home Audience 4 What can you eat during Lent? What can you eat during Lent and what can’t you eat?

What can you eat during Lent? What can you eat during Lent and what can’t you eat?

Everyone knows that our ancestors adhered to traditions and considered every day of fasting a joy. This time was special. Historically, fasting is the restriction of a religious person in something for the purpose of repentance. Some Christians use the metaphor "springtime of the soul." She characterizes internal state a person who has set the goal of sacrificing himself to God. The Lord set an example for believers when he stayed in the desert for 40 days and did not eat anything. Spring in nature means awakening, new life Likewise, fasting is a time for testing oneself, self-improvement, and prayer. Some people can independently, without external help, look for flaws, shortcomings, and correct them.

In Christianity there is a special time for this, called fast days. During periods of fasting, active spiritual work is performed, passions are eradicated, and the soul is cleansed. To do this, you must go to church often, pray in the morning and evening, do good deeds, give alms, visit the weak, prisoners, and learn humility.

Why is a fast day needed?

In the practice of Christianity, there are 4 multi-day fasts (the Great Fast takes place in the spring, the Assumption and Petrov fasts in the summer, the Rozhdestven fast in the winter) and separate fast days- Wednesday and Friday. During long fasts, the main ones are the first and last weeks. At this time, a person needs to be extremely attentive to himself and his loved ones. What is important for a fasting person is his internal state, actions, actions, and spoken words.

What should abstinence consist of?

Many people mistakenly believe that they need to limit themselves only to food. Self-control is a very complex action that requires considerable effort. It is to track these changes that the Lord created the state in which man resides. If a Christian fully observes external conditions, but visits places of entertainment, watches entertainment programs, behaves unworthily, this can be called an ordinary diet. In this case, the Lord will see the wickedness, and spiritual development will not be. It happens the other way around, when a person consumes forbidden foods, but fasts in his soul. An example would be a stomach or intestinal disease that requires a strict diet. This desire and perseverance will be highly appreciated.

What you can and cannot eat

So, now let's figure out what food you can eat during fasting and what you can't. There is a simple rule about nutrition. Allowed to eat food plant origin and it is forbidden to eat animal products.

Forbidden

products, poultry.
Fish (but on some days of fasting it is allowed).
Eggs, as well as products that contain them.
Dairy products, butter, dairy products, sour cream, cheeses.

Allowed

You can eat these products:

Vegetables in in different forms, pickles.
Fruits, dried fruits, nuts.
Porridge on the water.
Legumes, soy products.
Mushrooms.
Bread, lean pastries.
Fish (only on permitted days).

During fasting, you need to diversify your diet as much as possible, since the body is accustomed to proteins and fats. You need to eat everything, such as juices, soy products, sweets, chocolate. In addition to basic ingredients such as vegetables and fruits, you need to introduce a variety of modern products.

You should definitely try eggplant, celery, spinach, broccoli, arugula, and chickpeas (from the legume family). Ordinary vegetables from the garden can be prepared in a special way, experimented with, and various herbs and seasonings added.

For any housewife, preparing a new dish is a special ritual, during which a woman immerses herself in her element. To do this, you can create a personal diary and write down each recipe. Lenten days will be brightened up by communication with loved ones, as sharing a meal brings you closer together. Try recommending methods of cooking dishes that really turned out great to your friends and sharing experiences. It is important to remember that the body must be supported by foods that contain protein, glucose, and fats.

Lenten recipes for every day

The most common ingredients in Lenten cuisine are vegetables; they are suitable for both side dishes and gourmet dishes. There are a huge number of recipes. Let’s say it’s easy to make excellent cutlets, as well as a salad or casserole, from ordinary potatoes. From boiled vegetables - vinaigrette.

Recently it has become fashionable to make puree soups. They are very nutritious, quickly and thoroughly digested. This cooking method will appeal to young children and older people. Use of this product does not cause any difficulties. The recipe is very simple, because all the selected ingredients must first be boiled and then chopped in a blender. Next, the resulting mixture is added to the broth.

