Three of the strictest days of Lent have passed and, finally, you can think about preparing some more varied and satisfying dishes. For the first three days, believers had to eat minimally. Better just bread and water. March 14 is the first day when you can have hot food.
On Thursday, long services continue in all churches. The first three days the Great Penitential Canon of Andrei of Crete was read.
As for meals, even now hot food should not contain oil. It can be porridge or boiled vegetables. Friday is a fast day and dry eating again. But on Saturday after, returning home after the service in the temple, believers can eat a hot dish seasoned with vegetable oil (olive, flax, corn, etc.). On Sunday, March 17, a little red wine is allowed with boiled food.
What can you drink?
- Water;
- Fruit drinks;
- Juices;
- Kiseli;
- Compotes;
During the first days of Lent, even water is prohibited. But this is a monastic Charter and secular people must remember this. It is important to drink at least 1.5 - 2 liters of liquid per day. Exhausting yourself with thirst and refusing to eat is not a feat in the name of faith, but a mockery of the body, for which it is not adapted for the majority of those who decide to fast.
During the remaining six weeks of Lent (except for Holy Week), remember the general rules for eating:
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry eating. But this also includes raw vegetables from which you can make nutritious salads. You can eat fruits, nuts, lean bread.
- Tuesday, Thursday - hot food is allowed, but without oil. Lenten soup and porridge can also be on your table.
- Saturday, Sunday - hot food with vegetable oil. A little red wine.
And don’t forget about jams, pickles, and herbs!
Meat and meat products are prohibited on all days of Lent. But fish will be allowed twice - on April 7, on the feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and on April 21, on the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday), on April 20, on Lazarus Saturday, fish caviar is allowed.
The Nativity fast, which begins on November 28, 2019 and lasts forty days until January 6, 2020, precedes the bright holiday of Christmas. What can you eat on the first day of the Nativity Fast, what foods should you exclude from your diet, what rules should you follow? This is what our story will be about.
This fast is often called Filippov (in common parlance - Filippovki), because the Fast, which is celebrated the day before, coincides with the Day of Remembrance of the Holy Apostle Philip. The Nativity Fast is considered not as strict as the Great and Dormition Fasts, and is more reminiscent of the Peter the Great Fast.
What can you eat on the day the Advent fast begins? Starting from November 28, believers exclude food of animal origin from their diet - meat, eggs, dairy products (including cheese, butter). Fish and wine are allowed only on certain days of the Nativity Fast.
What is allowed to eat on the first day of the Nativity Fast?
On the first day of the Nativity Fast, which falls on Thursday in 2019, the rules of fasting allow hot food with vegetable oil. These can be dishes from cereals, mushrooms, nuts, vegetables, fruits and herbs. To make it easier to comply with dietary restrictions, prepare foods that are familiar to you, but without ingredients of animal origin.
The next day, Friday, December 29, those fasting are prescribed dry eating. On this day, you can only eat food that has not undergone any heat treatment before consumption. For example, bread, fruits, raw vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, honey.
If your health does not allow you to follow all the rules of fasting, you can include in your menu the dishes recommended for your illness or fast only on certain days. To observe a stricter fast, one must obtain a blessing from a priest.
We mentioned above how to eat on the first day of the Nativity Fast. Let us now tell you in more detail about the Lenten menu. The basis of the Lenten table during this period is porridge (buckwheat, millet, oatmeal, pearl barley and others); soups, casseroles, krupeniki, lean pancakes, and pancakes are also prepared from cereals. It’s not for nothing that the Nativity Fast is often called a cereal fast.
After giving up animal products, cook more beans and peas, eat nuts and seeds. By the way, there will also be dishes made from mushrooms on the table - white mushrooms, milk mushrooms, boletus, chanterelles, honey mushrooms and others. They contain a lot of plant protein, which perfectly replaces animal protein.
What else can you eat during the Nativity Fast? To diversify the menu, you can add dried fruits (raisins, prunes, dried apricots) and pieces of fruit to porridges and desserts.
For example, you can serve buckwheat porridge with prunes, rice porridge with raisins, millet porridge with pumpkin and dried apricots. To avoid vitamin deficiency, eat citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, lemons), drink fruit juices, berry and fruit compotes.
However, the story of how to eat during the Nativity Fast will be incomplete without recalling that physical fasting without spiritual fasting does nothing to save the soul.
