Seudat Mafseket: Final Meal before the Fast
Plan Ahead: Make sure to schedule the meal well in advance of sunset to avoid a rush to finish. Eating too quickly can lead to overeating as it takes the average person's body twenty minutes to recognize that they are full.
Avoid Salt: Use as little salt as possible during the final meal, salty foods will worsen the effects of dehydration during the fast.
Drink Water, Not Coffee, Soda or Alcohol: Drink lots of water, juice or even sports drinks at the final meal. Avoid beverages with caffeine (soda, coffee, tea) and alcohol, as these will worsen dehydration significantly if consumed right before the fast.
Focus on Complex Carbohydrates: (See Part 1 of this article for more in-depth info.) You want to eat primarily whole grain breads, pastas, rice, fruits, vegetables or beans. Incidentally these types of foods are also the least likely to be over-salted. Go easy on or skip entirely the proteins (meat, fish, poultry), fatty foods (dairy, cheese), and sweets (sugar, candy, honey).
Don't Overeat: Eat a normal to slightly larger than normal meal containing primarily complex carbohydrates (see above). The goal is to feel full, not stuffed to bursting. Gorging yourself will make you uncomfortable after the meal, contribute to dehydration as your body uses water to process the food, and won't make a big energy difference during the fast. Eating too much too quickly can also lead to crashing blood sugar and difficult hunger pangs a few hours after the meal. Your body will try to absorb all the extra nutrients quickly and will overcompensate, leading to a blood sugar crash. A normal meal will make you feel comfortably full for the night and will keep your bodies equilibrium as the fast begins.
Brush Up: Leave time at the end of the meal for a final glass of juice or water and for brushing your teeth to minimize the bad breath/stale mouth fast side effects.
Take It Easy: Conserve your energy before, during and after the final meal and throughout the fast. Move slowly while performing any physical task and make sure everyone helps with the cleanup after the meal.
