Before Ramadan, Junior admitted he had ‘never cooked’ in his life, relying on takeout or restaurants; now, he’s enjoying home-cooked meals every day.
When Junior Gomes moved to the UAE two years ago, he knew little about the country’s culture or its people. But his curiosity remained. As Ramadan approached, a thought struck him: what better way to understand Islamic culture than to experience it firsthand?
“I wanted to know why Muslims do this and how,” he said.
Originally from Brazil and raised in South Africa, Junior works as Director of Operations at Little Legends Sports Academy for children. With many of his students observing Ramadan fasting, he wanted to experience firsthand what they go through during the holy month in the UAE.
With encouragement from a friend and plenty of meal-prep guidance, Junior Gomes decided to give fasting a try.
“It hasn’t been as difficult as I thought it would be,” he admitted. “It’s only been a few days since Ramadan began, but I’m enjoying the experience.”
Learning New Lessons
Even early in the month, he’s noticing changes within himself. “The whole self-control aspect is really important,” he reflected. “You actually learn to appreciate things more.”
Beyond the hunger, he said fasting encourages personal growth. “During the day, try to be a better person. Exercise self-control. Be grateful. Give back. That’s something I’ve been trying to do, and it feels really good.”
The most challenging part, he added, is the last few hours before sunset. “The last hour or two is the struggle. That’s when I get thirstier and start thinking about food. And when I finally eat, I appreciate it so much more. I can’t believe I went the whole day without eating.”
Early Mornings and Full Days
During Ramadan, Junior wakes up at 4am for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal. “I have my protein shake, eggs, and bread. I make sure to get enough carbs and fats, and drink plenty of fluids,” he said.
He even fits in a gym workout before work, refusing to skip his routine. By 8am, he’s at the Little Legends Sports Academy, which focuses on early childhood sports. “We do football, basketball, tennis, ballet, gymnastics, and we’re even introducing golf,” he said.
His days are packed, managing coaches, marketing, social media, venue bookings, and suppliers. “I literally have hands-on involvement in everything. It’s a lot sometimes, but I enjoy it. I love working with kids,” he added.
Personalizing Ramadan
This year, Ramadan scheduling took on a personal meaning for Junior Gomes. “When I was preparing the schedules, I put in a lot more effort. It was tough to adjust the timings for all our children across every branch, but I wanted to make sure it worked for as many families as possible,” he said.
Cooking for Himself
For Junior, the biggest change has been in the kitchen. Before Ramadan, he always relied on takeout or restaurants. Now, he’s enjoying home-cooked meals every day. “I never cooked in my life,” he admitted.
With the help of a friend, he learned meal prep, creating dishes like spring rolls and other balanced meals that he never imagined making. “I’m pretty proud of myself. Everything I’m doing right now is very, very new to me,” he said.
Family Connections
His family back in Brazil has been supportive and curious. Interestingly, his brother—married to a Muslim woman—decided to fast alongside her. Neither brother knew the other was taking part until just days before Ramadan began.
“It wasn’t planned. I found out maybe four or five days ago. I was quite surprised,” Junior said.