Depending on the ingredients, the calorie content and nutritional value of the dish may vary. In some countries, this cooking method is the most common. Here is the recipe for such a soup.

Cream soup with potatoes and white bread

To make the dish rich in vitamins and minerals, take parsley, celery and carrots, a head onions. Wash them under running water, peel them, cut them into small pieces so that the cooking process takes less time. Place on the stove and cook for 30 minutes over medium heat. Now strain the broth into a separate container and set it aside.

So, it's time for the potatoes. We clean it, wash it, divide each tuber into 4 parts and put it in the broth. We do the same with white bread. Yes, you just need to cut it and boil it along with the potatoes.

Then we take some wheat flour. Mix it with vegetable oil and place in a pan with potatoes and bread. Cook until done, then strain off the broth. You can use a colander to separate the potatoes and bread from the broth.

The cooking process is coming to an end. Grind all the ingredients that were cooked earlier in a blender and send them back to our broth. The highlight of the soup will be croutons, which need to be fried in advance in a frying pan with butter. If the dish turns out to be thick, you need to dilute it with boiled water.

Diet variety

What else can you eat during fasting, besides vegetables and fruits? Of course, porridge cooked in water. Cereals are very healthy. Buckwheat comes first rich in vitamins and microelements that can be absorbed by the body in as soon as possible. It can be prepared with fried onions, mushrooms, broccoli, spinach. The list of cereals is huge, let’s list some of them:

You can also combine porridges with each other, for example, rice and millet. To make the taste less bland, add margarine or spread. In the morning you can eat chocolate balls with honey and juice. Muesli during fasting days will be an excellent reinforcement during working days. The same can be said about dried fruits that serve as a snack. Supermarkets sell a lot of frozen vegetable mixtures, fruits, and berries at any time of the year. These products make an excellent filling for Lenten pies, pancakes, and dumplings.

Homemade pickles and marinades, compotes and jams will help diversify your diet. Sauerkraut or lecho will be an excellent addition to pasta, potatoes or buckwheat. Today in stores you can find many products, for example, mayonnaise, cookies, waffles, which have the inscription “lenten”.

In modern Orthodox practice, many priests recommend that parishioners consult with their doctor before doing so. Here are a few medical advice, which will be useful. For digestion in the first couple of days, it is better not to eat chips, crackers, sweet nuts, carbonated drinks, strong coffee, tea. also in last days Orthodox Christians should not suddenly switch to permitted products. Do not pounce on eggs, Easter cakes and smoked meats. We must remember that there is such a sin as gluttony. Sometimes we don’t notice how we get pleasure from eating food, we eat greedily even during fasting. It is worth controlling your feelings.

Fast days. Wednesday and Friday

It is known that in each calendar circle the time of fasting falls on different dates. The fast days of 2016 are a special time for Orthodox Christians. We also noted that Wednesday and Friday are no less important in this regard throughout the year. But there are also weeks without fasting, for example, before Maslenitsa, Maslenitsa itself, Trinity, Bright, Christmastide. You can always look at the calendar of fasting days to glean the necessary information.

Wednesday became fast in connection with the memory that Judas betrayed Christ the day before. With their real sins, people betray the Savior, who suffered for us. A fasting Christian remembers this event and laments. To understand the seriousness of the historical date, a fast day is observed almost every week. Friday is a fast day, when Christ died for the sins of the world, He was publicly crucified on the cross as a thief. So that believers do not forget about the great event, on Friday it is necessary to especially abstain mentally and physically. The fast days of the Orthodox are called to take care of the spirituality of believers.

Important goal

Fasts and fasting days are skillfully and wisely structured. They alternate with idle time. This sequence calls us to renew our souls, to strive for repentance, compassion, and mercy. Then you are allowed to have fun and rejoice again. It was this way of life that helped our ancestors stay in a good mood and be healthy mentally and physically. Despite the restrictions and abandonment of usual activities, the result will not be long in coming. Harmony is always and in everything the basis the right image life. To all Orthodox Christians on the day of fasting - the most good wishes, strength, patience, joy.

