The holy month of Ramadan is here and the Muslims have started month-long fasting. It is essential to take healthy foods and drinks at sehri, or sahur, as it is the meal that stores energy for long hours and helps continue the fast. Therefore, it is recommended to consume the right foods at Sehri to get the required nutrients for the body. Let’s take a look at 7 nutrient-rich sehri meal recipes for a healthy start to one’s Ramadan fasting.  7 Nutritous Seheri Meal Recipes for Ramadan Fasting Fruit Cube Salad Recipe Fruit cube salad is only eye-catching to look at but it is delicious, healthy and a creative recipe also.  Ingredients ½ kg watermelon, 2 large bananas, 1 pineapple, 1 large apple, ¼ cup marshmallow For garnishing mint leaves, crushed nuts, sesame seeds, and cinnamon InstructionsFirst, wash the fruits, peel them off, and cut them into cubes. Make sure you use a sharp knife for the fruits. Marshmallows will add a soft texture (sweetness) to the finished cube. The cubes will be around 2.5cm each. This step is a little bit tricky but cutting well-shaped cubes is what makes the whole cube work well. Make one row consisting of three alternating cubes so that no adjacent cubes are the same fruit and the base will have four sides of three cubes on each side. To complete the cube, make two more layers (same). Top with a mint leaf, crushed nuts, sesame seeds, and cinnamon. Enjoy the amazing fruit cube salad.  Read More: Cozy Rainy Day Recipes To Warm You Up Chicken Kebab Recipe Ingredients 300 gms chicken mince, 50 gms onion, 50 gms tomatoes, 30 gms coriander leaves, 50 gms green capsicum, 20 gms green chilli, 5 gms salt, 20 ml oil, 20 gms cashew, 20 gms almonds, 10 gms mint, 5 gms red chilli powder, five gms masala powder, 5 gms ginger garlic paste, 3 gms cumin powder, 10 ml lemon juice, 10 ml fresh cream, 5 ml kewra water InstructionsFirst, take a blender and put mince chicken, onion, salt, red chilli powder, garam masala, ginger garlic paste, cumin powder, lemon juice, coriander leaves, mint leaves, green chilies, fresh cream, kewra water, cashew, and almonds and blend nicely. Put the mince mix on wooden skewers. Now chopped onion, capsicum, and coriander leaves on a plate. Enclose these chopped vegetables around the kebabs and bake them in the oven at 180 degrees for eight to ten minutes. Your Chicken Kebab is ready.  Read More: Ramadan Fasting with Diabetes: Best foods for Sehri and Iftar Oats Kheer Recipe Kheer is the most admired dessert and oats are one of the most chosen and popular ones to prepare healthy kheer.  Ingredients1 cup oats, half litre milk, sugar (optional), 6 dates, 7 almonds, 3 cardamoms, one banana, 7 raisins, 1 cup mixed fruits (optional) InstructionsFirst, cook oats for about 5 minutes. Next, take a pan and put milk, sugar, cardamom, dates, almonds and raisins and let the mixture boil for about 5 to 6 minutes. Now mix oats and cook them boil as long as it becomes thick. Add mixed fruits when the kheer is ready to enjoy.  Read More: Healthy Sehri Ideas: What to eat and avoid for Sehri during Ramadan

Muslims in Bangladesh will start observing the holy month of Ramadan, the lunar month of self-purification through fasting and abstinence, from Sunday as the new crescent moon was sighted on Saturday. Lailatul Qadr, the night of divine blessings and benediction, will be observed on the night of April 28. The National Moon Sighting Committee took the decision at a meeting held at Islamic Foundation's Baitul Mukarram office. State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan chaired the meeting. Muslims are meant to fast from dawn to dusk during the lunar month, a time of restraint and austerity. The government has rearranged the office timing for the holy month of Ramadan from 9 am to 3:30 pm for all government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions. Besides, as classes were hampered for the Covid-19 pandemic, secondary and higher secondary institutions have been requested to continue in-person classes till April 26 to make up the academic losses. Also read: Healthy Sehri Ideas: What to eat and avoid for Sehri during Ramadan Meanwhile, residents of as many as 40 villages in Chandpur district began the holy fasting month of Ramadan Saturday, in accordance with Saudi Arabia. The villagers across the upazilas of Faridganj, Matlab North, Kachua and Shahrasti offered their Tarabi prayers last night and began their dawn-to-sunset fast after having ‘Sehri’ before sunrise.  They have been celebrating all religious festivals like Eid and Ramadan on the lines of Saudi Arabia, home to the world's most holy Muslim sites, since 1928 Maulana Zakaria Chowdhury, in charge of Hajiganj Sadar Darbar Sharif in Chandpur. Also read: Govt to sell milk, egg, meat at subsidised rates in city during Ramadan: Ministry