True fasting is associated with prayer, repentance, abstinence from passions and vices. During this period, believers refuse to attend entertainment and entertainment events and watch TV. After all, without fasting, spiritual restrictions in the diet these days become just a diet.
Lent requires special nutrition; certain foods should be absent from the diet. This time is intended for good deeds, prayers, searching for measures to become better, and comprehensive cleansing of the soul and body. The beginning of Lent is a chance for spiritual improvement and rest from animal food.
The right approach to fasting
We welcome Lent in 2019 with joy and special inspiration. This is a good chance to improve your spiritual life and learn to eat right. A daily menu with recommendations will help with this; it is given below. From March 11 to April 27 are the days when Lent will take place. Some dietary restrictions should not be taken as a priority. The spiritual part of fasting is mainly aimed at working on oneself, caring for loved ones, abstaining from judgment, anger, lies, envy and evil deeds, and the food component is insignificant.
You should not restrict yourself in food, practice diets and fasts if you are unhealthy, travel a lot, are weakened, work hard, live in an unfavorable or cold geographical area, are breastfeeding a child or are pregnant. You are allowed to eat everything according to the doctors' recommendations and your needs. Children also cannot be forced to eat fast; they can abstain from some food only if they themselves strive for this and fully understand the meaning of fasting. As an option, you can try to plan your children's fast before Easter so that the meals are free of desserts, sweets and junk foods, and contain less heavy food. This is also a good way to cleanse.
It should also be said about how long Lent lasts, the total number of days in it is 48. Correct preparation is to gradually lighten your diet, learn to analyze your inner world more deeply and learn more about Orthodox culture. Let's try to introduce this ancient tradition into our lives. Despite the fact that the essence of fasting is not a diet, the issue of proper and varied nutrition is still relevant. Every person who accepts Orthodoxy as their worldview and way of life and undergoes the rite of baptism consciously must understand the topic of fasting. One of the best nutrition calendars is presented in this article especially for your convenience.
Monastic Lenten menu for every day
What foods can you eat during Lent according to the regulations of most Orthodox monasteries:
- different types of vegetables (including pickled and salted vegetables, sauerkraut);
- seasonal fruits;
- mushrooms;
- the whole range of dried fruits;
- cereal porridges cooked in water;
- different varieties of nuts;
- compote based on dried fruits;
- natural kvass;
- homemade jelly.
What not to eat during Lent:
- meat products;
- milk products;
- eggs;
- bakery;
- all alcoholic drinks;
- candies;
- fish;
- mayonnaise;
- White bread.
Food during fasting by day of the week:
- Monday is a day of dry eating (vegetable and fruit dishes, water, bread, compote);
- Tuesday - hot dishes without oils (stewed vegetable dishes, porridge with water, first courses, for example, rassolnik soup);
- Wednesday - day of dry eating (vegetable and fruit dishes, water, bread, compote);
- Thursday - hot dishes without oils (stewed vegetable dishes, porridge with water, first courses, for example, rassolnik soup);
- Friday - dry eating (vegetable and fruit dishes, water, bread, compote);
- Saturday - dishes seasoned with oil (vegetable salads, stewed vegetable dishes, first courses);
- Sunday - foods with oils (stewed vegetable dishes, vegetable salads and soups).
There are special days during Lent:
- Clean Monday (in the first week) - fasting;
- 2, 3, 4, 5 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) days of fasting - eating bread and water;
- The middle cross environment is the consumption of natural wines;
- Day 40 of the Holy Martyrs - food with vegetable oil and wine;
- Palm Sunday holiday - fish dishes, caviar, wine, vegetable oil.
Meals during Holy Week (final week):
- Maundy Monday, Maundy Tuesday, Maundy Wednesday - a ban on processed foods, raw food days;
- Maundy Thursday - dishes with vegetable oil, wine;
- Good Friday - fasting;
- Holy Saturday - fasting or minimal nutrition with olives, bread, dried fruits;
- Easter holiday - on this day all Lenten restrictions are lifted, you can eat any food.
It should be noted that monastics do not eat meat even outside of fasting, but nevertheless, good nutrition is provided in the monasteries and their diet is rich in nutrients.
