Ramadan is a time of reflection, family gatherings, and, of course, feasting after a long day of fasting. But in our fast-paced modern life, preparing Iftar and Sohour meals from scratch every day can be a challenge. Enter the rise of Ramadan meal kits and delivery services – a trend that blends tradition with the practicality of the digital age.
From homemade-style meals to gourmet Iftar feasts, these services offer pre-prepared or ready-to-cook dishes, allowing families to enjoy traditional flavours without the hassle of lengthy preparations.
Whether it’s a working mother trying to balance her career and family responsibilities, an elderly couple finding cooking physically demanding, or even a group of friends looking for convenience without compromising on quality, meal kits and deliveries are proving to be a game-changer this Ramadan.
For Sara Al-Mansouri, a 35-year-old marketing executive and the mother of three, Ramadan is both a cherished and demanding time of the year.
“I love cooking, and I love Ramadan, but let’s be honest – it’s exhausting. By the time I come home from work, I barely have an hour to prepare Iftar. In the past, I used to rely on quick fixes, but they never felt satisfying. Then I discovered meal kits,” she says.
“I’m unpacking now, while talking to you, a box filled with pre-measured ingredients for a traditional Egyptian molokhiya and grilled-chicken meal.”
Sara now subscribes to a Ramadan meal-kit service that provides ready-to-cook meals for the entire month. “It still feels like home-cooked food because I put it together myself. But instead of spending two hours chopping and measuring, I just follow simple instructions, and my family enjoys a proper, traditional meal,” she explains.
On the other side of the equation, Mariam Hassan, a passionate home cook in her early 40s, has turned her love of food into a thriving business. What started as a simple idea – preparing extra meals for friends during Ramadan – has now become a fully-fledged delivery service that serves hundreds of customers.
“Ramadan is about sharing, and that’s what inspired me,” says Hassan. “I started small, making extra servings for my friends who were too busy to cook. Soon, word spread, and I was getting orders from strangers. That’s when I realised there was a real demand.”
Hassan now offers a range of options, from fully cooked meals to prepped ingredients for customers who still want to cook but need a head start. “People appreciate the effort I put into maintaining authentic flavours. They tell me it reminds them of their mother’s cooking. That, to me, is the biggest compliment,” she adds with a smile.
Not everyone has a bustling household to cook for. Omar, a 27-year-old software engineer who lives alone, found himself struggling with meal planning during Ramadan.
“I’d either end up ordering fast food or cooking way too much and wasting half of it,” he admits. “Then, I found this service that delivers portioned Ramadan meals. It changed everything.”
Omar subscribes to a service that sends out daily Iftar boxes complete with soup, salad, a main dish, and dessert. “It’s affordable, and it saves me the guilt of wasting food. Plus, I get to eat traditional meals that I wouldn’t have made for myself otherwise.”
Abdallah Ashraf, the co-founder of a growing meal-kit startup, believes the trend is here to stay. His company has seen exponential growth over the past two years, catering to families, professionals, and even corporations ordering for their employees.
“People want to preserve traditions, but they also need solutions that fit their modern lifestyles,” he says. “We offer customisation – some prefer fully prepared meals, while others like to cook but want the convenience of pre-prepped ingredients. We cater to all of them.”
Abdallah believes that meal delivery is not about replacing home cooking but enhancing it. “It’s about providing an alternative that ensures people can still enjoy home-style meals without compromising their time or energy. Plus, we make sure our meals are nutritious and balanced, something you don’t always get with takeout.”
While younger generations are embracing this trend, how do their elders feel about it? Naeema Hassan, a 65-year-old grandmother, initially had reservations.
“At first, I thought, ‘why would anyone buy ready-made meals for Ramadan? It’s a time for family cooking and bonding!’ But then my daughter-in-law ordered a meal kit for me one day, and I was surprised,” she admits with a chuckle.
Instead of cooking everything from scratch, Naeema now uses a mix of her own recipes and meal-kit ingredients. “It actually helps me cook more often because I don’t have to worry about chopping vegetables or marinating meats for hours. It’s a nice balance,” she says.
As the demand for convenience rises, so does the variety of offerings in the market. From local home businesses to large-scale meal-kit companies, the options are growing every year. With sustainability also becoming a concern, some services now offer eco-friendly packaging and portioned meals to reduce food waste.
Ramadan is, at its core, about togetherness, generosity, and reflection. Whether through home-cooked meals, meal kits, or delivery services, the essence remains the same – breaking the fast with loved ones and appreciating the blessings on the table.
For many, these services aren’t just about convenience; they’re about making space for what truly matters: spending time with family, focusing on spiritual growth, and embracing the traditions that make Ramadan special.
As we continue to blend the old with the new, one thing is certain: no matter how Iftar and Sohour are prepared, the warmth of sharing a meal with loved ones will always remain at the heart of Ramadan.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 March, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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