Are you bored of your current fasting meals? Or maybe you’ve just been baptized and have no idea what to eat. Well keep reading and take a look at my Orthodox Fasting Recipes listed below.
Fasting as an Orthodox Christian is primarily about spirituality and discipline rather than the ingredients of your meal. We abstain from meat, dairy, olive oil and wine most Wednesdays and Fridays as well as during longer fasting periods through the year.
Individual families may have different guidelines based on their medical conditions and nutritional needs. If you have any health concerns, I would recommend speaking with your priest for guidance on fasting as well as your doctor.
There does tend to be some confusion with the fasting rules. I’ve heard some Orthodox say any alcohol other than Wine is okay during a fast. Others have said absolutely no alcohol.
The same goes for olive oil vs. other cooking oils. I will admit, I find it extremely challenging to completely eliminate oil, especially since it is commonly used for sautéing, but you can just sauté with water if needed.
Regarding meat, most Orthodox I have spoken with say you are allowed to consume invertebrates, such as shrimp, crab, mussels, and lobster. If you are confused or have any questions on these topics, it is always best to consult with your priest.
Personally, I am not fond of substituting ingredients to accommodate fasting requirements. For one thing, many of these substitutions are unnatural and unhealthy.
Second, it undermines the purposes of fasting, which are to strengthen our spiritual resolve and discipline our mind and body. If we merely eat the same dishes but replace certain ingredients, are we truly fasting?
One thing I prefer is to avoid treats (or sweets) while fasting. These indulgences often contain excessive amounts of sugar and giving in to these cravings contradicts the purpose of fasting.
In today’s world, the convenience of smartphones and services like “DoorDash” have made instant gratification a widespread issue for many people in America. Obesity and Heart Disease rates are at unprecedented levels.
Not only are companies continuously creating more processed foods, but these items are also becoming more accessible and cheaper than healthier alternatives.
Spirituality
With all that in mind, fasting should really provide us more time to work on ourselves spiritually. For this reason, I prefer to avoid elaborate recipes. By keeping our meals simple, we reduce the time spent on planning, preparation, and cooking, thereby allowing more time for our spiritual journey and prayer.
If you are struggling to come up with fasting meal ideas, I have listed below some of my family’s favorite options. I plan to update this list as I continue, and I am also open to providing specific recipes upon request.
Breakfast:
A healthy whole grain cereal with Almond or Oat Milk
Peanut Butter Oatmeal
We usually add peanut butter powder and syrup to our oatmeal but you can use regular peanut butter if you like.
Oatmeal with Chopped Nuts, Fruit and Syrup
we use sugar free syrup and it still tastes delicious.
Peanut Butter Banana Toast
Sometimes I sprinkle a bit of sugar and cinnamon on top
I prefer to buy the Zatarain’s brand. Prepare according to box instructions and then add chopped peppers and garnish with avocado.
Rice and Beans
I usually use dried pinto or black beans that I’ve previously prepared. Any kind of beans (even canned) work just fine. You can add veggies and spices to your liking.
Clam Chowder with Beans
Instead of heavy cream I just use almond milk. You can also use coconut milk or any other dairy substitute. If we’re feeling the need for more protein, I will add in some beans.
You can use rice and lentils with taco seasoning. Optional toppings include salsa, guacamole, lime juice, pico de gallo, and lettuce.
Macaroni & Tomato Juice with Broccoli
Yes this is just cooked macaroni with some tomato juice. I usually cook some frozen broccoli separately and add it in with some season all and lemon pepper. If we want more protein, I will add some beans.
Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce
Snacks:
Avocado Toast
I like to add chopped tomatoes or even some pico de gallo with Sriracha or Cholula.
Baked Sweet Potato with Coconut Oil, Brown Sugar and Cinnamon
Spinach & Fruit Smoothie
You can use dairy substitutes instead of milk. I usually just use water and add in some Turmeric and Black pepper.
In all traditional Greek Orthodox fasting periods, meat, dairy products and fish (except shellfish) are not eaten at all. Vegetables, cereals, legumes like chickpeas and lentils as well as fruits are allowed all year and not surprisingly, the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest in the world!
