Preparing a Ramadan table with our kids!

It’s a daunting idea right? But I know deep down we all want to do it!

Yes they are too young and most often too rebellious but also old enough to grasp everything we do just by watching us! They pretend not to hear us but they are always watching, observing, and Yes, listening too! 

As Ramadan is the time for being together and spending more time with our families while practicing kindness, it is also a great time and opportunity to get them involved in doing things together, like small cooking tasks and setting the table for instance.

About 6 months ago I started involving my toddler in doing grocery shopping with me, it started with him just watching at first and then stating to pick the things mommy would pick! 

So when I do start cooking at home he is very familiar with everything that we have purchased together and is more excited about creating dinner or Iftar using these items.

Our Iftar must be filled with fruits and vegetables, proteins, whole grains and healthy fats, which is all introduced to our kids by the time they blow out their first candle! After their first birthday they should happily be able to eat all kinds of food that’s served on the table, my only note on this would be to keep salt away until your child is 2 years old.

As for our house, I have a 3 year old who eats just about anything and 18 months old twins who at the moment eat like a dream! I know I’ll be going through ups and downs with them as I did with my 3 year old but I’ve learned that if I keep on serving variety of food to them, cut it age appropriately and let them feed themselves with my supervision, not much can go wrong, plus I’ve learned to make a Iftar board for them which they absolutely love feasting on!  Will get back to this in a moment! 

For Iftar, I would always prepare fresh cut fruits but I would always include an apple and an orange, and definitely some walnuts! As these 3 items contributes to most of the vitamins needed daily by our children’s body.

Walnuts are rich in fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, folate and vitamin E to name a few. Apples are rich in Iron, zinc and Vitamin C, oranges pack flavonoids, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties, so add these 3 in their daily food routine and you’re halfway there mama!

As for proteins, I think organic salmon is the best as it’s now a permanent superfood due to high levels of omega-3 fatty acids but best to serve only once a week to our kids, and for a vegan alternative tofu, banana blossom and jackfruit can be a good substitute for fish, and seaweed can be added for taste which again is rich in fatty acids and essential amino acids.

Add on your choice of quinoa, brown jasmine rice or organic pasta with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and you have a table filled with colors and most importantly all the vitamins and energy your body needs to gain back! 

Now, back to our kids Iftar board, as everything mentioned is absolutely safe to eat for everyone over 12 months old, we can add little bits of all the items on our board with the help of our toddler and leave it in the middle of the table so they can grab things as they feel they need more. Plus looking at variety of food might make them try something they weren’t accepting to do so before.

This is not only good in promoting feeding independence but in time you’ll see as they are enjoying this time spent around the table, you as parents are eating too, rather than constantly trying to feed your kids and not being able to eat yourself. Sounds familiar right? We’ve all been there.

If you are not ready to let your toddler help with the cooking part, you can still get them involved with setting the table, I have replaced all my china dinnerware with shatterproof and silicon dinnerware, so in case they drop the plates while helping or even eating, there will only be some mess to clean up rather than it being a dangerous table setting.

You will be surprised how much joy this brings them, to be included, to do things together, don’t you always find them lurking around in the kitchen anyway? 

Try it and let me how preparing the Iftar table together made beautiful new memories for you mama.

Preparing a Ramadan table with our kids!

About six months ago, I started involving my toddler in grocery shopping with me. It began with him just watching, then gradually picking the items that he knew Mommy would pick!

So, when I start cooking at home, he’s already familiar with the items we bought together and is more excited about creating dinner or Iftar using those ingredients.

Our Iftar is filled with fruits, vegetables, proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. These foods are introduced to our kids by the time they blow out their first birthday candle! After their first birthday, they should be able to eat a variety of foods, though I recommend keeping salt away until they’re two years old.

In our household, I have a 3-year-old who eats almost anything and 18-month-old twins who currently eat like a dream! I know there will be ups and downs, as there were with my older child, but I’ve learned that if I continue to offer a variety of foods, cut age-appropriately, and let them feed themselves under supervision, not much can go wrong. Plus, I’ve started making an Iftar board for them, which they absolutely love!

For Iftar, I always prepare fresh-cut fruits, but I make sure to include an apple, an orange, and some walnuts. These three items provide many essential vitamins that our children need daily.

Walnuts are rich in fiber, potassium, calcium, magnesium, folate, and vitamin E, to name a few. Apples are rich in iron, zinc, and vitamin C, while oranges contain flavonoids that have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. Including these three items in their daily diet is a great start, mama!

For protein, I recommend organic salmon, a superfood rich in omega-3 fatty acids, though it’s best served to kids only once a week. For a vegan alternative, tofu, banana blossom, or jackfruit can substitute fish, while seaweed adds flavor and is rich in fatty acids and essential amino acids.

Add quinoa, brown jasmine rice, or organic pasta with a side of creamy mashed potatoes, and you have a table filled with colors and all the vitamins and energy your body needs to recharge!

Now, back to our kids' Iftar board. As everything mentioned is safe for anyone over 12 months old, we can include small portions of all the items on the board. Let your toddler help, then place it in the middle of the table so they can grab what they want. This variety might even encourage them to try new foods they previously refused.

This approach not only promotes feeding independence but also allows you to enjoy your meal rather than spending the entire time feeding the kids. Sound familiar? We’ve all been there.

If you’re not ready for your toddler to help with cooking, involve them in setting the table. I’ve replaced our china with shatterproof and silicone dinnerware so that if they drop anything, it’s just a bit of mess rather than a dangerous situation.

You’d be surprised at how much joy they get from being included. They love doing things together—don’t you always find them lurking around the kitchen anyway?

Give it a try and let me know how preparing the Iftar table together created beautiful new memories for you, mama.