by Aline Agopian
Although one is accustomed to eating a traditional heavy meal, it is never too late to do a vegan cleanse. Since fasting naturally might cause low energy, it is important that you eat a lot of carbs to get that energy back. Instead of eating bread, rice or potatoes, tell yourself the only carbs you will eat is fruit. Yes fruit does have a lot of sugar but it also has so many antioxidants that are beneficial to not only keeping you healthy but making sure you are beautiful from the inside out.
Besides eating fruit, another way of getting a quick boost is through juicing. If you haven't tried juicing yet, you don't know what you are missing. This is the true fountain of youth. We all know that fruits and vegetables are so good for you but realistically you probably don't get enough of them in your meals. A green juice is a great way of breaking your fast. While fasting, your stomach is "cleaning up" so interrupting that "cleansing” process with a heavy meal isn't very kind to the body. A green juice instead will be gentle on your system but also deliver a boost of energy and kick start your metabolism.
My favorite juice is a mix of Kale, celery, apple, lemon and ginger. If you like a little spice, add a hint of Cayenne pepper. If you like savory and lemon tasting dishes like me you will love this one. I like to call it “liquid tabbouleh.” If you are more into sweets, you can try something like pineapple, orange and any green like spinach. Whatever combination you chose, make sure to always consume greens.
Double up on your salads. The main course is usually paired with a side of salad. This Ramadan, make a double order of salad. This way you are getting full on salad and end up eating less of the heavy ingredients.
Many Middle Eastern dishes just happen to be vegan. I challenged myself to eat vegan a few times and I realized that most of my family dinners consist of vegan foods. The Mediterranean diet is actually one of the healthiest diets in the world. Consuming lots of beans, lentils, veggies, olive oils as fat and fish if you're a pescatarian (A person that doesn't eat animal products except for fish). While a vegan is someone that does not eat any animal products, yes even labni. No meat or dairy.
Depending on your normal eating habits, try to cut down on anything that is not gentle on your system. A great rule I use is to only eat from the grocery section of the market. If it doesn't come from the earth I try not to eat it. I avoid anything packaged or made with heavy creams or butters.
The more you read about the harmful effects of junk food the more you start thinking twice before you reach for a soda. One of my favorite meals to eat during this time (minus the chicken) is mulukhia. I know many women tend to gain weight around this time but you can make sure this doesn’t occur by planning your meals ahead and setting rules for yourself. It is never too late. If you do end up cheating don't worry you can always try again tomorrow. Breaking bad habits takes time but don't give up!