Now you have an idea of what foods you can eat during fasting and when you should fast. In fact, there is nothing complicated in planning a diet; for daily nutrition control, you can buy a special calendar, which contains many monastic recipes. We urge you to take the food of Lent seriously and be sure to combine it with spiritual improvement, otherwise there is no need to fast.
List of nutritious Lenten foods for the laity
Here are the best food products that fit into the framework of Lent and supply the body with many valuable substances to maintain health, vigor and good mood:
- different types of table vinegars;
- edible seaweed;
- lean bread (lavash or other bread products with a neutral composition);
- tomato paste and ketchup;
- lean mayonnaise;
- adjika and many other sauces;
- all types of nuts;
- all types of seeds;
- pasta and flour products without unnecessary ingredients;
- dried fruits;
- all types of cereals (a good option is porridge with dried fruits);
- mushrooms;
- legumes (for example, lentils, peas, beans);
- fish and caviar (as well as shrimp, squid, all this is possible on certain days according to the calendar);
- seasonal and exotic fruits (the more variety of fruits, the better);
- seasonal vegetables (you can prepare a lot of healthy dishes from vegetables, eat them pickled and salted, for example, cabbage, beets, carrots, celery);
- homemade sweets (fruit and berry preserves, jam);
- lean chocolate;
- milk (coconut, soy and other types);
- drinks (decoctions and infusions of herbs, teas, coffee, jelly, compote, juices, fruit drinks);
- soy yogurt and cheese;
- lean marshmallows;
- marmalade;
- berries;
- Turkish Delight;
- halva and kozinaki;
- sugar and candy;
- Korean dishes (salads).
When the Great Orthodox Lent begins, there is no need to suddenly change your diet and go hungry for a long time. As you already understand, by abstaining from all meat and dairy foods during Lent, lay people do not need to torture themselves and greatly limit themselves. On the contrary, variety and lightness should reign in the home kitchen of Lent. Strict restrictions are intended for highly spiritual persons performing a feat.
this time is intended for good deeds, prayers, searching for measures to become better, comprehensive cleansing of the soul and body, eating light food, taking a break from animal productsHow to keep an Orthodox fast?
Fasting in the monastery and in the world
We figured out what you can eat during Lent and what to abstain from, and how to properly distribute your diet over the days. You understand that monastic food differs significantly from secular food, since the monastery has a special charter and the most serious restrictions on food. We are ordinary people, strict fasting is not for us, we can observe fasting days at our own discretion, because everyone has different opportunities. Thus, by eating right, you will be able to maintain and increase your health.
Leaving the post
It is important not only to start Lent correctly, but also to complete it with dignity. Everyone asks when they can eat after fasting. Typically, all Orthodox Christians begin to eat normally at the onset of Easter. Ideally, after the Liturgy there is a rich meal. It is important not to overeat, but to switch to your usual diet gradually. Having completed your fast, you need to go to the Easter service. Before communion, Orthodox Christians experience special religious feelings, and after this sacrament they are overcome with enormous, indescribable joy, compensating for all the efforts made earlier.
Lenten recipes may be of interest to you; we will describe them below.
Recipes for meatless dishes without animal ingredients
Lenten first course - tomato soup
Components:
- water - liter;
- chopped tomatoes - 450 grams and tomato paste - 4 tablespoons;
- canned white beans - 420 grams;
- onions - 1-2 pieces;
- olive oil - 2 large spoons;
- chili pepper - a quarter of a small spoon;
- garlic - 2 cloves;
- wine vinegar - 1-2 large spoons;
- Provençal herbs - 2 small spoons;
- sugar - 1-2 large spoons, as much pepper and salt as you like;
- for croutons - ciabatta or baguette, salt, garlic - 3 cloves, olive oil - 3 large spoons.
In the oil heated at the bottom of the pan, saute the onion for about 5 minutes, add pepper, garlic, fry for a couple of minutes, add tomato paste, fry for another minute. Next, add herbs and tomatoes, then pour in water and wait until it boils. Add the beans, draining the water from them, after cooking for a quarter of an hour, add black pepper, salt, sugar, vinegar. Cook covered for 10 minutes. Cook croutons with garlic in the oven - fry the bread in oil with garlic.
Lenten second course - stewed cabbage and mushrooms
Components:
- cabbage - up to 1 kg;
- champignons - 400 grams;
- vegetable oil - about 3 large spoons;
- salt, pepper, lemon juice - 2 small spoons.
