www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Atkins during Lent...

Any ideas?

SUBWAY, you know the new atkins subs, WITHOUT THE MEATS ON THE SUBS

APPLEBEES WITHOUT THE MEATS

Instead of having the deacon cry out - Wisdom Let us attend.
Maybe he could sing Vegtables, Vegtables, Vegtables!
Stephanos I

Fish- Baked fish, broiled fish, tuna fish, shellfish, fish stew. Salad. LOTS of salad. Salad with fish, salad with shellfish.
Dave, you are truly going to be a NEW man by Pascha!
Sam

I had to giggle at the question, as I was just now shoving handfuls of pretzels in my face, guzzling water, and heading out the door for a really long run....

...to me "Power Bars" are a nearly perfect food.
They may even be a food group.

Fish during Lent?

Though my wife and I are Byzantine Catholics, we prefer to follow the Great Fast as more OCA and Russian christians do- no meat, fish, dairy, wine, or olive oil, with certain exceptions. There are workarounds, but Atkins looks too far removed from this regimen. If not, let me know. We're going to try adding more low carb items this year, since we tend to shellfish, breads, pastas, beans, and rice otherwise.

Dear Friends,

Just stay away from those parish lenten cookbooks.

I find the treats they describe so wonderful, one Lent I actually put on weight . . .

But I'm now my ideal weight, six feet tall and 180 lbs. - a great specimen of a man, if I do say so myself . . .

Isn't that so, Mother Sharon?

Alex

My rule is that if it has a face, or something like a face (antennae, eyestalks, whatever!), I don't eat it on Wednesdays or Fridays during the Great Fast. Scallops don't pass my test - not after I saw 'em at the aquarium. I eat plants and black bread mostly on those days.

My co-worker is a Protestant who observes a Lenten fast and he was trying to be good and, one fine afternoon during the fast, he bought a salad with nothing but vegetables for lunch. He was avoiding things w/ faces, oils, eggs, wine, festive foods, etc. Alas, he bit into a huge green beetle lurking in the salad. (He's a real outdoorsman. He just spit the bug out, muttered something about "poor little fellah," rinsed the salad again, and kept on eating.)

Dave:

How about meatless chili?

1 16 oz. Can of red beans
1 16 oz. Can of black beans
1 16 oz. Can of light red beans
1 16 oz. Can of chili beans
1 16 oz. Can of chickpeas
2 to 3 tsp Chili powder
2 to 3 Cans of stewed tomatoes
I large or 2 medium onions
1 green pepper
1 yellow pepper
1 red pepper
2 6 oz. cans of tomato paste
Garlic powder or roasted garlic cloves—to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine beans, chili powder, stewed tomatoes, and tomato paste in 6-quart stockpot and simmer on low heat. Coarsely chop onions, peppers, and garlic (if using roasted garlic). Add roasted garlic or garlic powder to pot. Soften onion and peppers in non-stick frying pan using water rather than oil to help the process. Add to pot, bring to boil, and return heat to simmer. Cook until broth is thick. This may be thinned with 8 to 16 oz. of water and the tomato paste may be omitted for variation. Adjust seasoning—salt and pepper (and more garlic powder)—prior to serving.

Note: some people like to add crushed red pepper and a chili or Jalapeno pepper to make it a bit more spicy.

I divide this into quart containers and freeze some of it.

Enjoy.

BOB

Dear Alex,

Are you telling us you have good looks too? As well as brains and charm? Your wife must consider herself one lucky lady!

Tammy

Dear Tammy,

Well, I say so . . .

Alex

Edward-
NO fish during Lent?

Wow! I have never been that strict and I've been BC for decades.
Does everyone here skip the fish during Lent?
Sam

Dave,

The Counting Carbs bread by Brownberry has 6 usable carbs,3 grams fiber, 5 grams protein. Its is pricey in these parts $2.99 a loaf. Are you paying attention Alex?

Sam,

The fast in the Byz Church is different the OCA.It has me a little intimidated. I have Diabetes. The Orthodox fast makes you want load up on carbs but I and Alex need our protein to keep our blood sugars stable. I'm also looking at the veggie burger stuff that doesn't contain egg whites. The stricter fast in the Orthodox Church is making me more aware of the lifestyle change (diet)people have to make because of illness. This is the first time in my life I am viewing fasting as difficult. I pray everyone on the the board has a productive Great Fast.


Nicky's Baba

Nicky's Baba reminds me that it is better to use personal discretion/discernment when it comes to the Great Fast, especially if there are specific health considerations like diabetes to consider. Depending on your jurisdiction or personal preference, a discussion with your parish priest ought to result in formal approval to make exceptions if that is what you need to make exceptions. Not everyone's metabolism can manage the general rigors of fasting in the manner in common use in the OCA. I know an OCA member who HAS to eat fish several times a week during Great Lent, or she develops chronic diarrhea. Parents of children and the elderly are usually told to be careful not to jeopardize growth needs (dairy, etc. for kids, for example) or special health considerations.