Allah we will all have a prosperous and immensely beneficial ramadan.

I live 30 minutes away from the closest Masjid, and while sisters are looking for people who live in my area... it seems as if everyone lives on the other side of the Masjid! I can't drive the 30 minutes every night (gas...), especially on nights that I work (some nights I don't get off until at least 9:30pm). So, I guess it will be unavoidable a lot of days.

[alexbookhyip]

I live 30 minutes away from the closest Masjid, and while sisters are looking for people who live in my area... it seems as if everyone lives on the other side of the Masjid! I can't drive the 30 minutes every night (gas...), especially on nights that I work (some nights I don't get off until at least 9:30pm). So, I guess it will be unavoidable a lot of days.

Insha-Allah you will get baraka regardless, I just mentioned it because I have heard scholars emphasise eating together socially as very beneficial and a sunnah, and many of us including myself have through modern living become solitary eaters and because of this we do not benefit as much as we would. Many of us these days lead very difficult lives because of the lack of community and close neighbours and or family. May Allah help us to build a close and strong community.

[mxzjxluwst]

I think the basic thing to remember is to eat healthy and drink plenty of water when not fasting.

From my understanding its sunnah to wake up for suhoor, there is great baraka in it. If I'm home alone, I am normally very tempted not to wake up, read my salah and go back to bed. But fortunatly we have a full house .. so not waking up makes you feel your missing out

My diet has changed over the years, I went from a snickers bar (when I first started fasting) to bowl of cereal to cup of tea and biscuits. I could never get myself to eat in the morning (I was/is terrible with breakfast).

Few years back, my son started fasting (when the fasts were shorter) but he was still very young and refused to keep half day ones. Being a worried mother, I would make sure he would have a nice big bowl of porridge and its what my family swears by now. I got everyone addicted especially during these long summer days. It keeps you full for a long time! We make it with milk and not water and also use the rolled oat, bit of sugar or honey and small blob of butter. The rolled oats take longer to digest than the powdery stuff. And they can be cooked in the microwave! You may just need to practice the milk to oats ratio to get the right consistency.


For iftaar, the sunnah is to break your fast with an odd number of dates and water. If you have no dates or don't like date, then just water. Dates are really beneficial for getting your blood sugar levels back to normal, so you don't binge eat.

The significance of eating dates during Ramadan...

Its a shame sis that you will be eating alone! Maybe on the odd day you can visit another sister or perhaps they can come visit you?

Allah swt is the best of planners, he will plan whats best for you sis

[cefunonge]

If you are breaking the fast alone find someone in your town and break it over Skype!

[TerriLS]

If you are breaking the fast alone find someone in your town and break it over Skype!

If I could find someone in my town, I wouldn't be alone! :P I will visit other sisters as much as possible, but they are 30 or more minutes away, so that makes it difficult (especially with gas prices)

[gdjfhdf]

Sister, you might want to incorporate vinegar (especially ACV), honey and olive oil into your list too.