Lent
kiiibbb112253
Posts: 67 Member
So I have a religious lent coming up in a few days. What I give up is carbohydrates. Completely. Do you guys have any ideas for foods with no carbs (not low carb)? Please don't tell me it's unhealthy because I already know. Thank you
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Replies
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Beef, chicken, pork, fish. I think that's got it covered.1
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You'll want to do lots of organ meats. Preferably rare, so you don't get scurvy. There's a big long thread over on the "nutrition" board you can read for inspiration.4
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Like completely cutting out carbs 100%? Or doing low? I think vanmep has the right list
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So, no vegetables or fruit either? Sounds challenging, but I guess that's the point, right?
You're basically limited to protein.2 -
Cheese.2
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Cheese has carbs. Not a lot but if OP truly wants no carb then cheese would not be included.3
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annacole94 wrote: »You'll want to do lots of organ meats. Preferably rare, so you don't get scurvy. There's a big long thread over on the "nutrition" board you can read for inspiration.
I had no idea that raw meat contained vitamin C until this moment, thank you for the education!
OP, do you mean "carbs" as in digestible carbs, or "carbs" as in the crazy definition on US nutrition labels, which also includes fibre? I'd strongly advise you to limit your ban to what they call "net carbs" and allow yourself some fibre.
Remember lent is 6 weeks and 6 weeks is a long time.4 -
Unless you are also giving up pooping for lent33
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What's the reason for giving up carbs for Lent?
No carbs foods are meats, oils, and I think water (might have trace carbs).1 -
Why would you do something you think is unhealthy? You're abstaining to show religious piety, not to lose weight.
"Giving up carbs" is so impossible that you'd practically have to stop eating.
Times really are achanging. In them olden days, you gave up meat for Lent and some could only eat bread. These days, bread is the sinful food
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If you're only eating no-carb, that'd be some types of meat and seafood, some oils, some seasonings, and water. This is based on a quick search online.
Sounds pretty miserable.4 -
Zero carb is pretty difficult. You are left with unprocessed meats, some seafood, oils, water.
Avoid all plant based foods (grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, lentils), processed meats, dairy, eggs.
Why are you choosing this for your religious observance? . My understanding of giving things up for Lent is that the purpose is to give up sin/move closer to Christ/spiritually link to those less fortunate. How does eating a zero carb diet fit with the purpose of Lent? Maybe you should discuss this choice with your spiritual advisor.14 -
Rice and beans would be more true to the goals of Lent, while donating the grocery savings to the poor.
But hey, if you want to spend more money and live entirely on meat and pretend it's about God, I guess that's an option.26 -
If for religious reasons I guess shellfish (Leviticus 11:10), camel, and Rock Badger (Leviticus 11:1-47) are off the menu.
Shame, because prawns are low carb. Not sure on Camel or Rock Badger - not in MFP database.6 -
You realize we actually need SOME sugar / carbs for brain function, right? No?
Okay.4 -
annacole94 wrote: »Rice and beans would be more true to the goals of Lent, while donating the grocery savings to the poor.
But hey, if you want to spend more money and live entirely on meat and pretend it's about God, I guess that's an option.
It's been a long time since I went to church, but I seem to remember as a kid that the point of Lent is to NOT eat meat... at least on Fridays, correct?
This seems super backwards to me.6 -
I think the meat thing is mostly just for Fridays, but it's the idea that meat is expensive and was part of celebrations and giving it up was humbling and somber.deluxmary2000 wrote: »annacole94 wrote: »Rice and beans would be more true to the goals of Lent, while donating the grocery savings to the poor.
But hey, if you want to spend more money and live entirely on meat and pretend it's about God, I guess that's an option.
It's been a long time since I went to church, but I seem to remember as a kid that the point of Lent is to NOT eat meat... at least on Fridays, correct?
This seems super backwards to me.3 -
annacole94 wrote: »
I think the meat thing is mostly just for Fridays, but it's the idea that meat is expensive and was part of celebrations and giving it up was humbling and somber.deluxmary2000 wrote: »annacole94 wrote: »Rice and beans would be more true to the goals of Lent, while donating the grocery savings to the poor.
But hey, if you want to spend more money and live entirely on meat and pretend it's about God, I guess that's an option.
It's been a long time since I went to church, but I seem to remember as a kid that the point of Lent is to NOT eat meat... at least on Fridays, correct?
This seems super backwards to me.
In the past, meat was usually given up as part of the Lent fast (fish, eggs, and sometimes poultry were allowed) and some groups gave up all animal products. Some still do.
