What is a Catholic supposed to eat during Lent? Do I need to go on a special diet? What do I eat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent?
The Catholic Diet for Lent can be super confusing and its easy to get flustered on Ash Wednesday or a Friday of Lent when youre not entirely sure what to eat.
You can stop worrying because Im going to explain the answers to all of these questions right now. No more being confused about what to do during Lent!
Lent is a period of time leading up to Easter that Catholics spend in preparation. It involves prayer, fasting, and penance. This time period is 40 days long, not including Sundays.
During Lent, a Catholics life should look a little different than it does throughout the rest of the year. The point of Lent is to spend time repenting from sin and preparing for Jesus resurrection.
Hopefully were always striving for holiness, but during Lent Catholics often put in some extra effort.
Lenten suppers often consist of a vegetarian soup, bread and water in order to maintain the season’s focus on abstinence, sacrifice and simplicity.
What are the Catholic rules for Lent?
There are a couple different practices that the church asks of Catholics during Lent.
Catholics age 14 and older should not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and all the Fridays of Lent.
Catholics age 18 to 59 must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. A fast consists of eating one full meal and possibly two smaller meals that do not add up to the amount of a second full meal. No solid food should be consumed between meals.
You can read the exact guidelines for Lent on the USCCB website.
There are many reasons why Catholics fast, and a quick internet search could reveal many, but two main reasons come to mind.
Jesus fasted for 40 days. We are called to imitate Him in every way. Therefore, we should fast.
Fasting also helps us understand what Jesus went through. Even through fasting for one day, we can feel the pain that He went through to fast for 40 days. We can get a sense of the sacrifice He made for us and the ache He feels for each of our souls.
By abstaining from one of our physical needs, we can understand our complete dependence on God. Usually, we use food as energy or a mood booster to get us through the day. But the absence of food can show us how we were previously using an earthly pleasure, like food, to fill a heavenly void.
When we fast, we can use our moments of pain as prayers. Asking God to give us His strength. From this we learn true dependence.
What do I actually eat during Lent?
Okay, so we understand what Lent is and what the rules are. But practically, what on earth do you eat when you cant eat meat on Fridays?!
Hello, Welcome to my blog. Im the Plant-Based Catholic and every recipe I share on this blog has zero meat. So peruse my archives and pick what sounds interesting.
Okay. Ill help you out a bit more than that.
You might be concerned about eating foods with enough protein or just feeling full on the days you dont eat meat. Im happy to announce that you can get PLENTY of protein from plant-based foods like beans, grains, and vegetables! And fiber, an amazing nutrient found only in plant foods, is responsible for feelings of satiety.
Bottom line: DONT WORRY. Eating plant-based on the Fridays of Lent is very doable and you dont have to feel deprived.
Ive got four categories of meals for you to choose from to make your Fridays of Lent easy!
Tempeh is one of the amazing plant foods that is super high in protein. In case you havent heard of it, tempeh is made from fermented soybeans. Its neutral in flavor so in each of these recipes well use seasonings to spice up the taste!
Tempeh is made of soybeans, so all the recipes above are technically bean recipes too, but the dishes below are made with other types of beans. All legumes are a great source of protein and fiber, so youll still get a ton of nutritional value even without tempeh.
I dont know about you, but where Im from its usually pretty chilly outside during Lent. A nice bowl of soup always warms my body and my soul. Soup can make a great Friday meal!
And, of course, this wouldnt be a post about plant-based meals without a whole bunch of salads.
Salad makes a filling meal if you do it right. Add tons of veggies for super filling fiber, beans for protein, and fats for optimal digestion and nutrient absorption.
Ive focused mainly on lunch/dinner ideas because they tend to be the more difficult meals, but if you eat meat for breakfast or are just wanting to change up your breakfast routine, I have so many delicious plant-based breakfast ideas for you! Below are my favorites.
If youre looking for more ideas, I have PLENTY of other recipes that I dont have linked above. I encourage you to click through the archives of this blog and find recipes that interest you!
Also, read through this 10 No-Meat Meals for Lent post where I share some fun recipes from other bloggers!
I sincerely hope that this gives you a better idea of what a Catholic diet for Lent should look like. Please reach out to me if you have any questions! Have a blessed and fruitful Lent.
Why can we not eat meat on Friday during Lent?
FAQ
Why do you use soup suppers during Lent?
What foods are forbidden during Lent?
What is the purpose of not eating meat on Fridays during Lent?
Why do we give up food for Lent?
What do Christians eat during Lent?
Christians of various traditions, who have voluntarily undertaken the Daniel Fast during the season of Lent, would consume Lenten suppers made from vegetables, fruits, lentils, beans, seeds and nuts, with meat, lacticinia and wine being excluded ( cf. Daniel 10:3 ).
What are the health benefits of lentils?
Lentils are widely recommended as a quality food choice to include in a health-promoting diet. Lentils are budget-friendly, satiating, and versatile. They are a low glycemic nutrient-dense food, rich in dietary fiber and plant protein. Lentils are rich in folate, iron, and potassium. In general higher-fiber diets are associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Also, substituting soluble fiber-rich legumes like lentils for foods high in saturated fat or refined carbohydrates may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lentils are easy to prepare, delicious, and take much less time to cook compared to hard shelled beans.
Can you eat meat during Lent?
Most Catholics believe you can eat chicken stock, beef broth, turkey gravy, and other similar condiments during Lent, as long as you are only eating the juices from the animals, not the meat (flesh) itself. However, not everyone agrees. You will want to ask your local priest for a definitive answer on this one. Can You Eat Fish During Lent?
How many days do you eat during Lent?
While the season of Lent is a 40-day period (46 days if you count Sundays) leading up to Easter Sunday, you only have to follow the Catholic Lent fasting rules on 8 days total. That’s 2 days of fasting and 8 days of abstaining from meat. Every other day during Lent, you eat like normal. No changes needed.