We have all wondered more than once about what we can eat during Lent and how to diversify the table so as not to harm the body. After all, it is known that Lent will help you cleanse yourself only if you follow the rules of eating and provide yourself with adequate nutrition.

If you decide to stick to it, it doesn't mean you have to starve. Be prudent and try not to harm your body by devoutly “mortifying” the flesh. Even during fasting, you can provide yourself with nutritious, healthier nutrition.

Lent: permitted foods

In order for you to feel the joy and holiness of eating in your soul and body, your food should be varied but simple.

Vegetables and fruits: boiled, stewed, baked - should become the basis of your diet. Let there be carrots, potatoes, beets on your table, sauerkraut and cucumbers. Don't forget corn, peas, peppers, apples, pomegranates, bananas and citrus fruits. The more varied the better.

During fasting, you should not overuse spices, salt, sugar and fried foods. Give preference to food cooked in steam bath or grilled.

Helpful advice: When boiling vegetables, throw them into already boiling water and do not allow them to boil strongly. This way you can save them large quantity useful substances.

Porridge: porridge should become another important component of your diet. Do not forget that they should be cooked only in water and you will have to do without adding oil. But you will have an additional reason for culinary experiments.

Helpful advice: add nuts, carrots, mushrooms and onions to your porridges; dried fruits and raisins are suitable for sweet porridges.

Instead of meat, milk and eggs: If you include vegetable protein in your diet, then your body will not suffer at all from the lack of meat. Vegetable protein found in eggplants, peanuts, lentils, soybeans and all legumes. Nowadays, “soy meat” is available for sale, which, subject to the production technology, may well replace the real thing.

By the way, nutritionists confirm that soy protein in its composition can compensate for the protein contained in meat and fish.

Lent: prohibited foods

During the entire fast you should avoid the following foods:

Meat and meat products
Fish and fish products (except on non-strict days).
Bird
Milk and dairy products
Sweets
Fast food
Alcohol

Strict and non-strict days of fasting

The first 4 days, as well as the last week before Easter, are considered the most on strict days post. Clean Monday (the first day of Lent) and Good Friday (the last Friday before Easter) are among the strictest days of Lent, when you cannot eat at all. But on the first Friday of Lent, boiled wheat, sweetened with honey or sugar, is allowed.

On other days, meals follow a specific schedule:

Monday Wednesday Friday: bread, water, vegetables, fruits, compotes
Tuesday Thursday: hot food without oil
Saturday and Sunday: food with vegetable oil and all variety of fish products.

Relaxation of fasting is allowed for pregnant women, sick and elderly people, as well as travelers.

Fasting in Christianity has great importance. Church calendar almost 200 days marked with posts. Among the latter there are both one-day and multi-day ones. The longest and most important is Lent. Its goal is to prepare not only the body, but also the spirit for the Easter holiday.

What is fasting and how long does it last?

The tradition of fasting has continued in Orthodoxy since the time of Ancient Rus'. And often this time is perceived as observing a special diet, but the purpose of Lent is to cleanse the spirit, put one’s thoughts and spiritual life in order. It is necessary to establish spiritual and moral aspirations over the flesh. Fasting dates back to the times of the Old Testament.

Fasting is considered as a kind of voluntary sacrifice that a person makes to God, thanks to which a person is spiritually and morally transformed. In the form of spiritual preparation, it is customary to pray more, read books on spiritual topics, and renounce sinful actions and behavior. Eating fast food as a means of physical preparation is prohibited.

Lent is a reminder of the fast of Christ the Savior. According to the Bible, he went into the desert at the behest of the spirit, was tempted by the devil for forty days, and did not eat anything during these days. In 2016, the fast will last from March 14 to April 30. In 2017 - from February 27 to April 15.

