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Eat wisely during Idul Fitri
As the unhealthy habit of eating has become entrenched in every Idul Fitri tradition, experts warn people to avoid the urge to overeat.
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Opor ayam (chicken in coconut broth) is a dish commonly served during Idul Fitri (Shutterstock/File)
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dul Fitri is a highly anticipated occasion for Muslims. As soon as the full moon is sighted, which marks the end of Ramadhan, a celebratory atmosphere engulfs every city and country across the world where Muslims live. It is the most celebrated day of the Islamic calendar as it comes after the culmination of 30 days of fasting that lasts up to 14 hours in our country.
On the first day of Idul Fitri, people get together to enjoy what is possibly the most lavish and important meal of the year. The whole day revolves around feasting. The table will feature many kinds of dishes, snacks and beverages – mostly containing large amounts of sugar and fat. The underlying message, “After a month of abstinence, you deserve to indulge”. Can you imagine the zenith of feasting on these days? It is like people cannot get enough.
When one fasts for a month, the metabolic processes are switched to conserve energy. Long gaps between meals prompts the body to switch to storage mode and the balance between fat and lean body tissue is greatly disrupted. So soon, after when people eat and overeat, they are frightened by their increased appetite. It is very common to compensate fasting with overeating. However, it is important to remember that the body becomes accustomed to a prolonged period of fasting during Ramadhan and the transition from “fast” to “feast” can have adverse effects on one’s health.
Moreover, it is not only overeating during Idul Fitri that may endanger us, but also the kind of food we eat. Popular dishes often contain coconut milk, such as opor ayam (chicken in coconut broth), sambal goreng ati (spicy beef liver) and semur daging (stewed meat). Not to mention other harmful sweet snacks and beverages, such as pineapple cookies, kaastangel (cheese finger snacks) and syrup. The Karawaci Slaughterhouse expects to see a 400 percent increase in meat sales prior to Idul Fitri. According to retailer Carrefour Indonesia, demand for sweet snacks and syrup also increases 10 percent during this season.
