
Lenten regulations have changed quite a bit from bygone days when dietary restrictions abounded. (Although, in the Orthodox churches, there are still some pretty stringent rules to follow.) Before we take a look at what Lent looks like in my kitchen, let's have a refresher on what the Church's official laws are:
- Abstinence from meat on all Fridays during Lent and on Ash Wednesday during for all Roman Catholics over the age of 14.
- Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for all Catholics 18-58 years old.
- While fasting does not apply to the infirm or to pregnant or nursing mothers, abstinence is for everybody who is over age 14.
- Fasting is encouraged daily throughout Lent and abstinence encouraged on all Fridays, but this is not mandatory.
These are only the hard and fast rules. We must remember, however, that Lent is a season of penance, of spring cleaning our souls in honor of Christ's Passion and in preparation for the celebration of His Resurrection! Why do the bare minimum? Ours is not an ascetic household by any means, but if we're going to give something up for Christ, we're going to give until it...well, maybe not until it hurts, but at least until it means something.
So what does Lent look like in my kitchen?
- We abstain from meat on all days except Sundays, which do not count as part of the Lenten season for Roman Catholics, since they are always meant to be a day of celebration! Never is this celebratory air so apparent as during Lent.
- Breakfasts are simple: homemade bread with fruit and milk, granola and yogurt, or porridge.
- Lunches, too, are plain: bread and soup, peanut butter or cheese sandwiches, some veggie sticks and a piece of fruit
- Dinners are vegetarian, with fish on Fridays. We try to cut back on general expense so that we have more to contribute to charitable causes. I make a point of dinners being nutritious and enjoyable but nothing too extravagant, complicated, or rich: good, plain cooking.
- We do not have dessert, except on Sundays, and we cut down on sweet things, in general, though we do still eat fruit and I admit that I simply cannot stand porridge without a little brown sugar.
- We drink only milk, water, tea, and coffee.
- Since I am nursing and since we have young children, we do eat between meals. I give Sophia a morning snack, and I usually will take an afternoon snack. Fruit and vegetables, slices of bread and buter, and cottage cheese make excellent Lenten snacks for those not fasting between meals. I especially enjoy making soft pretzels, a traditional Lenten food. This former Philadelphian prefers hers with yellow mustard!
This week, I'm working on making up a meal plan for Lent. I'm hoping that by doing this ahead of time, I will save as much money as possible, but the main thing I want to save is time: time that will be better spent in prayer and service this Lent rather than in weekly meal planning. I so enjoy pouring over recipes and menus that this is a form of penance in itself!





