21/03/2026

LYFE SATURDAY | MAR 21, 2026

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Healthy methods to enjoy Hari Raya after full month of fasting

TASTY RECIPE

HA R I Raya Aidilfitri is the most anticipated festivity for Muslims after a full month of fasting during Ramadan. Finally, they can enjoy delicious meals with family, friends and relatives, sharing food and other joys. This change in time can be seen as a shift from the “fasting” phase, a time for introspection, spirituality and self-control, to the “feasting” phase, a time for sharing, gratitude and celebrating the success of fasting. However, this transition from fasting to feasting can be challenging for our health. After a month of fasting, our digestive system may not be ready to accept heavy, fatty and sugary foods. If not managed properly, this change can lead to health problems such as digestive disorders, diarrhoea and an increased risk of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension and heart disease. Why do we need to be careful? After ending the fast, many people quickly return to their old eating habits, sometimes even going to extremes – such as overeating, consuming high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar and high-salt foods that should be limited and neglecting physical activity. The Malaysian Dietitians’ Association has highlighted people gain about 0.37–1.89 kg during holiday seasons, a trend Malaysians are also likely to experience, especially during festive celebrations and drastic changes in diet and lifestyle can increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, overeating can lead to digestive problems and energy imbalances. Tips for managing a healthy lifestyle after entering the Eid al-Fitr period: 0 Start changing your diet slowly, do not overeat immediately. Make

sure you consume a balanced, healthy diet that includes vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein. Protein plays an important role in maintaining health after Eid, especially by repairing tissue, regulating appetite to reduce excessive food consumption and supporting muscle health to maintain body strength and flexibility. 0 Stay active: continue and increase the physical activity you do during fasting, such as morning and evening walks or light exercise. 0 Control your portion sizes. Do not overeat and stop when you feel full. When in doubt, follow the Malaysian Healthy Plate of “Quarter-Quarter-Half” as a guide for your meals. 0 Complete your consumption by staying hydrated with enough water. Do not forget to always maintain adequate sleep, manage stress and stay focused and concentrated. Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, antioxidant compounds in foods and proteins rich in the amino acid tryptophan are known to help maintain our mental health. One of the biggest challenges during Eid is avoiding the food offered by relatives, which is often high in fat and sugar. To avoid overeating, politely express you are trying to maintain your health or choose fruit when available. Eid is a time for forgiveness, gratitude and celebration, not a time for excess. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and enjoy Eid in a balanced way to reduce the risk of chronic disease. A healthy lifestyle can also help improve your quality of life and make you more productive. This article is contributed by Prof Dr Rimbawan, a member of Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board.

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Rendang Daging Ingredients 1kg beef (cut into chunks) 500ml coconut milk 3 tbsp chilli paste 2 stalks lemongrass (bruised) 1 turmeric leaf (optional) 4 shallots 4 cloves garlic

until fragrant. 3. Add beef and stir well to coat. 4. Pour in coconut milk and add lemongrass and turmeric leaf. 5. Simmer on low heat for one to two hours, stirring occasionally. 6. Continue cooking until gravy thickens and coats the meat. Adjust seasoning before serving.

1 inch galangal 1 inch ginger Salt and sugar to taste

Instructions 1. Blend shallots, garlic, galangal and ginger into a paste. 2. Heat a pot and cook blended paste with chilli paste

THIRST QUENCHERS

S tarbucks X Harry Potter’s Honeydukes B ursting B onbons S eries Starbucks partners with Warner Bros to bring a Harry Potter twist to its drinks across all coffee shops in Malaysia. Its Honeyduckes Bursting Bonbons Series features three new beverages – Iced Honeydukes Bursting Bonbons Latte, Honeydukes Bursting Bonbons Frozen Tea and Honeydukes Bursting Bonbons Frappuccino Blended Beverage. Each beverage comes with citrus-flavoured Honey Bergamot Flavored Bubble Bursts to accompany the different vanilla and caramel beverages. The collection will pre-launch on March 23 for Starbucks members and fully launch on March 24 for all customers.

Luckin Coffee × Fiziwoo’s Nikmat Dikongsi, Raya Dirai Luckin Coffee and Fiziwoo reunite to celebrate Malaysia’s festive season with the theme Nikmat Dikongsi, Raya Dirai , capturing the spirit of Hari Raya. The collaboration will introduce two specially-crafted beverages – Pistachio Latte, blending latte and pistachio with cashew nut flavours for a smooth, nutty finish and Dubai Chocolate Frappe that features a rich chocolate base blended with pistachio and cashew nut flavours. These flavours will be available until April 16 by Luckin Coffee and Fiziwoo’s batik-inspired design of the Malaysian Orchid, Bunga Raya.

N obo S oy’s S oy Milk From the makers of Oatside, Nobo Soy launches two new products to its market – Nobo Soy and Nobo Almond Soy. Among these two new introductions, Nobo Soy represents the original, smooth and lightly roasted classic soy milk, while Nobo Almond Soy features a similar soy base with the addition of dark roasted almond, giving its flavour a nutty twist. Through these new beverages, Nobo aims to fulfill its philosophy of delivering a clean, balanced taste while preserving all the natural protein properties. Nobo Soy is available in all major retailers and e-commerce plaforms in Malaysia – in 180ml and 1 litre formats.

The Coffee B ean & Tea Leaf’s Fes-table of B erkat With its year-long celebration of Fes-tables, the coffee chain brings two indulgent ice blended beverages – The Matcha Hazelnut Ice Blended and Chocolate Banoffee Ice Blended – to capture the nostalgia and comfort of the season. Within this menu, The Matcha Hazelnut Ice Blended features a creamy plant-based earthy matcha with the sweetness of dates and rich hazelnut notes, while The Chocolate Banoffee Ice Blended brings a non-coffee delight with caramelised banana notes and creamy chocolate in each sip. The festive menu will be available at all Malaysia cafés until April 28.