It can thus been seen that the Orthodox Christian Church, through its numerous fasting practices incorporating a periodic vegetarian diet (including vegetables, legumes, nuts, fruits, olives, bread, snails, and seafood), and its minimization of meat eating essentially proposes a variant of vegetarianism, thus ...
On Great Friday those who have the strength follow the practice of the early Church and keep a total fast. Those unable to do this may eat bread, with a little water, tea, or fruit juice, but not until sunset, or at any rate not until after the veneration of the Winding-Sheet (Epitaphion) at Vespers.
We should avoid meat, eggs, and dairy products during fasting. However, we should eat legumes, fruits, vegetables, greens, bread, seafood, potatoes, some wine, with food, and occasionally some fasting dessert, such as halva.
Abstain from all meat throughout Great Lent and Holy Week. Abstain from eggs and dairy when possible (but at least Mon-Fri of Pure Week, on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the period, and Mon-Sat. in Holy Week).
All fruits and vegetables are permitted, as are pulses, grains, nuts, and seeds, shellfish, and to the chagrin Roman Catholics everywhere, sugar, honey, preserves, and jellies.
Lent is traditionally a time of fasting and penance for Christians around the world and for many, that means not eating meat on Fridays. Whether you follow this tradition or not, tuna is an underappreciated and highly delicious meat alternative for Fridays or any day!
This includes, as well, the four canonical fasting periods (Great Lent, the Apostles' Fast, the Nativity Fast and the Dormition Fast), and certain other days, including the Eve of Theophany, the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, and the elevation of the Cross.
In particular, positive effects concerning glucose and lipid control have been observed, while there is still inconclusive evidence concerning blood pressure. Especially for lipid control, certain studies have indicated a positive impact of Orthodox religious fasting on total and LDL cholesterol.
In Coptic Orthodox Christianity, fasting is defined as going without water and food from midnight to sunset; after that time, the consumption of water and one vegetarian meal is permitted. The fasting periods of Coptic Christians are exceeded by no other Christian denomination except the Orthodox Tewahedo.
Eating bread during fasting typically refers to consuming a small amount of plain bread or unleavened bread as a basic sustenance while adhering to a fasting regimen.
The Catholic Church has specific fasting requirements during certain times of the year, such as during Lent, in which Catholics are expected to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. However, eggs are not considered meat, and therefore are permitted to be consumed on fast days.
Orthodox dietary rules require periodic vegetarianism through the avoidance of all animal food, with the exception of mollusks and crustaceans, which are permitted on many fasting days. Some plant-based foods such as wine and vegetable oil are also prohibited during some fasting periods.
According to the USCCB, you shouldn't eat meat from chickens, cows, sheep, ham, pigs, or birds. It's also common practice to avoid alcohol, sweets and desserts, and fast foods made from chicken and beef. Although you can't eat protein-rich meat during Lent, it's a great time to consume meatless meals, like seafood.
Great Lent: The Great Lent is the longest and most intensive fasting period in the Orthodox Church, lasting for 40 days before Easter. During this time, Orthodox Christians abstain from meat, dairy products, fish, wine, and oil.
Fasting. Greek Orthodox Lent is a time of fasting, which means abstaining from foods that contain animals with red blood (meats, poultry, game) and products from animals with red blood (milk, cheese, eggs, etc.), and fish and seafood with backbones. Olive oil and wine are also restricted.
Every day of Lent is a Vegan Fast for all Orthodox Christians, not just Friday. No meat, fish, dairy… cheese-yogurt or butter, no olive oil, no eggs … no liquor.
What can you eat while fasting and praying? - Quora. Anything you want—except that which you've determined in your heart to fast from. Some people fast all food and drink except water. Some fast all food and drink except water, juice, and coffee/tea.
Hobby: Web surfing, Rafting, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Ghost hunting, Swimming, Amateur radio
Introduction: My name is Virgilio Hermann JD, I am a fine, gifted, beautiful, encouraging, kind, talented, zealous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
