Tag Archives: lent

cooking, lent

No meat days

5 Comments

Lent is a time of preparation for Easter. A period of time in which vices are given up, and/or better habits are begun. Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent, those who participate refrain from eating meat.

I always used to say I could be a vegetarian easy, because I always like the side dishes better than whatever meat I had in front of me. Then, Lent would arrive and I’d find it hard to not eat meat! This year, I’ve decided I want to really embrace this challenge. Make really good meatless meals for myself and my family.

Today, I made grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches for lunch. Oh they were soooooo good. I’m not a HUGE tomato fan. I like them on sandwiches and in dishes. But I tend to pick them out of salads, and I’m not really someone who will eat them alone. (Except fresh out of the garden with some sugar on them. That’s good!) However, on grilled cheese they are THE best thing ever. So. So. So good.

Then tonight, I cooked off tilapia, with rice and green beans. I’m no longer afraid of cooking fish! Up until about a month ago, I shied away from it. Now? I want to try to cook everything!

Growing up, we’d have meatless spaghetti often during Lent. Salmon coquettes, too. Breakfast for supper was also always a treat during Lent!

This Lent, I’ve decided that, instead of “giving things up” I want to “make things better.” I’m throwing myself into this food challenge to hopefully find new and healthy recipes to have even past Lent.

So I ask you… what are some of your favorite Lenten menu ideas? Do you have any meatless recipes you like and think I should try?

goals, weight

Cutting back the Fat Tuesday

4 Comments

Mardi Gras, literally “Fat Tuesday,” has grown in popularity in recent years as a raucous, sometimes hedonistic event. But its roots lie in the Christian calendar, as the “last hurrah” before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

— Taken from American Catholic Website

I gotta admit… Mardi Gras intrigues me. I’ve never been to New Orleans. I’ve never flashed anyone for beads. I’ve never stuffed myself silly. I have, though, had a King Cake before. So I’ve got that going for me (which is nice.)

However, I have regularly given something up for Lent. If I recall correctly, I gave up beer last year. A few years I gave up candy. I’ve tried to “list something I am thankful for” every day of lent, but usually ended up failing miserably. So some years I’ve just said, “I’m going to try to do better in general.”

This year, I am still being fairly broad in my Lenten sacrifice, but I’m doing so with some clear cut plans.

  • Cut back to 1 soda a day, or as close as possible. I can easily down multiple cans of soda a day, if I am not careful. I need to cut that back for many reasons, so probably my biggest challenge will be to cut it back to 1 a day. (I’m not totally cutting it out because sometimes a soda is the only thing that will settle an upset tummy for me.)
  • Drink more water. I’m already doing that with the purchase of my new water bottle! I refill it multiple times a day now, so I know I’m drinking a lot more water than before.
  • Stop eating when I am full. This was never a problem back in the day! But somewhere along the way, I’ve gotten to where I eat well past “full.” I want my old habit back!
  • Eat only when I am hungry. I’ve gotten into the habit of eating just because it seems like a good thing to do. To curb this, I want to start munching on something like sunflower seeds that gives me the feel of eating without the super-crazy calories! And, besides, if I am not hungry, just don’t eat! Its that simple!

I’d love to be several pounds lighter by Easter. Oh I’m doing fine weight-wise, really. Well within my normal BMI. This is a personal health goal to avoid falling into a pattern that won’t be as easy to stop in the future. (And, really, I want to lose the muffin top, ok?)

Healthier habits for a healthier me!