Ramadan Timetable UK and Ireland 2014 Ramadan Timetable UK and Ireland 2014

Food has a great significance in Islam. It is associated with one’s relationship with God. Chapter 20, verse 81 of the Qur’an states: "Eat of the good and wholesome things that We have provided for your sustenance, but indulge in no excess therein."

The physical body is a gift from God; it is given to humans as an amanah (in trust) to take care of for a fixed period. How much food is consumed and the choice of food has a direct impact on the physical and spiritual well-being of the person. The food that you consume affects your behaviour and personality. Wholesome, natural and healthy food assists the development of a good personality. Overeating has long been frowned upon in Islam as it is thought to increase worldly appetites and cause sluggishness, thereby ‘dulling’ the soul, hampering spiritual growth and increasing physical ailments.

Foods to avoid are the heavily-processed, fast-burning foods that contain refined carbohydrates in the form of sugar, white flour, etc., as well as too much fatty food (eg cakes, biscuits, chocolates and sweets, such as Indian Mithai). It may also be worth avoiding the caffeine content in drinks such as tea, coffee and cola. (Caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates faster water loss through urination.) Below you will also find the different cooking methods to avoid and also alternative methods in which you can utilise.

Foods to avoid Deep-fried foods, eg pakoras, samosas, fried dumplings etc High-sugar/high-fat foods, eg Indian sweets such as Ghulab Jamun, Rasgulla, Balushahi, Baklawa, High-fat cooked foods, eg parathas, oily curries, greasy pastries, Cooking methods to avoid Deep frying Frying Curries with excessive oil

Healthy/Alternative Foods Whole grains, eg chickpeas (plain, or with potato in yogurt with different Indian spices), samosas baked instead of fried, and boiled dumplings, Milk-based sweets and puddings, eg Rasmalai, Barfree, Alternate with chapattis made without oil, baked or grilled meat and chicken. Try to make pastry at home and use a single layer, Alternative cooking methods Shallow frying - usually there is very little difference in taste, Grilling or baking is healthier and helps retain the taste and orignal flavour of the food, especially chicken and fish, Start with measuring the oil used in curry and try to bring the oil content down gradually, eg reducing five tablespoons to four. This is a good way of reducing oil without noticing much difference in the taste. A useful tip is to use more onions and tomatoes in the bulk of the curry,