These seven weeks represent Pentecost (40 days) and Holy Week (the last week before Easter). Also on the sixth Saturday of Lent, Lazarus Saturday is celebrated, and the sixth Sunday is Palm Sunday, or the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.

Nutrition during Lent

The main foods that should not be eaten during Lent are:

meat products and animal foods, including milk and eggs;
mayonnaise;
buns and white bread.

Let's look at what you can eat during Lent. These products include:

fresh and frozen vegetables, fruits, mushrooms. As well as dried fruits and legumes;
pickled, salted, pickled homemade products;
soy products;
greens in any form;
cereals;
wholemeal bread.

If a person decides to fast for the first time, it is best to do it gradually. For example, animal protein can be replaced with vegetable protein. This could be the inclusion of mushrooms, legumes, nuts and dried fruits in the diet.

Too sharp a refusal to eat can result in the development and exacerbation of chronic diseases. Abstinence within reasonable limits is encouraged. To avoid loading digestive system, it is better to use spices, spicy and too salty, as well as fried foods with caution.

What is possible and what is not allowed in fasting

Since the main purpose of Lent is not nutrition, but the spiritual component, we should not forget about observing other restrictions. Orthodoxy recommends giving up the following habits during Lent:

smoking and drinking alcohol (only wine is allowed on certain days in small quantities);
entertainment activities, going to theaters, cinema should be reduced to a minimum, you should not over-watch TV, etc.;
foul language, bodily pleasures;
Marital intimacy should be renounced.

In this regard, Orthodoxy does not allow marriage during the days of Lent. In addition, a wedding involves celebrations, feasts and other events, which are not encouraged during Lent. Weddings are strictly prohibited during Lent.

On the contrary, it is not prohibited to baptize a child at this time. It is best to do this on weekends or on those days when fasting provides for relaxation.

As for traditions, in Orthodox countries many institutions were closed during Lent. This applied to theaters, gaming establishments, baths; it was impossible to purchase meat, since trade was stopped at this time. During the first and last weeks of Lent, school was canceled. educational institutions, and government employees did not attend work. Historians claim that many people during the first week of Lent left their homes only when absolutely necessary. And Greece still declares the first day of Lent a holiday.

How to prepare for the holiday in accordance with traditions

The days of Holy Week are usually called Great. This is Maundy Monday, Maundy Tuesday, etc.

Holy Week begins on Holy Monday. On this day, it is customary to prepare the home; painting, washing, cleaning and other important work is expected.

Tuesday is reserved for preparing clothes and linen; everything needs to be washed and ironed.

Great Wednesday is intended for completing household work. On this day, all garbage is taken out of the home, and the house itself is completely cleaned. Prepare the eggs and that's it necessary items for painting them.

Maundy Thursday, called Maundy Thursday, includes the observance of many rituals. Baking Easter cakes and painting eggs is scheduled for this day. Before you begin the baking process, you need to pray. Also on this day you need to wash yourself properly, thereby preparing your body for the holiday. In the old days in Maundy Thursday It was customary to cut the hair of young children whose age had reached one year. And in order for their hair to grow better and be thicker, young girls had the custom of cutting the ends of their hair on this day.

The housewives were busy cleaning the house. According to the legend, this ensured purity for the whole year. It was believed that on this day it was necessary to count money, put agricultural equipment in order, and feed and water horses. The hunters fired three times into the air. This helped ensure financial prosperity, success in farming and hunting.

Good Friday is the most strict day of Holy Week. You cannot eat anything, listening to music and singing are prohibited, as well as sewing and washing. You can't cut anything. It was on this day that the crucifixion of Christ took place, so we need to think about his sufferings endured for the sake of the human race.

The most troublesome day before Easter is Holy Saturday. On this day, you need to finish all the preparations, cook and prepare food for the festive table. It is especially strictly forbidden to swear, do laundry, or drink alcohol. You cannot refuse those who ask for help.

