Assalamu Alaikum

This year, the start of Ramadan almost coincides with the start of summer. Ramadan Mubarak

The long, warm days make fasting more challenging and more rewarding. In “Fasting and Furious,” we share how athletes maintain their fast during training and provide valuable diet and routine tips to motivate you to get off the couch and keep active.

In “Breakfast at Dinner,” you will find how this trend is spreading as diners find pancakes and eggs a nice diversion from steak and potatoes in the evening. You may choose breakfast at suhoor (pre-dawn meal) time but you might consider it to break the fast in the evening. A lighter meal may help you concentrate better during taraweeh prayers (nightly prayers).

“Culinary Kids” offers up some ideas of how children can help out in the kitchen. This can also keep them busy and take their minds off their hunger. If kids are helping in the kitchen, be sure they are adequately supervised; the kitchen can be a dangerous place.

In “Cooling Cucumbers,” we learn they are a good source of hydration as well as vitamins and minerals. They also have a cooling effect, balancing out the heating effect of dates. There are also quite the variety available. Who knew there were burpless cucumbers?

We’ve all seen lecithin in the ingredient list of so many products. In “The Skinny on Lecithin,” you will learn where lecithin comes from and why it is used in so many food products.

You will also find a short summary of our 17th International Halal Food Conference. The three-day conference brought together industry leaders and government regulators to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the global halal food trade. Conference-goers shared many compliments with us as they left enriched with knowledge that will help them serve halal consumers better.

As usual, the issue also includes some delicious recipes. Give them a try and let us know how they turn out. Stay in touch and enjoy!

Sincerely,

Roger M. Othman, managing editor