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Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Fasting not only has spiritual significance but also brings about various health benefits. As you transition back to regular eating patterns after a month of fasting, it's important to make smart snacking choices.
After a month of fasting, it's crucial not to overwhelm your digestive system with heavy foods immediately. That’s why in this article, we will talk about how you can ease the transition into heavy foods by starting light with snacks!
Snacking is Eating
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There’s a misconception that eating snacks does not count as eating, or that it is unhealthy compared to simply eating a full meal. In many cultures, meals are traditionally seen as formal, structured events occurring at specific times of the day, such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Snacking, on the other hand, is often viewed as a casual, impromptu consumption of small amounts of food between these designated meal times.
It doesn’t help that over the years, we have become used to snacks that are typically processed, high in sugar, salt and fat. While these snacks certainly do exist, it’s important that we still acknowledge that not all snacks are created equal – that is, not all snacks are bad for you.
In fact, in research conducted by Harvard, they found that snacking can benefit us during times when our blood glucose levels may drop and our next meal is too far off. Snacking provides us the necessary energy to keep going, curb our appetite and prevent overeating in our next meal. [1]
Let’s get Snacking!
Now that we know that snacking is not really a cardinal sin in the grand scheme of our eating habits, let’s explore some of the snacking options we can try to transition our diet after Ramadan!
Popcorn 
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This low-calorie, delightful, and easy to prepare food is a good snack option. It also contains antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been linked to various health benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved heart health. [2] With its crunchy texture and versatility, popcorn is a delicious and guilt-free snack that can be enjoyed on its own or seasoned with herbs, spices, or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for added flavor.
Customise your own popcorn experience and choose our NOW Foods Organic Popcorn! With no additives or preservatives, this popcorn brings only the most natural, wholesome puffs of airy goodness to the table!
Cashews
It won’t be a discussion of healthy snacks without nuts!
Cashews offer several nutritional advantages compared to other nuts. They are lower in fat and calories while still providing a good source of protein and healthy fats, making them a satisfying and filling snack. Cashews are also rich in essential nutrients like magnesium, which supports bone health and muscle function, and copper, which aids in energy production and immune function! [3]
NOW Foods’ Organic and Unsalted Cashew Nuts are rich in essential fatty acids and natural proteins. Enjoy the nutty, buttery flavour of our cashews and share them with your family and friends!
Cooked Snacks
If chewing on pre-packed food is not your thing and intend to celebrate the end of Ramadan with cooked snacks, we’ve also got you covered!
Sweet Samosa [4]
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Sweet samosas are a delectable twist on the traditional savoury version. These pastries feature a crispy outer shell made from thin layers of pastry dough, typically filled with a sweet and flavorful mixture. The filling often includes ingredients like chopped nuts such as almonds, pistachios, or cashews, along with dried fruits like raisins or dates.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 Spring roll pastry sheets
- ½ cup Khoya
- 8 NOW Foods Pistachios
- 4 NOW Foods Cashew nuts
- 4 NOW Foods Salted Caramel Almonds
- 8 Raisins
- ½ cup NOW Foods Date Sugar
- 9 Saffron strands
- 1 tablespoon Maida all purpose flour
- Oil for deep frying
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare spring roll sheets and khoya. Start chopping your nuts and mix it to the khoya and this will be the stuffing.
- Cut the spring roll sheets into strips and prepare your khoya mixture. Fold tightly to pack the khoya.
- Make a paste out of maida and water for sealing.
- After the first fold of triangle, you can smear the maida paste throughout the pastry strip, to ensure well bound samosas.
- Repeat to finish all the stuffing. Keep the spring roll pastry sheet and prepared samosa covered in a damp cloth to avoid drying.
- Heat oil and fry a few samosas at a time in medium flame. The oil should be just the right temperature, otherwise the khoya filling may ooze out.
- Cook in moderate heat until slightly golden. Drain in paper towel.
- Prepare sugar syrup by boiling it with ½ cup water and saffron.
- It should be one string consistency. Dip the samosas and arrange them on a plate for drying up.
Homemade Potato Chips [5]
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Completely customise how you want your chips by simply making them at home! One of the most obvious benefits of homemade potato chips is having the freedom to cook them in healthier cooking oils! In this recipe, you can make it with our NOW Foods Extra Virgin Olive Oil!
INGREDIENTS
- 13 medium size yellow potatoes
- NOW Foods Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for frying)
- 1 tbsp salt (for seasoning)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Peel the potatoes and slice them in a potato slicer.
- Transfer the sliced potatoes into a big bowl or a container filled with water.
- After a half hour, place all the potatoes one by one on a cloth for drying.
- Heat the oil in a deep-frying pan, add the slices one by one and fry them on medium flame until crispy.
- Sprinkle some salt for seasoning and when it cools down store it in an airtight container.
References:
[1] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/snacking/
[2] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/popcorn-nutrition-and-health
[3] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/are-cashews-good-for-you
[4] https://rakskitchen.net/easy-sweet-samosa-recipe-holi-recipes/#recipe
[5] https://www.shellyfoodspot.com/how-to-make-potato-chips-at-homehomemade-potato-chips/