What to cook for Easter

The main symbols of Easter are colored eggs. They are symbols of life and rebirth. Since ancient times, it has been generally accepted that eggs are the first food after a long fast.

Previously, eggs were only painted red because red symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ. There are several versions according to which it is customary to paint eggs.

According to one of them, after the resurrection of Jesus, Mary Magdalene came to Tiberius, the Roman emperor, with news of this. She took with her an egg as a gift, it was white. When the emperor doubted her words, he said that the dead could not be resurrected, just as an egg could not turn red. And then the egg turned red.

The everyday explanation for painting eggs is the fact that chickens lay eggs during fasting. A lot of them accumulate during Lent, so to prevent the food from spoiling, they were boiled and colored. This made it possible to distinguish them from raw ones. Later, this household trick became a solemn ritual.

They are also preparing for festive table and Easter. It is a sweet curd dish with a truncated pyramidal shape, which symbolizes the Holy Sepulcher. Easter is decorated with the letters “ХВ” on top.

Another symbol of the end of Lent is Easter cake. He became the personification of how Jesus Christ came after his resurrection and ate food with them.

Celebration traditions

In the old days, this holiday was celebrated by all Christians of Rus' in the temple. The ceremonial services ended in the morning, and parishioners could congratulate each other and exchange colored eggs.

On Easter night, it was customary to light fires, kindle bonfires near the church, and set fire to barrels of tar on the hills. And those coals that remained from the burnt fires were placed under the roof. It was believed that this would protect the home from fires and lightning strikes. In some areas gunfire was fired. Hunters believed that this way they could not only ensure success in the hunt, but also kill the devil.

On February 27, 2017, Great Lent began, which symbolizes the spiritual and physical cleansing of a person and prepares him for the bright holiday Great Easter. The end of Lent is April 15: Pentecost (the first 40 days) pays tribute to Jesus Christ for the forty-day famine in the desert, and Holy Week (the last week of Lent) is the memory of Christ in the last days of his life, his crucifixion and resurrection.

Remember that not only will you have to give up fasting food, you should also forget about entertainment and bodily pleasures at this time. Otherwise, there is no point in sticking to the ritual.

According to the Church Charter, there are rules for meals

First and last week During Great Lent, a particularly strict fast is observed.
Meat and dairy products (butter, cheese, cottage cheese, milk), eggs, are excluded. That is, all products of animal origin.
You can eat only once a day, in the evening, however, on Saturdays and Sundays you are allowed to eat twice a day, at lunch and in the evening.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, eat cold food, without vegetable oil. On Tuesdays and Fridays, hot food without oil is allowed.
On Saturdays and Sundays it is allowed to add vegetable oil for food, it is also allowed to drink grape wine (except for Saturday of Holy Week).
On Good Friday (this is the last Friday of Lent) you should abstain from food altogether.
On Saturday, many who observe fasting also abstain from food until the onset of Great Easter.

If you approach your diet wisely during Lent, then, firstly, you will not have to go hungry, and secondly, even during the period of strict fasting, nutrition can be quite varied and balanced.

Basic products during fasting

Black bread, cereal crispbread.

Cereals (oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, corn, wheat, barley).

Salted and pickled vegetables, berry and fruit jam.

Mushrooms of various preparations.

Legumes (beans, lentils, peas).

Dried fruits, nuts, honey.

Seasonal vegetables (potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, cabbage, radishes, etc.).

Fruits in season (apples, bananas, grant, oranges, etc.).

Fish is allowed to be consumed twice during the entire fast. On the holiday of the Annunciation and Palm Sunday.

Calendar Lenten menu by days

The first week of fasting (the most strict). It is important to enter the fast correctly on the eve of the start. It is also important to know the personal contraindications, who should not fast.

