“What I know is that super foods are considered better than other foods. I don’t know all the super foods, but to my knowledge, kale, broccoli spinach, and blueberries are high in nutrients. I try to strike a balance when planning meals. They will contain carbs, protein, fibre and of course vitamins. We love to eat kale, broccoli, spinach and green beans. There is always a side dish accompanying our steak which would include mashed potatoes and anything with fibre. I like to steam broccoli, carrot and beans and eat it with my carbs. It’s important to consume something that cleanses the body.”
Sanya Z, 35, Eastern Europe
“I’m not familiar with the term super foods. Usually, I try to include nutrient-rich foods five times a week in my meal planning. Some of my favourites include: salmon, quinoa, different kinds of vegetables, gluten-free cereal, low- fat yogurt and fresh fruit juices. I don’t think we can classify which vegetable or fruit is better than the other because it depends on the person and what the person needs or prefers. People who have low iron in the body need to have certain vegetables that are rich in iron. So, I don’t believe there should be a list. Nuts cannot be a super food for people who have allergy and the same with other foods.”
“I know that super foods are foods that are high in antioxidants and keep you away from cancer or other diseases. All kinds of berries are popular super foods as are avocado and nuts. I try to have a wide range of foods as part of my family’s diet. Berries are always used in smoothies for breakfast. Oats, banana, nuts soaked overnight and eaten the next day, avocado at least thrice a week as guacamole or sliced in sandwiches... I would say dark chocolate, nuts and berries are my favourite super foods.”
“I ate many super foods to lose weight about three years ago. Since then, I have made sure to include foods that pack nutrients. For instance, my husband and I eat avocadoes every day, and also yoghurt, eggs and lentils. I eat dark chocolate for a treat. We also enjoy quinoa, use garlic for cooking, and plenty of nuts like almond in our dishes. Fruits like pomegranate and apples are also part of our Iftar.
A few super foods I have never eaten are acai, goji berries, kale and grapefruit.
“We try to keep our food healthy in Ramadan, and not go overboard with the eating. So super foods, even less commonly eaten ones like chia seeds and flax, are quite common in our meals. We also have a lot of fruits in Ramadan, including all kinds of berries, apples and avocadoes. Lentil soup is always part of iftar, and I use coconut oil to cook with. We also include yoghurt in our meals, and garlic. Though, I don’t fancy grapefruit, and haven’t tried goji berries.
“We regularly include many ‘super foods’ in our Ramadan diet, especially as I am trying to encourage healthy eating habits in my three-year-old.
Lately, I’ve started including quinoa in salads. We also have avocados and other greens. I’m trying to incorporate coconut oil in my cooking.
Salmon and lentils are also a part of our meal plans, and we snack on almonds and fruits, including apple. And lemons are a staple in Egyptian cuisine.”
