Happy Ash Wednesday!
It’s the first day of Lent today and for all you non-Catholics, it’s a 40 day period where most Catholics sacrifice something during this season. Popular choices include sodas, candies, beer, or even sex. It doesn’t have to be a food or anything, but I’m not really going to dive into that side of the Catholic tradition, since that’s not the focus of this posting. Go google Catholic tradition and theology on your own time.
Fridays are a significant time since Catholics are asked to abstain from eating meat like beef, pork, or chicken during the Lenten Season. It all relates back to sacrifice during this period. The one meat exception is fish since that was considered a poor man’s meal. So, many many many Long John Silver’s and Captain D’s will be flooded with good little meat-abstaining Catholics munching down on their sin-free meals.. And what is available at these fast food chains? Fried everything! Fried fish, french fries, hush puppies…fried babies!!!! Well..not the babies but the fried fish is a definite. Although eating fish is a common Lenten tradition to practice on Fridays…eating it fried is a stroke waiting to happen.
I can hear the fried fish loving Catholics now…”But I can’t eat meat on Fridays! It’s forbidden!!!” And you don’t have to eat meat, but it’s better to avoid the fried crap.
Grilling or baking fish is a healthy option, as well as making tuna salads (just don’t get crazy with the mayonnaise).
Other proteins include beans, soy, and tofu. Since I am a good little Catholic I will predominately eat tuna, organic peanut butter and banana sandwiches, rice and black beans, or have an egg white omelets during those days. There are a ton of healthy options you can choose from that doesn’t involve clogging your arteries or expanding your waist line.
So go forth my children and eat … but don’t get crazy
Happy Lent!
EE