Chop the cabbage and mushrooms as desired and heat the oil in a frying pan. First, the mushrooms are fried, then cabbage is added to them. After pouring a small amount of water, simmer the dish under the lid until the food softens. If necessary, add water. The cooking time for mature white cabbage is about an hour; if it is Chinese or young cabbage, 20 minutes is enough. Season the finished dish with pepper, salt, lemon juice, leave on the fire without a lid for 3 minutes to evaporate the moisture.
Second courses for fasting can be quickly and tasty prepared on those days when it is necessary, and with the correct selection of products, the impression of an incomplete diet will not be created.
Lenten salad
Components:
- carrots - 2 pieces;
- tomatoes - 2 pieces;
- cucumber - 1 piece;
- apple - 1 piece;
- onion - 1 piece;
- lemon - half;
- vegetable oil - a large spoon;
- herbs, salt, sugar.
Grate the carrots with a Korean or simple grater. We cut onions, tomatoes, cucumber. Chop the greens, cut the apple, removing the skin. Butter, salt and sugar, squeezed lemon juice - make a dressing from these products, mix everything.
Lenten cookies
Components:
- water - 200 ml;
- flour - up to 400 grams;
- baking powder - half a small spoon;
- salt, sugar, nuts, dried basil or other herbs;
- vegetable oil - 70 ml.
Pour oil into water. Mix flour, salt, baking powder, gradually combine the liquid with the dry component. Keep the resulting dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. From a layer of dough with a thickness of 2 to 4 mm, make any shape - round, diamond-shaped, square, triangular. To make the cookies sweet, dip them in sugar with chopped dried fruits and nuts. For salted cookies, use basil and salt. Bake the cookies, pierced with a fork, in the oven for 15 to 25 minutes at 200 degrees.
Oatmeal cutlets
Components:
- oatmeal - a glass;
- onion - 1 piece;
- potatoes - 1 piece;
- carrot - 1 piece;
- spices, garlic and herbs.
Lenten cutlets are easy to prepare. Soak the flakes in hot water for about 20 minutes. Grate the onions, potatoes, carrots, crush the garlic with a garlic press, chop the greens. Mix vegetables, garlic gruel and herbs with oatmeal, add salt and pepper (you can add any spices). Using a spoon, fry the cutlets on both sides. We also recommend including mushrooms in this recipe and eggs on non-fasting days.
Lenten nutrition is unthinkable without potato dishes and pureed soups. For lunch you can cook hearty cabbage soup, for dinner you can serve pancakes, pilaf, pancakes without animal ingredients. To make your dishes more interesting, you can make lean mayonnaise or various sauces. To feel the holiday on ordinary days, the best solution is a Lenten cake or Lenten pizza.
So, we talked about all the generally accepted features of the diet and the preparation of lean dishes. Let there always be light, healthy, tasty lean food on your tables. Don’t forget to attend church services, come to church not only with your troubles and problems, but at any free time. It is not difficult for Christians to observe Lent, the main thing is to properly tune in to it.
Lent is the most important fast in Orthodoxy, which precedes Easter. Because of this, Lent is tied to the date of Easter and changes its start date every year. In 2019, Easter in Orthodoxy falls on April 28. In order to calculate the start date of Lent, you simply need to subtract 48 days from the date of Easter. As a result, it turns out that Lent will begin this Monday - March 11th.
When does Lent end in 2019?
Lent is the period between Maslenitsa and Easter. It follows from this that Lent ends exactly on the occasion of Easter. Let us note that Easter was also initially considered a day of fasting, but at the moment it is customary to break the fast on Easter, so it would be incorrect to say that Easter is included in fasting. Remember that 48 days without proper nutrition is really no joke, so you shouldn’t overeat on Easter. If you have decided to sit at a post, then you should already know now that, in essence, to the 48 days of fasting, you need to add another week, which you will leave the post. Be prepared for the fact that your body may refuse to accept meat normally after fasting or fried foods.
What can you eat on the first day of Lent 2019?
