Choose what you eat at iftar

The “Hello Ramadan” phone-in program, which commenced on the first day of the holy month, stressed the importance of healthy eating habits during Ramadan. 
For the ninth consecutive year, the Ministry of Health continues to run its phone-in program to answer people’s inquiries regarding the various health problems they encounter during the holy month. 
The program, entitled “Your Health in Ramadan,” began on the first day of the holy month. The service is available on the toll free number 800-249-4444. The service is operated in Arabic and is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
Participating in the program, therapeutic nutrition specialist Nahed Kadri advised people to avoid eating large quantities of food, especially those saturated with fat.
Besides giving health tips to listeners, Kadri also provides useful information about cooking during Ramadan and how to eat meals without exhausting the stomach.
She pointed out that iftar meals should be divided into two smaller meals to be eaten before and after Maghreb prayers. The first stage should consist of eating dates or coffee and low-fat milk before prayer, then savory items such as salad, soup and sambusak (pastries preferably baked). Drinking fresh juices such as orange and apple juice is advised, she added.