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.
Substitutions & Treats
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:
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
Peanut Butter Banana Toast
Vegan Pancakes with Fruit and Syrup
Lunch:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
Veggie Sandwiches with Hummus
Salad with Beans and a Fast-Friendly Dressing
Dinner:
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.
Tortilla Chips, Salsa and Refried Beans
Black Bean Tortas
Chick Pea or Black Bean Flautas
Mujadara
Lentil Sloppy Joes
Just use lentils instead of beef.
Burrito Bowls
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.
Uncooked raw vegan foods (raw vegetables, fruit, nuts), possibly with some bread or similar. It is the strictest form of Orthodox fasting, usually reserved for days such as Holy Friday or practiced by monastics.
The Holy Tradition (written and oral) of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church, while advising avoidance of olive oil, meat, fish, milk, and dairy products every Wednesday and Friday throughout the year, additionally includes four principal fasting periods per year when meat as well as dairy products and eggs are ...
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.
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!
Meat, animal products and fish are not allowed. 2. On the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25) and Palm Sunday fish is permitted as well as wine and oil, but meat and animal products are not allowed.
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.
It is the Orthodox Tradition to fast from food products that contain blood. So, we fast from meat, fish, dairy products, oil, and wine. ( Oil and wine, up until the last couple of centuries, were stored in skins of animals. This is why we can eat grapes and olives, we cannot have wine or olive oil.
Well, yes, but not of the warm-blooded variety. Thus, per Catholic Canon, fish and other cold-blooded “meats” are ok to eat on Ash Wednesday and Lent Fridays. This “other” includes reptiles (yuck), amphibians (double yuck!) and shellfish, such as shrimp, lobster, crab, mussels and oysters (ok, now we're talking!!).
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!
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Church do not permit pork consumption. Hebrew Roots Movement adherents also do not consume pork. The pig tended to be regarded as a dangerously liminal animal.
There are no specific time limits. Refrain from eating during the fast and only consume water or juice. Pray and read scripture during your fast. Ask God for forgiveness and strength.
Crustaceans are allowed because they don't have blood. Orthodox Christians fast more strictly than Catholics so for 60 days we can only eat fish on Sunday's but we can eat crustaceans like shrimp any time. (We also can't eat dairy, meat, eggs, wine only on Sunday…or olive oil… basically we are Vegan).
Unless a fast-free period has been declared, Orthodox Christians are to keep a strict fast every Wednesday and Friday. The following foods are avoided: Meat, including poultry, and any meat products such as lard and meat broth. Fish (meaning fish with backbones; shellfish are permitted).
Catholics are required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and each Friday in Lent (including Good Friday). Fish is often used as a substitute for meat-based meals.
The strictest observance would have a 24 hour period where one abstains from wine/alcohol, as well as meat, eggs, cheese, and on most weeks even vertibrate fish, either from midnight to midnight or from evening to evening (6pm the evening before until 6pm of the following evening).
We also dye the eggs red, symbolising the blood of Christ. On Good Friday, there is no cooking or work as it is the day that Jesus is crucified. For this reason all food preparation should happen on Holy Thursday or Easter Saturday. We also eat fakes (Greek lentil soup) or other boiled food with vinegar on Good Friday.
For anyone not familiar with Orthodoxy those 4 Fasts are: Nativity 40 days, Great Lent 40 days plus Holy Week, The Apostles Fast (the amount of days varies), The Dormition Fast is 14 days. There's additional Fasting every Wednesday and Friday plus on other Feastdays..
Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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