Staying healthy during Ramadan
Youth advocates in Maldives urge healthy habits for the holy month
Azzam is not saying it is easy.
The 18-year-old knows the urge to break the Ramadan fast with tasty fried treats. Especially when his mother makes them.
“I have no choice but to eat them, right?,” said Azzam, 18, a student and member of the National Handball Team of Maldives.
But Azzam also knows that eating healthy and staying active during Ramadan is possible. And important.
“I feel like keeping track of what you eat and making sure you exercise regularly, even throughout Ramadan, should be essential for every Muslim around the world,” Azzam said.
Finding a balance
Azzam and Yael are not saying to totally stay away from treats. They recommend regular exercise – nothing too strenuous – and suggest including whole grains, proteins, fruits and vegetables when breaking the fast and for the pre-dawn meal, suhoor.
“What we recommend is that you actually find a balanced portion,” Yael said.
“I feel like keeping track of what you eat and making sure you exercise regularly, even throughout Ramadan, should be essential for every Muslim around the world.”
A UNICEF flagship
For UNICEF Maldives, the message from young people about healthy lifestyles is convergence between two flagship initiatives, Kaigen Hin’gama and Baaruveri. Translated from Dhivehi, Kaigen Hin’gama mean: ‘let’s eat and walk’ – a great start to making healthy lifestyle choices, and Baaruveri means empowerment, focusing on the development and engagement of young people in our work.
One of the goals of the initiative is to encourage children and young people to adopt healthy habits early in life. These lifestyle choices can protect against diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular issues – noncommunicable diseases that are a growing part of the disease burden in Maldives.
By including youth advocates, passionate about youth health and fitness for this cause, UNICEF Maldives hopes to engage younger audiences and prompt them to make healthier choices.
Staying healthy during Ramadan may present particular challenges. But Azzam and Yael said their advice can be followed throughout the year.
“Keeping consistent is important,” Yael said. “You don’t have to try to be perfect instantly, but starting is what is important.”