Lent traditionally begins on Monday and will last a full 48 days, until Easter. Easter was also initially considered a day of fasting, but at the moment it is customary to break the fast on Easter, so it would be wrong to say that fasting continues.. If we talk about the first day, then it is impossible at all. Fasting begins and ends with the two most severe days of complete fasting. Remember that fasting can have a negative impact on your health, especially if you are fasting for the first time, so you should enter the fast gradually. In fact, you had to start preparing for fasting for a couple more days - you had to gradually reduce your diet so that the first day of fasting would not be so difficult. If you decide to fast for the first time, then you should remember that fasting is not only food restrictions . Lent is a process of cleansing the soul and body. First of all, you need to give up food not in order to cleanse the body, but in order to learn how to control your desires. It's probably no secret that food is the weakness of almost every person. Everyone has a dish that they are ready to eat for days. Fasting was created in order to overcome carnal desires in a person, because they distract from the most important thing - from faith and the Lord. In addition to fasting, you will also have to abstain from intimate relationships. And this applies even to married people. It is prohibited to swear, smoke, drink and use foul language during the fasting period. Also, you should not hold a grudge against someone - fasting was created to cleanse the soul. Of course, do not forget that during the fasting period you need to attend church weekly. Make it a habit to attend church on Sundays. This will not only be good for your soul, but also for your willpower. Going to church will help you remember why you are fasting and not give up on what you started.
Great Lent - menu by day
Of course, fasting first of all means refusing to eat. Remember that fasting does not mean you have to starve, but your food should be as simple and cheap as possible. You should not prepare culinary delights from vegetables - you should eat as simply as possible. The point of fasting is to turn food not into a hobby, but into a simple way to survive. Your only “hobby” during fasting should be prayer. What to eat during fasting? First, avoid eating animal products. That is, you will need to give up meat, dairy products, eggs and fish. Fish can be consumed several times throughout Lent in honor of the holidays. You will also have to give up fast food, seasonings, sugar, sweets, spices and all “extras”. The basis of your diet should be porridge with water. You can cook vegetables - boiling or baking. You can also steam vegetables. You can do the same with fruits. However, keep in mind that during the fasting period there are days when heat treatment of food is prohibited. Then you will have to eat only fresh vegetables, rye bread and so on. Remember that butter is prohibited during this period, but vegetable oil is allowed. However, it is not always allowed. Lent sometimes also allows you to relax. For example, on Sundays you can drink a little wine. Remember that if you find yourself at the holiday table, you don’t need to just sit and stare at the food. If it turns out that you are on a holiday, you can afford some of the holiday food. But you will have to choose something simple and eat it all evening. Do not forget that you cannot fast intermittently. If you feel that you can no longer fast, do not force yourself, because it will not bring any benefit. Throughout the fast, you must understand that you are keeping it primarily for yourself, and not for someone else. What to do after fasting? In 48 days, Lent will end and the question arises - what to do next? Firstly, if you look at it from a health perspective, you shouldn’t rush into food that you haven’t eaten for a month and a half. Be prepared for the fact that your body will begin to reject meat, mayonnaise and other “forbidden” foods. In fact, you will have to re-accustom yourself to regular food. In order for the addiction to take place without harm to your health, you should introduce food gradually, as is done for small children. On average, breaking the fast should last for a week, because you need to get used to heavy foods, then fried foods, sweets, and so on. If you suffer from chronic diseases, then you will have to stretch out your break from fasting for two weeks. Of course, do not forget that after fasting you should not indulge in all serious things. Fasting is only the beginning of cleansing your soul and your righteous life. During the period of fasting, you should understand that food, carnal pleasures and parties are simple entertainments that you can do without. Of course, no one is telling you to go to a monastery, but just try to live more modestly and then you can become happy. After fasting, you should also adhere to food restrictions. This is not necessary, but it will be healthier for your soul. Remember that after fasting you must continue to go to church. Understand that this is not an obligation, but simply a benefit for you. Ultimately, you must understand that faith in God is more than just words. Then you can find harmony with yourself and live happily.
