6 Essential Products for Ramadan

A couple of weeks prior to the month of Ramadan is a great time to get your home and kitchen in order. Getting ready now will help create more time for what’s really important by making you more efficient and health-conscious, so you can preserve your energy for those lengthy fasting days. 

Here are some of the most essential things to have on hand for self-care, home organization, and entertaining in a pinch.

Ramadan is the month of date consumption since most people break their fast with them, but there are times when you’re entertaining or visiting someone’s home for Iftar and you want to bring something special to your host. Of course, you can make your own, but in a pinch these coconut date rolls from Bard Valley can really save the day. 

Cooking can be quite a challenge during Ramadan, since not only is everyone hungry and ready to eat just after sunset, but oftentimes that means mealtime happens when you’re just getting off the clock at work or right in the middle of the kids’ after-school activities. That said, it’s essential to create some organization and structure for your meal prep. For that, I suggest see-through food containers with snap-on lids that fit neatly not only in your fridge and freezer, but also in your cabinets when not in use. 

Food storage with snap lids preserve food well, plus they’re stackable, easy to wash, and because they’re glass, you can see exactly what’s in them, making it easy to grab and organize meals. The smaller ones even fit nicely into lunch boxes or tote bags for when you might need to break fast on the go. 

These small mason jars are also super useful for storing and carrying things like dates, nuts, cereals, salad dressings, and condiments. 

Now that you’ve got your food organized, it’s time to focus on hydration, which is arguably even more essential. Whether you’re commuting or headed to the gym in the evenings, carrying your own drinks in an eco-friendly bottle will make it easier to stay hydrated throughout the night. With the Hydracy water bottle you can infuse your water with flavorful foods like lemon, watermelon, or cucumber to add vitamins and minerals. It even comes with a time marker so you can note the amount of water you’re consuming and stay on track with your hydration goals! 

When it comes to hydration, there are products you might want to consider that will you a boost. The first is coconut water, as it’s a natural electrolyte, filled with sodium, potassium, and magnesium but without the added sugars and flavorings that can be found in commercial sports drinks. Vita Coco Pure organic coconut water is a good choice, particularly if you’re highly active or sticking to your workout routines during Ramadan.  

Something else you can easily carry in your purse or gym bag is a Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier. Simply pour the contents of the packet into your water bottle and shake it up to give your body those essential electrolytes lost during the fasting day.

We love our tea and coffee after a meal, but the caffeinated sort can be so dehydrating and a huge disruption to our sleep cycle. One way to substitute for those is by consuming non-caffeinated herbal teas. They’re a fantastic way to wind down, digest your food, and get that much-needed restful sleep throughout the month, as fasting can be quite taxing on the body. Plus, there’s a huge variety out there of delicious and flavorful herbal teas. These caffeine-free recommendations aid in digestion and have a calming effect on the body: lemon balm, chamomile, and Egyptian licorice, which is warming and has a little spice added to it.

Skin is your largest organ and it really starts to show the signs of dehydration quickly, particularly if you live in a climate that’s on the drier side. Fasting can enhance the visible effects of dehydration on skin, so it’s essential to take care of it and pay close attention, especially during this time. Two types of products that can help with that are body oils and facial mists. The SheaMoisture’s coconut hydration oil is an all-over body oil that you can use after taking a shower or add to your bath water (a good excuse to relax!), and will continue to hydrate you throughout the day. The Mario Badescu rose water facial spray is a fantastic item to keep in your bag, too. Just mist your face to freshen up, wake up a little, or even just to take in the wonderful rose scent.