Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, starts on March 22 this year and continues until the evening of April 21. It’s a time of restraint and self-reflection for Muslims, and according to Dua Aldasouqi, a registered dietitian and nutritionist who observes Ramadan, it’s a wonderful time to focus on everything you have, give thanks for your community, and bond with your loved ones.
“Muslims take a deep dive into their faith during this month,” says Aldasouqi. “Outside of fasting, which is an act of worship, we dedicate time to reading the Quran, charity, community, volunteering—anything that is for the good of the public.” Ramadan is also a period of fasting during which Muslims typically eat only two meals a day and abstain from drinking water from dawn until dusk. Iftar is the meal to break the fast at sundown, while suhoor is the pre-dawn meal before the fast begins.