The holy month of Ramadan has brought a feeling of peace and festivity itself. The fasts, also known as Rozas, start with Sehri or Suhoor in the morning before sunrise. Sehri meal should be nutritious to get strength and energy until it is Iftar time. So, it is important to know which foods are healthy for Sehri. To protect health during Ramadan, you should also stay aware of the foods to avoid in Sehri. Continue scrolling to have a list of foods that you should and should not have for Sehri.  What to Eat in Sehri for Ramadan Fasting It is natural that before a day long fast you may want to treat yourself with delicious foods. But make sure you take healthy food minimising the fatty and sugary foods and sugary drinks to a small amount. During Ramadan, you don't get enough time each day to eat and drink to provide your body with all the important nutrients and fluids it needs to be healthy. So, it is important to ensure the quality and quantity of your diet during Ramadan. If you want to maintain your energy level till the time of Iftar, the following five healthy foods are a must for you to take for Sehri.  Banana From one medium ripe banana, you will get about 110 calories, 0 gram fat, 1 gram protein, 28 grams carbohydrate, 15 grams sugar (naturally occurring), 3 grams fibre, and 450 mg potassium. It is a source of vitamin C.  Read Ready for Ramadan? How to Prepare Your Body for Fasting? In bananas, manganese is available which is good for your skin. It is good for your heart health and blood pressure because of having potassium. Bananas have excellent power to aid digestion and help beat gastrointestinal issues. Bananas give you energy – minus the fats and cholesterol.  So, it is seen that bananas have huge food value and health benefits. However, if you don’t feel like taking this fruit, you could make a quick protein smoothie with banana and other essential ingredients including peanut butter, yoghourt, milk, and cocoa powder.  Milk and honey Both honey and milk are an essential combination of nutrients. Honey is great for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, while milk is an excellent source of protein, calcium, and lactic acid.  Read Savory Lassi: 7 Easy Recipes to Try at Home Actually, they are nature's most sacred treasures. These two powerful ingredients offer assorted promising health benefits. They may improve sleep quality, enhance bone strength, and promote heart health. So, make sure you take this pack of milk and honey to maintain your energy level till you break your fast.  Oats Oats have 51 grams of carbs, 13 grams of protein, 5 grams of fat, and 8 grams of fibre, but only 303 calories. Therefore, try to add this nutrient-dense food in your Sehri. Oats are not only rich in carbs and fibre but also higher in protein and fat than any other grains. Besides, oats are rich in antioxidants and contain a powerful soluble fibre.  Oats are really great to lower your cholesterol levels and improve blood sugar control. So, they help you stay full longer with energy and strength. Moreover, they are great to maintain digestive health. Furthermore, oats enhance the immune response to diseases. So, make sure you take oats regularly during Ramadan.  Read 7 Yummy Coffee Recipes to Try at Home without Coffee Maker Eggs You will get 75 calories, 7 grams of high-quality protein, 5 grams of fat, and 1.6 grams of saturated fat, along with iron, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids just by only taking one egg. It is called a powerhouse of disease-fighting nutrients such as lutein and zeaxanthin.  Actually, eggs are highly nutritious and supply almost every nutrient you need. Besides, eggs are rich in several nutrients that promote heart health, like betaine and choline. Eggs are a great source of choline. They are essential to eye health also. Most importantly, eggs may support your weight management. Taking at least one egg in Sehri will keep you going all day long.  Lentils Lentils are a great source of plant-based protein and fibre, an excellent root of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc.  Read Delicious Watermelon Ice Cream and Cake Recipes to Try at Home Highly nutritious- Calories: 230, Carbs: 39.9 grams, Protein: 17.9 grams, Fat: 0.8 grams, Fibre: 15.6 grams, Thiamine: 28% of the DV, Niacin: 13% of the DV, Vitamin B6: 21% of the DV.  