Tips for Healthy Fasting on Yom Kippur

The Ministry of Health has published the following tips for fasting on Yom Kippur:

On the day preceding Yom Kippur: it is recommended to eat several light meals and to drink plentiful amounts of water. It is recommended to restrict consumption of beverages that contain caffeine, such as tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks.

Seuda Mafseket (The meal immediately before the beginning of the fast)

• This meal should preferably contain vegetable salad, cooked vegetables, a serving of protein such as chicken/meat, and a starch side dish (such as potatoes, rice and pasta – preferable whole grain). For dessert, it is possible to eat fruit or a slice of cake (an easy-to-prepare recommended recipe appears later).
• Make sure to drink plentiful amounts of water before and after the meal, and not to drink beverages containing caffeine.
• In order to avoid a sensation of thirst during Yom Kippur: it is very important that consumption of salt and salt-rich foods be kept low! It is desirable to restrict the seasoning of cooked dishes and salads with salt, soup powder and sauces, and to avoid serving pickles and salt-rich sauces at the meal.

The meal after breaking the fast

• Immediately at the end of the fast, it is recommended to "break" the fast with a cup of water, a small date or other fruit, and clear vegetable soup.
• Approximately half an hour later, a light meal can be eaten, containing vegetable salad, cooked vegetable, bread made from whole grain wheat and cheese with a fat content of up to 5%, or a light meat meal with lean meat.
• It is recommended to resume eating gradually and moderately.

‍

These recommendations were originally published on the Ministry of Health website. Click here to view the original page.

גמר חתימה טובה!