Table 1. First week
| Day of the week | What is possible? |
| Monday (11.03) | The strictest day of abstinence. Eating on Monday is generally prohibited. Only drinking water is allowed. |
| Tuesday (12.03) | You can add kvass and some bread to the menu (only based on rye flour, without eggs, animal fats, dairy products). |
| Wednesday (13.03) | On this day, Christians can enjoy sweet fruits and vegetable salads. The main thing is that they are not subjected to heat treatment or flavored with oil. Salads can be eaten as a snack with bread and add nuts to them. |
| Thursday (14.03) | Any vegetable and fruit salads without any dressings (except fruit juices) are allowed. |
| Friday (15.03) | Today heat treatment is allowed. That is, vegetables can be boiled. As before, no vegetable oil is added to food. |
| Saturday (16.03) | On Saturday, fasting people can eat boiled or steamed vegetables. For piquancy and taste, you can add corn, olive, flaxseed or any other plant-based oil. All this luxury is accompanied by 100 ml of dry red wine. Porridge lovers can also rejoice. You just need to boil them in water. |
| Sunday (17.03) | The Saturday menu is repeated. |
Table 2. Second week
| Day of the week | What is possible? |
| Monday (18.03) | |
| Tuesday (19.03) | You can resort to heat treatment of plant foods. Vegetable-based oil should not be added to the dish. Don't forget about vegetable soups prepared with any cereal. |
| Wednesday (20.03) | We follow the Monday diet. |
| Thursday (21.03) | Any vegetable and fruit salads without oil are allowed. |
| Friday (22.03) | Cooking (porridge, vegetables) and stewing are allowed. Oil should not be added to food. |
| Saturday (23.03) | On Saturday you can eat vegetables cooked on fire, and even pamper yourself with a small amount of butter. You are allowed to wash it all down with dry red wine (of course, within reasonable limits). |
| Sunday (24.03) | We stick to the Saturday menu. |
Table 3. Third week
| Day of the week | What is possible? |
| Monday (25.03) | A variety of fruit and vegetable salads without sauces and oil are allowed. |
| Tuesday (26.03) | On this day you can treat yourself to porridge. It’s good if you add nuts and pieces of cooked vegetables to it. Oil is not added to food. |
| Wednesday (27.03) | We stick to the Monday menu. |
| Thursday (28.03) | On Thursday you can eat boiled, stewed, grilled vegetables without oil. |
| Friday (29.03) | We follow the diet of Wednesday and Monday. |
| Saturday, Sunday (30.03, 31.03) | On Saturday and Sunday of the third week of fasting, vegetables can be boiled and stewed. For calories and taste, add a little vegetable-based oil. Red wine is also allowed, but in small quantities. |
Table 4. Fourth week
| Day of the week | What is possible? |
| Monday (01.04) | Raw plant foods. |
| Tuesday (02.04) | You can resort to heat treatment of plant foods, but without adding oil. |
| Wednesday (03.04) | Same products as on Monday. |
| Thursday (04.04) | Vegetable and fruit salads. Topping with anything other than fruit juices is prohibited. |
| Friday (05.04) | We adhere to the diet proposed on Monday and Wednesday. |
| Saturday (06.04) | On Saturday you can eat warm vegetables. It is allowed to add a small amount of oil to the dish. Dry red wine is not prohibited. |
| Sunday (07.04) | On Sunday, April 7, the Great Church Holiday is celebrated - the Annunciation. Therefore, on this day you are allowed to diversify your menu. You can add boiled or stewed fish with vegetables to your diet. Butter and red wine are also not forbidden on this holiday. |
Table 5. Fifth week
| Day of the week | What is possible? |
| Monday (08.04) | Raw foods (vegetables). |
| Tuesday (09.04) | You can resort to heat treatment of vegetables, but without adding oil. |
| Wednesday (10.04) | Same products as on Monday. |
| Thursday (11.04) | Fruit and vegetable salads. Refilling with oil is not permitted. |
| Friday (12.04) | We stick to the diet proposed on Wednesday and Monday. |
| Saturday (13.04) | You can treat yourself to roasted vegetables with a little oil. You are allowed to wash it all down with dry red wine. |
| Sunday (14.04) | On this day they eat boiled and stewed plant foods. Butter and red wine are also allowed. |
Table 6. Sixth week
| Day of the week | What is possible? |
| Monday (15.04) | Only raw foods are allowed. |
| Tuesday (16.04) | You can cook vegetables over fire and cook porridge. No oil should be added. |
| Wednesday (17.04) | Let's look at the menu for Monday. |
| Thursday (18.04) | Raw vegetables and fruits. No need to add oil. |
| Friday (19.04) | We eat the same as on Wednesday and Monday. |
| Saturday (20.04) | On Saturday you can eat cooked vegetables. It is allowed to add a small amount of oil to the dish. Dry red wine is not prohibited, as is fish caviar. |
| Sunday (21.04) | On April 21, Orthodox Christians celebrate Palm Sunday, or the Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It is allowed to include heat-treated fish, caviar and a little wine in the menu. |
Lent begins on March 11 and will last 40 days, until April 27, when the long-awaited day of breaking the fast comes - the descent of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem. Throughout this period, believers will follow church instructions and abstain from fast food.