As lentils are rich in fibre, folate, and potassium, they can be your great choice for the heart and for managing blood pressure and cholesterol. They are also a source of maintaining a steady heartbeat because of having iron and vitamin B1. So, why can't you take lentils in Sehri?  Other Healthy Food Ideas for Sehri (Suhoor) Besides, you need to eat fruits and vegetables rich in potassium like spinach, broccoli, cantaloupes, peas, mushrooms, etc. These fruits and vegetables help you to increase your pain endurance. They are also great to minimise cramps and increase electrolyte balance in the body.  Read Cooking Without Oil: How and Why? Next, make sure you take fruits and vegetables rich in protein such as chicken, paneer, nuts, dates, nut-butter, legumes, etc. to strengthen immunity.  Moreover, fruits and vegetables with high fibre content like peaches, apples, kidney beans, chickpeas, quinoa, etc. are essential for you to keep your digestive system healthy and your body cool for the whole day.  Furthermore, don’t forget to take drinks like water, milk, fruit juices, soup, or smoothies to get rid of Dehydration. Drinking enough water is essential also.  Read 10 Grocery Shopping Apps in Bangladesh: An Overview Which Foods to Avoid in Sehri (Suhoor) Caffeinated drinks If you take caffeinated drinks, they will increase the risk of obesity and can also trigger acidity in your body. Caffeine is something that doesn’t help in hydration and keeps you longing for water all day long. It can also trigger insomnia. So, you must avoid cold drinks, tea, and coffee. You can take them for a reasonable amount.  Spicy, fried foods From spicy, fried foods you will get nothing, just your acidity will grow. So, make sure you avoid samosas, bread rolls, and even sweet and fried dishes such as Gulab Jamun. Read Culinary Schools in Dhaka for Basic Cooking to Professional Chef Courses Salty food Salty foods make you thirsty while fasting. They hold onto water in your body and cause water retention. So, avoid nuts, chips, pickles, and foods that contain soya sauce. Bottom Line So far we have discussed healthy meal ideas for Suhoor or Sehri. We have also mentioned which foods and drinks are not recommended for Sehri during ramadan. You can choose the nutritious foods and drinks for Sehri as per your taste and health condition. If you have any medical condition contact your doctor and dietitian to prepare a healthy food chart for Ramadan. By choosing good foods for your Serhi, you can spend your whole Ramadan smoothly. Read Yummy Milkshake Ideas, Recipes to Try at Home

The government has asked the Muslim devotees not to arrange iftar gatherings and sehri in mosques during Ramadan to contain the recent surge in Covid-19 infections. The religious affairs ministry on Monday issued new directives in this connection. The guidelines also include instructions on praying in congregations at mosques. "The devotees must come to mosques after performing their ablution and Sunnah prayers at home. If they do not do so, they must wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds while performing ablution at mosques," it read. Also read: Govt reschedules office timing for Ramadan The ministry said the worshippers, who visit mosques to pray in congregation, must arrive there wearing masks. Mosque management committees must ensure the availability of handwashing facilities – sanitisers and soap water – at the entrance. They have also been asked not to use carpets and clean the mosques with disinfectants before the five daily prayers. "The devotees must bring their prayer mats. Social distancing must be ensured while they stand for prayers" the ministry said. "Children, elderly, sick people and attendants to the ill must not attend congregations." Also read: Wear masks at mosques: Islamic Foundation Also, the ministry asked local administration, law enforcement, khatib, imam and mosque committees to ensure the implementation of the said directives. Local administration and law enforcement will take legal steps if anyone violates the instructions, the ministry said. In the wake of Covid-19 infections and fatalities, the government imposed a seven-day lockdown from Monday. Also read: Public transport to be suspended from Monday: Quader Most of the transport services would remain suspended while the office work would continue on a limited scale. On March 28, the Saudi government announced that there would be no iftar gatherings or Aitekaf at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah during Ramadan.