A bit about me…

I’m a high school English teacher and live in Albany, Western Australia. Because I’m away from family and friends, Ramadan is a really special and important time for me to feel more connected to my friends and family.

Meals

I always go into Ramadan with the best intentions, but often find myself pretty tired and of course, hungry! During this period of fasting, I’ll ensure enough time before starting work at 7.30am to eat a healthy and nourishing breakfast. After work at 4.30pm, I’ll go home and try to rest until the sun goes down and it’s time to eat. To break my fast it’s traditional to eat three dates. I also break my fast with samosas, sausage rolls and fruit, as well as plenty of water!

Meal planning is super important so that there’s food ready for me in the mornings and night – that’s why my go-to Kic recipes while observing Ramadan include Overnight Oats and Shepherd’s Pie. Both dishes give me the energy boost I need to keep me fuller throughout the day!

Movement

During Ramadan, exercise can (understandably) become a bit tricky to maintain because you don’t want to do any movement that is strenuous and will consume all your energy. Right before I break my fast, I often enjoy going for a walk to help keep me active, my body moving and my mind more alert (otherwise I find myself taking an afternoon nap, haha!).

I tend to try and stay away from the gym. HIIT workouts during this period can make me feel quite nauseous due to not being able to drink water throughout the day. I think it’s really important to not put too much pressure on myself during this time, and I find swapping out high intensity workouts to low impact workouts such as walking and yoga feels right for my body.

Mindfulness

Ramadan is a spiritual and sacred time, so it’s a really good opportunity to reflect, practice gratitude and give back to the community. Something that has really helped me, is to let the kids I teach know what Ramadan is. I find they are very supportive, respective and inquisitive, which makes it a lot easier to continue keeping the classroom under control and teach the way I normally do!

Something else I’ll also flag, is that you don’t fast while you have your period. You also aren’t required to pray – this is because having your period is meant to be a time of rest. However, it’s encouraged to make up for those days once you are certain that your period has ceased.

My advice to those who are observing Ramadan, is to let others around you know so they can be a support system for you! Similarly, if you’re working, studying or living with anyone who is observing Ramadan, try to check in and create an environment where they can be open about their religious observance.

Start your journey with Kic today with a 7 day free trial.