Celebrating Ramadan With Wesley's

One of the rare holidays that actually does come sooner every year is Ramadan. A holy season of fasting for observant Muslims around the world, the month of Ramadan encourages prayer, fasting, charitable activities, and religious devotion. But perhaps the most challenging of the four pillars is abstaining from food and drink from dawn to dusk – sawm as it is called in Arabic.

So how does a fasting Muslim go about nourishing and hydrating during the warm month of June? And who’s got your back, as you make numerous grocery runs for healthy, wholesome sustenance? Naturally, Wesley’s.

Here are some ideas to make meal prep more varied, enjoyable, and balanced with some of your favorite imported products from Amreeka and Europa.

Don't forget to pick up a copy in-store of American Cart for June promotions at Wesley's

If you’re planning an iftar, which literally means breakfast, aim to restore your body’s water levels with soup. Pacific Foods' boxed varieties come in flavors as enticing as Organic Vegetable Lentil & Roasted Red Pepper, Hearty Tomato Bisque, and Cashew Carrot Ginger. And, what do you know, the entire brand is on 20% discount during the month of June!

Pacific Foods soup varieties (Photo source: https://instagram.com/pacificfoods)

Post-soup, it’s wise to opt for fibrous foods to stay regular. Verrigni pastas, hailing from Abruzzo, Italy, are the only ones in the world to use gold in the cutting and shaping of their final product. The resultant porosity and greater crispness translate to an intensely raw look when uncooked, yielding to a smoother texture and intense wheat flavor upon sufficient boiling. Try tints as novel as Squid Ink, Basil, Lemon and Hot Pepper, and guess what – the entire product line is 20% off!

Verrigni pasta discounted by 20% during the month of June!

You’ve also got your choice of Monograno Felicetti in the pasta department. These artisan pastas draw on ancient grains like “matt”, or a durum wheat varietal grown in southern Italy and renowned for its high protein and gluten content. If you’re keeping up with health trends, you’ll no doubt have heard of “kamut,” a high-energy, organic wheat that confers 40% more protein than traditional wheat as well as a more generous helping of vitamin E and antioxidants. The difference in Monograno’s organic pastas is palpable, and it’ll likely be the first time you enjoy pasta without the guilt!

Kamut flour tagliatelle pasta (Photo source: http://www.monogranofelicetti.it)

If you’re looking for a comfort food fix that will transport you back to your dorm days and forays with frozen pizza, you’ve got to try Kirkland Signature cheese pizzas. You can actually nab a 4-pack, just as they sell them at Costco in the US! Featuring a breadcrumb crust with more cheese than any pizzeria will afford you, these pies are sheer gluttonous beauty.

Kirkland Signature Frozen Cheese Pizzas

While we’re on the topic of dorm nostalgia and indulging, I can’t think of a sweeter ending to an iftar than Ben & Jerry’s ice cream pints with their whimsical flavors. I’ve always been a classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough kind of gal, but for the more adventurous, there’s The Tonight Dough, boasting caramel and chocolate ice creams with chocolate cookie swirls and gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough with peanut butter cookie dough. How they managed to fit all that decadence into one pint is beyond me, but why question a good thing?

Ben & Jerry's pint-sized ice cream

There are other ice cream options, like Good Humor chocolate chip cookie sandwiches, Nestle’s Drumstick cones dipped in chocolate ganache and finished with crushed peanuts, Klondike Oreo sammies, Butterfinger bars, and Dove on a stick.

Let’s rein in things in time for suhoor, the meal that precedes dawn and resets the fasting period. Objectively speaking, at suhoor, it’s important to stock up on foods that release energy through the day, goodies like oatmeal, protein smoothies, nut butters, and wholegrain toast.

I recommend Califia Farms’ unsweetened almond milk, which is gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free and packs in 50% more calcium than milk. For a hit of caffeine, Califia offers cold brew coffee with almond milk, which will get your morning revving.

Califia Farms' Almond Milk

Califia Farms' Cold Brew Coffee varieties

While we’re hailing the praises of almonds, how about a pit stop at the almond butter shelf, where MaraNatha’s sweet, mellow, heart-healthy California-produced spreads fuse nutrition and taste? On special at Wesley’s, nab a jar or two of these revelations, whose company name incidentally translates to “the Lord is coming!” in Aramaic.

You’ll want to smear these butters on 100% all-natural bagels by Just Bagels made in “da Bronx.” Plain, poppy, Asiago, multigrain, onion, and other savors can be found in the frozen aisle at Wesley’s. Don’t forget a smattering of chia seeds for added measure!

Just Bagels from 'da Bronx, New York

If you’re more a bowl person in the morning (as I am!), you’ll be game for McCann’s Steel-Cut Irish oatmeal, which emanates from the lush green farmland of the Emerald Isle. Nothing like a traditional, hearty bowl of oats to set you straight at the start of the day!

And because presentation is everything, why not invest in a nice collection of ceramic bowls from Italy? They’d also complement the pasta wondrously, not to mention Ben & Jerry’s scooped marvels doused in chocolate fudge and whipped cream.

Ceramic bowl ware from Italy

But I digress. And you’re probably reading this mid-fast, cursing my name for the images I’ve inspired in your head. I apologize wholeheartedly. You must know my intentions are noble, and that I only wish to enrich your Ramadan mealtimes with these humble suggestions.

So if we cross paths at Wesley’s, please spare me any scowls or dirty looks. Instead, send a few prayers my way. Tis the season, after all!




Wesley's Wholesale
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Blvd. Camille Chamoun
Antoun Gharios Center
01-289 555

Jnah
01-834 411

Jal el Dib
04-714 094

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Beirutista is Brand Ambassador at Wesley's Wholesale. What exactly does that mean? Well, if you liked this post, you can look forward to similar ones every month or so. I'll be blogging about a variety of exciting new projects Wesley's has underway, in addition to sneak peeks and product leaks! Expect cool new product giveaways from time to time, and if you're a real Wesley's obsessive like I am, I'll gladly hook you up with 10% off your next visit. Just shoot me a message at any one of my contact coordinates here.