Just when we were forgetting what the inside of our jeans felt like due to quarantine, Ramadan has now blessed us with its occurrence, making watching what we eat that much more important. Although Ramadan is a beautiful holy month filled with many religious and often traditional practices, it is safe to say that the average person finds themselves gaining weight during Ramadan. For those people rolling their eyes right now saying “well I actually lose weight during Ramadan”, congratulations. Since most extra consumption comes from the added desserts and experiments, we thought we could help you there.
This is not to say that during a pandemic one should be stressing over the scale and what it reads everyday, but it is a good idea to be mindful of what we are putting into our bodies, especially if what we’re eating is loaded with sugar!
Desserts are delicious, and during Ramadan many have made it a habit to have them right after their iftar meal. Not only is it important to try to reduce the amount of sugar in your desserts (to avoid a sugar crash), but to also avoid indulging in a very high carbohydrate diet, as this can have a negative affect on your health.
If you find yourself wondering why you are packing on the pounds when you are “eating less”, remind yourself that, although you may be eating during a shorter period of time throughout the day, your caloric intake is actually higher. Especially if you are eating desserts everyday (which is not necessary, but that’s just my “unpopular” opinion).
To make things better for all of us, we’ve compiled a short list of desserts that are guilt-free and pretty reasonable in macronutrients. If you happen to try any of these, do give us a shoutout on IG and let us know!
Introducing: a fun spin on Ramadan desserts!
First up, these mini fruit pizzas make for a raw and nutritious dessert that is easy to make. The best part? No refined sugar, just the sweetness from good ol’ dates and fruit. P.s these yummy tarts contain 45% of your daily vitamin C needed intake and each serving is about 274 calories (kcals).
Another dessert that is even easier to make is these frozen yogurt pumpkin pie bites! If you like pumpkin pie then you will love this. Note: feel free to replace the Cheerios with graham crackers or oats! One serving falls at 113 kcals with 2 grams of fiber and 3 g of protein each.
Next up, is this cinnamon sugar apple cake that is loaded with juicy apples makes for a great light yet delicious dessert. This deliciousness costs about 319 kcals but still falls way under most popular Ramadan desserts which are packed with added sugars from unnatural sources.
Finally, if you’re feeling a dairy and gluten free treat (when using ground almonds instead of oats), then this healthier take on the date cashew and caramel chocolate slice will satisfy your cravings. This dessert also contains no refined sugar and sits at 277 kcals per serving. Apparently this dessert has gained the approval of the pickiest crowd, the kids. Bon appétit!
If you’re feeling experimental and up for the challenge, try one of these recipes and let us know how you like it on IG. Featured Image by Brooke Lark on Unsplash.
