What started as a way to support and nourish my son has expanded into something more.

He came home one day and declared that he would be fasting.

I know its hard, Mamma, but Isa does it, so Ill have a buddy at school.

Family having Turkish dinner. Flat-lay of hands serving and eating with lamb in yogurt sauce, fresh arugula and strawberry salad, rice pilaf and flatbread.

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But my son insisted, No, Mamma, I want to do the whole thing every Friday.

With Evrens first fast approaching, my husband, Zain, and I decided to split the responsibilities.

Zain settled on oatmeal with nuts and roasted fruit, a nourishing option to provide steady energy.

Fruit salad in a white bowl, showing banana slices, chopped apple, pomegranate arils, diced mango, and orange segments.

Simply Recipes / Shayma Saadat

I wanted the iftar meal to feel meaningful for Evren’s first fast.

Simply Recipes / Shayma Saadat

Growing up, iftar meals in my home were intentionally simple.

These meals have everything I want for my family in one dish: carbs, protein, and vegetables.

Chicken biryani on a large, white porcelain serving platter. The rice dish is garnished with lemon slices, pomegranate arils, cashews, and mint and cilantro leaves.

Simply Recipes / Shayma Saadat

The same goes for the iftar snacks.

Instead of deep-frying (typical for pakoras), I am turning to the air fryer this Ramadan.

But of course, iftar is about more than just foodits also about community.

Family portrait of the author, her son, and her husband sitting on a bright yellow sofa

Simply Recipes / Shayma Saadat

What started as a way to support and nourish my son has naturally expanded into something more.