ideally, i like to fast three days a week, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays…

fasting is an ancient practice, and has origins that can be traced in nearly all of the major religions, especially those in the far and near east.

used in lieu or in tandem with traditional therapeutic means, fasting is meant to cleanse and rid the body of toxins; there is, too, a spiritual dimension of fasting that is also healing. as a writer and someone with ADHD, i fast intermittently to improve my focus during writing hours.

my intermittent fasting regimen consists of an espresso and water in the morning, followed by a date milk for lunch; in the late evening, i eat something light like a yassa poisson bowl¹.

i first started fasting out of sheer curiosity and in observance of Ramadan in 2021. the first three days were the most difficult, but, by the end of the first week, my body adjusted to the new eating times and i felt incredibly light; during work hours, i also noticed that my focus and mental acumen improved.

by the end of the month, i lost 5 lbs and, as a result of removing processed foods and starchy carbohydrates from my diet, my stomach shrank, meaning i became fuller from consuming smaller meals.

i settled upon date milk as my fasting drink of choice upon learning that dairy keeps the body satiated for longer periods of time, curbing food cravings, and, according to Sufi tradition, can augment focus; dates provide energy to sustain the body throughout the fast.

my date milk recipe is sweet and is reminiscent of a spiced vanilla drink of sorts. as always, the recipe is simple: 1 cup of whole fat milk, three whole dates chopped and 1 tsp of cinnamon blended. i opt for cinnamon because it is a heating spice and speeds up the metabolism.

i typically have the date milk during fasting days, but it can also be enjoyed as a sweet treat after or during mealtimes.

anyways, i hope this helps you in your eating journey.

love & madness,

1. yassa poisson bowl: a senegalese-inspired dish consisting of grilled fish, sweated onions, rice and zucchini. ↩︎