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5 easy, healthy snacks to help you shed the pounds in Ramazan

5 easy, healthy snacks to help you shed the pounds in Ramazan

And the best part? They're all made using less than 5 ingredients!
Updated 17 May, 2019

This article was originally published in June 2018.


Those pakoras and jalebis aren't going to help you shed that Ramazan weight, but these recipes will - if you stick to them.

Two more weeks to go till Eid and our waistlines are doing us no favours. we got in touch with certified nutritionist Zoha Matin to help come up with recipes that are big on taste, are super healthy and require pretty much zero effort. And even though we thought it would be a task and a half, she proved us wrong.

Zoha broke down the nutritional value of each recipe to help keep track of our calorie intake and we're sold! (These recipes serve one, feel free to adjust them according to the serving size, but be mindful that the nutritional value will change accordingly).

P.S. You can even serve these to your children, they'll love them.

Here are five recipes straight from the nutritionist's kitchen.

1. Watermelon Berry Smoothie

How delicious does this smoothie look?
How delicious does this smoothie look?

Calories: 263 Carbohydrates: 61g Fat: 3g Protein: 16g

Berries are great in smoothies. They're packed with antioxidants, are high in fiber and low in sugar. The best part is, berries can be frozen and used all year long! This watermelon berry smoothie is the perfect thirst-quenching drink for the hot summer months.

Ingredients

1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt

2 cups watermelon chopped

1 cup frozen strawberries or raspberries

1 tsp honey

Directions

Add ingredients to a blender and enjoy!

2. Peanut Butter and Apple Combo

Look at all that crunch.
Look at all that crunch.

Calories: 322 Carbohydrates: 38g Fat: 18g Protein: 9g

This delicious snack is the perfect combination of sweet, salty and crunchy and peanut butter is a great way to get your daily dose of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Choose all-natural peanut butter if possible.

Ingredients

1 apple

2 tbsp peanut butter

2 tbsp Granola

Directions

Core the apple and slice into 1 inch discs. Spread some peanut butter on one side and sprinkle granola pieces on top. The granola will stick easily to the peanut butter.

3. Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Now we're talking!
Now we're talking!

Calories: 352 Carbohydrates: 26g Fat: 27g Protein: 2g

Sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A and dietary fiber. Baking these sweet potato fries in the oven instead of deep frying reduces the caloric count of this snack by at least 300 calories.

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato

2 tbsp Olive oil

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp pepper

Directions

Cut sweet potatoes into rectangular strips. Place them on a baking tray and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle garlic salt and pepper on top. Place the tray into the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes. Serve with ketchup or dip of choice.

4. Avocado Pomegranate Toast

If only it were pomegranate season all year round.
If only it were pomegranate season all year round.

Calories: 392 Carbohydrates: 55g Fat: 17g Protein: 9g

Avocados are creamy in texture and spread easily on toast. Not to mention, they're packed with healthy omega-3 fats!

Ingredients

1 avocado

2 slices multigrain bread

1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (1/4 for each slice)

1/2 tbsp cilantro

Directions

Peel off the avocado skin, remove the seed. Place the avocado in a bowl and mash it with the back of a fork. Spread evenly onto bread and sprinkle pomegranate seeds onto each slice. Garnish with cilantro.

5. Banana Oat Smoothie

We would like that with some coconut shavings too, please.
We would like that with some coconut shavings too, please.

Calories: 383 Carbohydrates: 82g Fat: 6g Protein: 20g

383 calories 82g carbohydrates 6g fat 20g protein

Oats are packed with soluble fiber which helps regulate your bowel movements and keeps your digestive tract healthy. If you're not a fan of traditional oatmeal, try this smoothie to incorporate oats into your diet.

Ingredients

1 frozen banana

1/2 cup uncooked oats

1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt

2 tsp honey

Directions

Blend ingredients in a blender. Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top and serve cold.


For more healthy recipes you can follow Zoha Matin on Instagram, or check out her blog.

Comments

Arif Abrar Jun 01, 2018 02:16pm
You've used orange sweet potatoes in your visual - that's not our local shakar qandi. Do you have any idea what this one costs? I don't think there's any point in listing items which aren't available, or are available at a ridiculously ridiculous cost.
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Jo Jun 01, 2018 04:14pm
@Arif Abrar the point is to use sweet potato. The colour is irrelevant
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UA Jun 01, 2018 04:18pm
Swap low-fat for regular yogurt, which has less sugar.
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Zoha matin Jun 01, 2018 07:53pm
@Arif Abrar You can use regular local sweet potatoes! The calorie and macronutrient counts are the same :)
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Zala Jun 01, 2018 08:31pm
Uncooked oats are bad for your digestive system
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Alba Jun 01, 2018 08:50pm
French fried potatoes do not help a person lose weight. They are high in carbohydrates and fried in oil.
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JA-Australia Jun 01, 2018 11:03pm
@UA Low fat or no fat dairy alternatives are much worse for you than full cream. That's because the fat which is removed is replaced by other additives which are more harmful in other ways for you than real fat. Fat is good. In moderation, it fills you up so you eat less overall, and it is essential for proper functioning of the body. Btw, I like the smashes avo, pomegranate toast. Looks easy peasy and delicious!
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S.A.Khan Jun 03, 2018 01:21pm
I have not seen Avacodo in the Vegitable markets in Pakistan. Have I missed it Pakistan markets
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Uzair May 17, 2019 11:29am
So basically mostly imported items rights?
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Ali May 17, 2019 04:48pm
Do you know 80% of Pakistani population can’t afford the exotic ingredients of these recipes. They look good only in films and dramas.
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Amjad Durrani Engineer USA May 17, 2019 06:21pm
@Uzair well said. Though the suggest food are a sensible alternative to high carb food but it virtually remains a dream for majority of population comprising of poor and low income group, who are living hand to mouth under the prevailing difficult times.
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Dr Nawaal Hameed May 18, 2019 08:04pm
Looks Delish!
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Dr Nawaal Hameed May 18, 2019 08:04pm
Looks delicious, especially the watermelon smoothie
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