But many contemporaries mistakenly believe that Lent is akin to a diet. But its main meaning is not that you can eat some special foods on the days of the week, but to cleanse your soul and body by imposing certain restrictions on yourself.
Interesting!
The first days of this period, all churches talk about sins and the Lord’s ability to forgive them, thereby cleansing the soul and body of a person. That is why simply refusing animal food cannot be considered a real fast.
Rules of Lent
There are several basic principles for fasting. This is primarily a limitation in the daily menu, which applies not only to food, but also to drinks. In addition, any type of entertainment and addiction to bad habits, such as smoking, illegal drugs and alcohol, are prohibited.
Those who are fasting refuse to watch entertainment programs on TV, refuse to sit for long periods at the computer, get carried away by games, and postpone going to the movies and theaters until after the end of the fast.
All types of meat and semi-finished products of meat origin are prohibited. In addition, you will also have to give up dairy products, including cheese, butter, fermented milk products, as well as eggs and all dishes using them.
You need to understand that having decided to observe and limit yourself in all of the above pleasures, you do not need to talk about it as a feat. Every true Christian must test his strength in order to move at least one step closer to better worlds after death.
Who should not fast
Every rule has its exceptions. Likewise, during Lent, not everyone is obliged to limit themselves to familiar things. Before making a decision to fast on your own, it is better to consult with your doctor and ask the priest’s permission. If there are no obstacles to taking on this mission, in the form of chronic diseases or aggravating working conditions, then you can safely create a personal menu for the entire period of abstinence.
You should not be overzealous if you have problems with the functioning of any internal organs of the body, since refusing certain foods can only aggravate the situation. In addition, pregnant and lactating women, patients with anemia or underweight are exempt from fasting, since they must take special care in preparing their daily diet.
Childhood is also a reason for delaying the observance of Lent, because a growing body cannot be deprived of dairy products. If a child shows a desire to support adults and try to become closer to the Lord, you can suggest that he simply give up sweets or meat products, which are not so important for growth.
People engaged in heavy work also receive official benefits. They are allowed to introduce dairy products into their Lenten diet. Some serious illnesses will also cause partial fasting.
On a note!
For example, some patients are allowed to eat even meat and meat broths. In any case, having good reasons for relaxation during Lent, you need to contact a clergyman and receive his blessing.
Lent calendar 2018
The Orthodox calendar clearly indicates what can be eaten by day of the week during Lent. But most often you can find the monastic food option, which is obligatory only for clergy, and not for laity. Ordinary people can safely make some allowances for themselves, for example, in the way they process permitted foods or in the consumption of sugar and salt.
But you still shouldn’t include meat and milk in your diet, giving preference to vegetables, fruits and legumes. You should definitely try to diversify your diet with various cereals, lean soups, dried fruits, nuts, honey, jelly and fruit drinks.
Such a harmless hobby as drinking coffee is also strictly prohibited. Fans of this drink will have to try to forget about its pleasant taste and invigorating aroma for 40 days.
Start of the first week
The first days of Lent fall on March 11 and 12. According to church canons, eating food during this period is not recommended at all. The clergy are only allowed to drink water and treat themselves to a small piece of rye bread.
Starting from Wednesday, you can make a list that will tell you what you can eat by day of the week so as not to break Lent. From March 13 to 15, the daily diet should consist mainly of plant foods, without adding oil. These days prescribe dry eating. You can eat vegetables and fruits that have not been subjected to heat treatment.
On March 16 and 17, you can also eat plant foods, but you are allowed to flavor them with sunflower oil. It is best to prepare lean, vegetable soups for yourself these days, with the addition of legumes or mushrooms.
Start of the second week
From March 18 to 22, you need to exclude vegetable oil and the menu again, and combine cooked and raw food, always of plant origin. On the weekend of the 23rd and 24th, the church charter allows you to treat yourself to a glass of red wine and flavor the dish with vegetable oil, but in moderation.
