Fast-food chains starved for customers during Ramadan

stand by its main menu of roasted chicken and deep-fried shrimp.

Al-Tazaj jumps on the Ramadan bandwagon with a SR6 meal that includes dates, Laban, sambosa, soup, water, green salad and Arabic coffee.

Pizza Hut has a special Ramadan Box offer for SR89 that throws in sambosa with its regular pizza selections.

Restaurant operators, however, generally recognize that a fastfood meal defeats the purpose of iftar, which should be a light meal with perhaps something heavier later in the evening.

Maha Nasir makes it a point to avoid all fast-food establishments.

“My kids and I avoid fast-food during Ramadan as the meal because it will be full of fat and that is not good for our stomach. Iftar should be healthy. It can be grilled and contains salad or soup.”

For most families, Ramadan means home, family, fresh and home-cooked food.

Nora Al- Sabea, 29, and the mother of five, told Arab News that it is all about being at home.

“I don’t prefer iftar outside unless there is a family gathering,” she said.

But then, like every parent who is outnumbered by the children, they sometimes cave in to pressure.

“I prefer the food I cook myself. No way will there be fast-food unless the kids are insisting.”