For Muslims all over the world, the month of Ramadan can be the most rewarding time of the year. But fasting from sunrise to sunset can be challenging, and breaking your fast with the right foods is key to ensuring you have enough energy for your evening prayers and don't crash the next morning.
According to registered dietitian Shireen Hakim, your iftar should be composed of "mostly protein, and then fats, and then carbs."
She cautions against fried foods, caffeine, and sugar, all of which can ultimately make you feel sluggish and have you feeling hungrier the next day.
With all of that in mind, BuzzFeed Food gathered 17 recipes from around the web to help fuel your Ramadan roster. (*Note: To be clear, Hakim provided the guidelines and inspiration for these recipes but BuzzFeed Food selected them.)
1. Bake some spicy vegetable samosas for a healthier spin on a classic dish.
2. Blend a refreshing date and banana smoothie, perfect for the warm Ramadan month.
3. Feast on turkey chili that's satisfyingly savory but won't put you to sleep.
4. Chop up a mediterranean beet salad out of the energy-boosting roots.
5. Prepare a batch of baked vegetable-dense pakora using chickpea flour.
6. Toss chicken and your favorite burrito toppings together for a chicken and quinoa burrito bowl.
7. Slurp on a hydrating and muscle-rebuilding lentil soup.
8. Make a healthyish option like mac & cheese for the kids.
9. Indulge on sweet baked atayef that won't make you crash-and-burn.
10. Fill up on lean protein and healthy fats with this one-pan salmon with green beans recipe.
11. Sip on naturally sweetened watermelon agua fresca.
12. Stuffed grape leaves are great for digestion and can pack a surprising amount of protein if you choose to add meat.
13. Chop a medley of vegetables and throw them into this garden vegetable quinoa soup.
14. Refuel with a high-protein, complex carbs-filled meal like this oven-roasted branzino with sweet potatoes.
15. Have a bit of time on your hands? Try out gut-friendly sarma (sour cabbage meat rolls).
16. Or keep it simple with a light, shrimp-tossed pasta.
17. And of course, no iftar is complete without dates.
This post is part of a series organized by BuzzFeed podcast See Something Say Something celebrating Ramadan with podcast episodes, posts, videos, and essays.
