'I combine fasting and dieting during Ramadhan'

Ramadhan, the Muslim fasting month, has been going on for two weeks. Every afternoon, many vendors sell tajil (snacks for breaking the fast) at traditional markets or busy places in residential areas. Many hotels and cafes also offer special menus for breaking the fast. The Jakarta Post talked to some people on the issue, raising the question of their expenditure during Ramadhan and eating tajil to break the fast.

Irma, 27, is an activist in a non-governmental organization. She lives in South Jakarta.

My expenditure during Ramadhan might increase slightly because on weekdays my colleagues and I usually break the fast together. We buy snacks like fried tofu, fried soybean cake and kolak (banana or other fruit sweetened in coconut milk) or something else.

Each person brings snacks in turn, so I don't really feel the increase anyway.

As for main meals, I just eat as usual.

Apart from food, I spend more in preparations for the Idul Fitri holiday like buying a ticket home and gifts for my family in my hometown.

Maya, 27, works at PT General Electric in Jakarta. She lives in a rented house in Mampang, South Jakarta, with her friend:

I've saved more money this Ramadhan because I've combined fasting and dieting. I eat only once a day now, in the afternoon to break my fast.

I've been on this diet for only two weeks and have already lost 2 kilograms.

Warti, 30, is a mother of one who comes from Jombang, East Java. She works in Tanjung Duren, West Jakarta:

I spend more during Ramadhan because when we break the fast, we want to eat delicious food. Tajil is expensive.

Sometimes I make kolak or mung bean porridge and take it to the mosque. It's for people who come to the mosque for taraweh (evening prayers during the fasting month).

It's more expensive, but it's OK because it's only once a year.

-- The Jakarta Post