UAE experts urge Muslims to adopt sustainable, healthier diets

Nutritionists and experts in the United Arab Emirates say Ramadan is a “golden opportunity” to switch to a greener, sustainable, healthier and waste-free lifestyle.

Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is celebrated by some 1.9 billion Muslims around the world by fasting from dawn to sunset as an act of piety and spirituality.

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Muslim laborers and workers prepare to break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a charity tent that aims to provide free iftar meals to poor working people in a residential area of ​​Dubai, UAE. (File photo: Reuters)

Clinical dietitian Elissa AbiNakhoul said Ramadan – a time for reflection – could offer Muslims an opportunity this year to think more about how the food on their plates affects the global environment.

Prevent wastage

“Ramadan is an excellent opportunity to consider switching to a ‘green lifestyle’ that is environmentally friendly, pollution-free, waste-free and aims to conserve natural resources,” she told Al Arabiya English. “Green lifestyle is to improve the quality of life and achieve sustainable development.”

She suggested that Muslims should reduce and eliminate their fast food intake, avoid excessive consumption to reduce food waste after iftar, and reduce the use of plastic bottles and cutlery.

Muslims who want to follow a greener lifestyle can increase their intake of vegetables and fruits — especially those that are seasonal and locally available — and add legume and lentil soups to their iftars instead of saturating them, nutritionists say Chicken and meat that are high in fat, and always break your fast with soup and salad.

She advises Muslims to use vegetable oil in place of ghee, butter and cheese in cooking, to replace high-calorie sweets with dried fruit, dates and fresh fruit, and to replace white sugar with honey, maple syrup, date syrup and molasses.

rejuvenate

Juliot Vinolia Rajarathinam, clinical dietitian and consultant dietitian at Medeor Hospital in Dubai, said Ramadan is a time for Muslims to reflect on their thoughts and actions to rejuvenate their bodies and minds.

“As we become more sustainable living people, now is the time for us to take responsibility for eating wisely,” she said. “Some unique tissue-healing and disease-preventing hormones and enzymes can only be produced during fasting.”

These health benefits are missed out when people overconsume processed foods, refined sugars, and trans fats.
“Sustainable eating is about choosing foods that are healthier, less processed and have a lower environmental impact, thereby improving food security for all,” she said.

climate friendly meals

Rajarathinam recommends cooking “big meals” – or cooking in batches – during Ramadan, as pre-planning portions can go a long way in reducing food waste, food costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Meanwhile, buying food items such as rice, wheat, lentils, pulses, onions, garlic and spices in bulk during Ramadan sales can save a lot of money and reduce plastic waste as well.

“Buying in bulk significantly reduces the amount of packaging material used compared to buying smaller packages of the same product more frequently,” she says.

Plant-Based Diet Reduces Inflammation

Plant-based diets have been shown to reduce inflammation and the risk of chronic disease, she added. They double the disease-preventing health benefits of fasting, making it “eco-friendly Ramadan,” she said.

Muslims should also reduce their intake of red meat and processed animal products. Not only does this reduce the risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease, but according to extensive research, the red meat industry emits a lot of greenhouse gases.

“Seasonal fruits and vegetables are fresh and cost-effective,” she adds. “Fresh produce contains more antioxidants than foods with a long shelf life. The most sustainable fruits and vegetables to eat during fasting are squash, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, beetroot, peas, beans, mushrooms, spinach, cabbage , apples, citrus fruits, melons, papayas and bananas. These don’t need plastic packaging either.”

Rajarathinam says eco-friendly whole grains, wild rice, oatmeal and millet have a long shelf life, are packed with important nutrients to help maintain energy during fasting periods, are high in fiber to prevent constipation, and are affordable.

“Buying wisely, storing efficiently and using healthy cooking methods combined with traditional recipes can save and revive cultures and help maintain good health,” she said. “Let’s make this Ramadan sustainable by choosing nutrient-dense meals, especially more home-cooked, plant-based fresh meals that are not only healthy and cost-effective, but also climate-friendly and easy to break down and nourish Soils, all of these are in line with our COP28 targets.”

reevaluate eating habits

Pranita Anand Gavankar, a clinical dietitian at the Saudi German Hospital in Dubai, said Ramadan offered Muslims the perfect opportunity to reevaluate their relationship with food.

“Try incorporating more plant-based foods instead of meat,” she says. “The meat industry is a huge demand on natural resources.”

“Eating a plant-based diet just a few days a week can help save the planet by reducing harmful carbon emissions by a few pounds,” says the nutritionist, making a difference.

She recommends choosing plant-based milks, such as soy, rice, and oat milk.

“Try to do a ‘meatless iftar’ at least two to three days a week. Also, choose local produce. Not only are local produce a good source of antioxidants and beneficial nutrients, but they’re a more sustainable choice,” adds Gavankar road.

“Finally, pay attention to food packaging,” she said, urging UAE residents to avoid single-use products such as plastic bottles, plastic cutlery, plastic wrap and aluminum foil.

“Get started with reusable utensils, bottles and packaging options. It’s an easy way to start,” she says. “By adopting a sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle, everyone can contribute and make a difference for the planet.”

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