Beginning of the third week
For the next 5 days, from March 25 to March 29 inclusive, you can eat plant-based foods without oil every day of the week. Lent involves alternating hot and raw dishes, so you need to structure your diet in such a way as to diversify it as much as possible. The weekend again allows you to add some fat to your plate and wash it all down with a glass of red wine. But there is no need to be zealous, because fasting is not only a diet, but also a special way of life, concluded on certain days.
Start of the fourth week
The same rules apply this week - alternating hot and raw dishes, as well as a restriction on vegetable oil. The exception again is the weekend - on April 6 and 7, the church allows you to relax a little and cook in vegetable oil.
Start of the fifth week
From April 8 to April 12, the use of vegetable oil is allowed. At the same time, you can afford mostly hot dishes, which has the best effect on your daily diet. On the weekend of April 13, Orthodox Christians will celebrate the Praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so church regulations allow the inclusion of fish or seafood, as well as some red wine, on the menu. The same rules apply to the 14th.
Start of the sixth week
On April 15, there is a ban on vegetable oil, so it is necessary to exclude it from daytime and evening dishes. But the very next day, the 16th, you can allow yourself to consume a small amount of vegetable fats, because for the next couple of days you will have to hide it in a drawer again.
On Lazarus Saturday, April 20, fasting Christians will glorify the revival, so they can afford to put dishes with vegetable oil, a glass of wine and a small portion of red caviar on the table. The 42nd day of Lent, which falls on April 21, is called Palm Sunday. On this date, you can include fish in the menu, and prepare vegetables seasoned with vegetable oil as a side dish.
Beginning of the seventh week
The final week of Lent is the strictest, so it must be taken with particular seriousness. Many believers who have indulgences begin their abstinence with it. Each day of this period in the church charter is called “Great”, since it is directly related to the last days of the life of Jesus Christ. From April 22 to 25, the daily menu should consist of plant foods, preferably raw, without adding oil.
On April 26, there is a complete ban on any food. On Saturday you can afford to eat some raw vegetables and bread, but on Sunday, Easter Day, prepare a festive lunch and share it with loved ones.
These days, all believers remember the Last Supper, the betrayal of Judas, the trial, crucifixion, death and burial.
Recommending that believers eat plant foods, the church charter includes vegetables, lean bread, fruits, as well as nuts and beans. But by flavoring them with spices, you can get a healthy and tasty dish that will not only saturate the body, but also give pleasure at the moment of eating it.
As mentioned above, such a strict menu is valid only for clergy, and ordinary citizens do not have to strictly observe it. An unprepared body may not withstand such a long period of restrictions, so you can allow yourself some indulgences. This does not mean that the spiritual side of fasting is also not obligatory. Every Christian believer can and should cleanse the soul of negative thoughts and evil deeds.
Prohibited Products
It is imperative to know what you can and cannot eat during Lent by day of the week, so as not to inadvertently violate any prescription. All meat and dairy products, cheese, cottage cheese, butter and eggs are prohibited.
In general, these are the products that a person takes from representatives of the animal fauna. But from this list you can choose something without which the normal state of the body is difficult to maintain under certain conditions and ask for the priest’s blessing. In this case, the fast will not be broken.
Lenten menu options
So that the menu for the days of the week during Lent does not differ much from the everyday one, you can prepare the following food options:
- Soups. They are mainly prepared from cereal vegetables. Some add mushrooms, dumplings and dumplings. If you take this note into account, you can greatly diversify your daily diet during Lent. Don’t forget about the existence of fresh herbs and various seasonings that can greatly improve the taste of any dish.
- Cutlets. Vegetable cutlets with minced cabbage, beets and carrots are an excellent alternative to everyone’s favorite meat dish. Instead of eggs, you can add semolina or starch, which will perfectly bind together the components of lean minced meat.
- Salads. You can choose any products for this dish, preferably seasonal ones. Fresh greens, young radishes and tomatoes and cucumbers can be alternated with potatoes, carrots and beets.
- Bakery. Pancakes made with water, without adding eggs, will delight any fasting Christian, especially if served with honey. Pies can also be eaten during Lent, avoiding the addition of prohibited foods.
What you can eat on the days of the week during Lent, everyone must decide for themselves. You should not start fasting if you are not confident in completely maintaining it and following all the instructions. The main thing is to try to avoid the formation of negative thoughts, anger and hatred towards others. This will allow you to bring yourself one step closer to the Lord and earn His grace.