In the subsequent fifth and sixth weeks of fasting, you can repeat your menu as in the second and third weeks. The seventh (Holy Week) week of Great Lent is as strict as the first. The sixth Sunday of Great Lent falls on the celebration of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem, or it is also called Palm Sunday. On this day you can eat fish, food with butter, and eat a little Cahors.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – dry eating. On Thursday you can eat warm food, but cooked without oil. On Friday only bread and water. Eating is prohibited on Saturday.

And finally, Sunday - the end of the strictest fast - falls on the celebration of Easter.

IN modern world Fasting is much easier than before. Now many manufacturers offer a huge number of lean products that are allowed for consumption during fasting.

But let's first understand the benefits and harms of certain products, as well as what really applies to lean products.

Soybeans and products made from it

There are entire stores specializing in the sale of soybean semi-finished products. And all sorts of lean products are made from soybeans: cutlets, chops, goulash, and even the entire list of dairy products, from milk to cheese.
This is very healthy, because soy is rich various vitamins, they cook quickly and help saturate the body with proteins. Also, soy products are beneficial for blood vessels, brain function and comprehensively improve the functioning of our body.

There is, perhaps, only one risk - most soybeans are grown using transgenes. Those. It’s still not worth it to abuse soy products, even if they are lean.

Lean sausage

Sausage. Once upon a time it was impossible to even dream about this product. Now, even during the period of fasting, it turns out that you can treat yourself to this lean product like a sausage. But here is its composition: dyes, thickeners, flavors, etc., alas, they are unlikely to do anything other than worsen your well-being.

Lenten bread

To be honest, we already eat lean bread. After all, no eggs are used in its production and butter.

But it’s still worth mentioning which bread is healthier. Most healthy bread is a product made from malt. Bran bread can be considered the second most useful. It is not very beautiful, but very useful, because... Coarse flour is used in its production.

And, of course, bran and grain breads are undoubtedly also successful with the greatest benefit can replace regular bread. They contain a lot of vitamins and microelements.

But for lovers of sweets, confectionery factories during Lent significantly expand their range of lean products, and sweet pastries appear in stores that everyone can enjoy.

Pasta and dumplings

Pasta is another product that can be consumed without restrictions during Lent. As we all know, they are made using only water, flour and salt. True, you can’t add butter to them during Lent, but it’s quite possible to add a little bit of vegetable oil.

The main thing is to pay attention that the pasta is without any added egg powder and from durum flour. This information can be found in the description.

Dumplings are, in fact, the same pasta, only with filling. Whether you can use them during Lent or not depends only on what you put in them. Those. We also carefully read the composition.

Margarine and spread

Both margarine and spread are substitutes for butter. They are made from plant ingredients. True, manufacturers sometimes add animal fats to spreads. A completely plant-based spread, whether it is allowed as a lean product or not, can be understood already from the name. If the name is “vegetable-fat spread,” then it contains no animal fats. If it is “vegetable-fat”, then animal fats are present in the composition and it is no longer possible to call such a product lean.

Lenten mayonnaise

Theoretically, mayonnaise cannot be a lean product in principle. The main thing that mayonnaise is made from is eggs. That is, “lenten mayonnaise” is a mayonnaise-flavored sauce. It’s better to make this sauce yourself. It will be both healthier and better for your figure.

Lenten baked goods and sweets

During the fasting period, in the confectionery departments you can find baked goods specially made for fasting people. The main thing is to pay attention to the composition so that it does not contain eggs or milk.

Also a lean product are dark and dark chocolate. It is important that there is no milk in the composition. But this applies to white and dairy types chocolate. You can’t use them during fasting.

Marmalade, kozinaki and halva. Well, where would we be without these sweets during the fasting period! They do not contain any animal fats, so you can enjoy them with pleasure.

The most important thing during the fasting period is not to replace your usual food with something the same, only different in composition. The main thing is to cleanse the soul through the ability to think through your actions and refrain from temptation. Therefore, when creating a menu, the main thing is to remember the purity of your soul.

Well, so that you don’t have to spend a lot of time planning lunches and dinners, we offer a list of allowed products.

List of Lenten Products