Healthy sungkai for a healthy you

By

The Community Nutrition Division,

Department of Health Services, Ministry Of Health

One of the Ramadhan stalls offering barbecued fish. - JASON LEONG

We are already half way through Ramadhan, and the surrounding at Gadong Market is abuzz.

It is merrier and packed with people.

From the far end of the first stall, people are asking for different types of delicacies to be served during 'sungkai' or breaking of fast. "May I have B$2 of kelupis, B$1 of selurut and B$2 of kuih pinyaram, please?"
At the other corner, a lady is asking for two packs of chicken rice. People all over Brunei will not miss this time of the year where many types of delicacies and food will be sold only during Ramadhan.

If we look deep into the meaning of fasting, then sungkai is a gift and blessing from the Almighty to all Muslims.

It is the perfect time for family gathering, and a time to savour the moments together and be grateful with what the Almighty has provided us.

Some may think that it is the best time to enjoy food of the day. Let's not get carried away by its purpose, then we will be able to avoid overeating.

Yes, we will not be eating from dawn till dusk, but that does not mean that we have to consume more at sungkai.

The truth is eating pattern during the fasting month should not be much difference from what we have during normal days. There is no need to consume excess food.

A healthy and balanced diet, which include a healthy and balanced sungkai, will be able to improve blood cholesterol, reduce gastric acidity, prevent constipation and improve blood sugar level.

Bear in mind, healthy eating pattern is timeless - it is never too late to start the practice and it should be practiced for as long as we live.

The best way to get healthy food is by preparing the food yourself. That way, you are in control of what you and your family are going to have for sungkai. So mothers, wives, sisters and the men too, you have a role here in making that happen.

Having said that, of course, you can enjoy the food at the Ramadhan stalls, for food is to be enjoyed too. Plus some of the foods are sold only during Ramadhan.

It is a question of how often, how much and which choices to go for. Here are some useful tips for all readers to consider.

* Before you hit the Ramadhan stalls, make sure you make a list of food you would like to buy and roughly make a budget. The shorter the list and the lesser the budget, the better. This way you can avoid being spendthrift.

* Once there, head for stalls that sell main meals first, before you go to the delicacies and drinks stalls.

* Try not to bring the entire family to every time you go there to avoid overspending.

* Go to the stalls early, around 2pm to 3 pm. If you go there a bit late, there is a great tendency you will buy more food because you already feel hungry by that time. By going there in the afternoon, you are less likely to wander around the stalls for too long because the weather is still hot.

Health benefits of dates
* Dates, or 'tamar' in Arabic, are very nutritious. They are high in carbohydrate, protein, fibre, iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin C and potassium.
* Dates contain simple sugar and get digested very easily. Within half an hour, your tired body will regain a renewed vigour. Therefore, dates are used for supplying quick energy to the brain and body cells, thus Mahgrib and Terawih prayers can be performed better.
* With an energised body, it will avoid excessive eating.
* Being a laxative food, dates have been found to be beneficial for those suffering from constipation.
* Dates are eaten with the skin/outer layer that are high in fibre that can help to avoid colon cancer by avoiding constipation.
* Regular consumption of dates has been found to check the growth of pathological organisms and help in the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
* Dates are excellent cure for intestinal disturbances.

(Ministry of Health Public Awareness Programme)

Source: Weekend- 20 September 2008