Breaking the fast with the right type of foods is crucial to keeping your body strong and healthy. While some people resort to junk foods (due to their convenience), others try to fill their stomach with countless varieties of dishes in order to make up for not eating the whole day. While the former is detrimental to the body and does more harm than good, the latter option of feasting also becomes detrimental to your mind and soul.
It is important to feed our bodies with the right type of foods, ensuring that we do not overdo it by binging during iftar.
So, here are 7 tips to consider for iftar:
1. Break your fast with dates and a glass of water
Dates are great for iftar because they provide a concentrated source of sugar and nutrients. Most importantly, it was the practice of our beloved Prophet 
to break the fast with dates.
Salman ibn Amir 
reported that the Prophet said: “When one of you breaks his fast, then let him do so with dried dates. And whoever does not find dates, then water, for it is purifying” [at-Tirmidhi].
2. Consume carbohydrate-dense foods
Whole grains and cereals, and foods like these, provide the necessary calories and sugars that the body has been deprived of for the entire day. Use brown bread for preparing sandwiches. You can also consume pastas, given their easy method of preparation. They provide wholesome nutrients, numerous vitamins, and are good sources of fiber (which helps regulate bowel movements and prevent constipation).
3. Do not binge during iftar
Your digestive system will takes time to accept foods after being deprived of calories for an entire day, so remember to take it easy. Overeating could lead to gastrointestinal problems; a sudden intake of foods will force your stomach to produce numerous enzymes all at once, causing discomfort. Therefore, remember to eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly. Moreover, it is not Islamically appropriate to overeat. For those who are suffering from gastrointestinal problems and may require alternative methods of feeding, NG (Nasogastric) or OG (Orogastric) tube placement can be a practical solution. These tubes help in delivering essential nutrients directly to the stomach, bypassing the need for oral intake and minimizing the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort from overeating. If you are considering this option or need more information, click here to explore how NG or OG tubes can support your nutritional needs while easing the burden on your digestive system.
4. Incorporate liquids and consume more fluids
Drink sufficient quantities of water to prevent dehydration. Water will help flush out toxins and aid digestion. In addition, fresh fruit juices are excellent sources of sugars, vitamins and minerals. You can also consume chicken soups or stews; these are rich in protein, which helps in building tissue or muscle mass and prevents the body from getting exhausted easily. Soups are also a good source of nutrients and electrolytes which help prevent exhaustion and dehydration.
5. Avoid oily/fried foods
These take a longer time for digestion and make you feel full, but do not necessarily nourish you or provide nutrients. They are not an ideal option to consider for iftar (or in general). However, if you must, consume small portions at dinner time.
6. Hasten to break your fast
This isn’t so much a tip about what to break your fast with, but when to break your fast. Breaking the fast on time is an important aspect of Ramadan as delaying it unnecessarily is not recommended.
Sahl ibn Sa`d reported that the Prophet said: “People will continue to adhere to good as long as they hasten to break the Saum (fasting).” [Bukhari and Muslim].
7. Share the iftar meal
You can increase your blessings by providing iftar meals to your neighbors, relatives, the needy – any Muslim who is fasting!
Our Prophet said: “Whoever provides the food for a fasting person to break his fast with, then for his is the same reward as his (the fasting person’s), without anything being diminished from the reward of the fasting person” [at-Tirmithi].
Fasting during the month of Ramadan gives us numerous opportunities to control our nafs, discipline our hearts and souls, helping us become more obedient towards Allah, The Exalted. It is also a time to look after and discipline our bodies. The take-home message is avoid binging during iftar but at the same time, make sure that your body is getting the right type of nutrients in the right amounts to prevent dehydration, exhaustion, fatigue or discomfort.
May the fasting break their fasts in your homes, and may your meals and homes be blessed. Ameen.
Which foods do you incorporate into your Iftar to help maintain your productivity?
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