I've never heard of a religious group giving up carbs. Low-carb diets are the kind of fasting that's only possible for the privileged.
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annacole94 wrote: »
I think the meat thing is mostly just for Fridays, but it's the idea that meat is expensive and was part of celebrations and giving it up was humbling and somber.deluxmary2000 wrote: »annacole94 wrote: »Rice and beans would be more true to the goals of Lent, while donating the grocery savings to the poor.
But hey, if you want to spend more money and live entirely on meat and pretend it's about God, I guess that's an option.
It's been a long time since I went to church, but I seem to remember as a kid that the point of Lent is to NOT eat meat... at least on Fridays, correct?
This seems super backwards to me.
After 13 years of Catholic school, the best thing I learned was that the no meat rule came from a fishermen's lobby in medieval Rome. It must be true because my high school History of the Church teacher told me it's true. (Please don't prove me wrong. I love this story too much to give it up.)
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rainbowbow wrote: »You realize we actually need SOME sugar / carbs for brain function, right? No?
Okay.
inb4 the body can make glucose from protein.4 -
kommodevaran wrote: »Why would you do something you think is unhealthy? You're abstaining to show religious piety, not to lose weight.
"Giving up carbs" is so impossible that you'd practically have to stop eating.
Times really are achanging. In them olden days, you gave up meat for Lent and some could only eat bread. These days, bread is the sinful food
Liquid bread is the best kind.
This is probably a legend, but I love it anyway:Around 700 years ago, German monks in the town of Einbeck developed a specific style of malty, dark, high alcohol beer to help sustain them during intense periods of fasting. This beer became known as Bock, a corruption of the name Einbeck. Later, discontent with the strength of Bock style beer, monks developed an even stronger variant known as Doppelbock, meaning double Bock. This beer was so laden with nutrition that some dubbed it “liquid bread.”
Now, these beers were so delicious that the monks began to wonder if they were contrary to the spirit of Lenten penance. Being faithful sons of the Church, they decided to consult the pope. On the journey to Rome, however, the beer was subjected to extreme weather conditions, causing it to spoil and turn sour. When the pope tasted it, he was so appalled by the spoiled beer that he immediately deemed it an excellent Lenten penance.12 -
I live in Ireland. Lent is a really big thing here. People would be horrified if you said you weren't giving up something for Lent. (Even if you're not religious!
) But I've never heard of someone giving up ALL carbs for Lent. It's not healthy and it's not in the spirit of Lent. 10 -
kiiibbb112253 wrote: »So I have a religious lent coming up in a few days. What I give up is carbohydrates. Completely. Do you guys have any ideas for foods with no carbs (not low carb)? Please don't tell me it's unhealthy because I already know. Thank you
I seem to remember that last year they deleted all Lent threads (religious talk?), so I don't know whether this one will last.
I always observe Lent and give something up (and add something), but for me it's important that it have some religious significance or at least not be mostly about something else (like dieting). I do like food-related ones, as I think of the sacrifice and why I am doing it when I think about the thing I would otherwise be eating, and I also like to focus on living/eating simply, so may give up sweets and meat. Coffee was a good one for me, which I've done, but that's because I tend to drink a lot of coffee so thought about it a lot.
For me, carbs wouldn't be a good one, since I couldn't make that related to the religious significance at all -- indeed, some of the more indulgent foods are the ones without carbs (rack of lamb, prime rib, etc.) and it would feel like dieting to me. Beyond that, many basic, healthy, inexpensive foods are carbs (oats, legumes), and others are important for health and good things to be eating (like especially vegetables). So I don't really get this as a Lenten sacrifice, but whatever works for you, of course. (I would assume that you also do other things like related to prayer and almsgiving, if it is a religious thing for you. IMO too much focus tends to be on the fasting part and not the other portions.)
Anyway, as others have said, foods without carbs are basically meat or fats like olive oil, butter, perhaps cheese is close enough. Even eggs have a small number of carbs.
Why would you do something you know is unhealthy for Lent?2 -
On the other hand, I did have pancakes this morning! (Pancake/Shrove Tuesday.) My assistant usually brings in paczkis, but I don't think she did today.1
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rainbowbow wrote: »You realize we actually need SOME sugar / carbs for brain function, right? No?
Okay.
inb4 the body can make glucose from protein.
Yeah, but our bodies can only make so much and our brain uses 120 g of glucose per day.
http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~brandt/Chem330/EndocrineNotes/Chapter_5_Glucose.pdf
The bare minimum carb intake even for those on a very very serious ketogenic diet is 30g of carbohydrates per day.2 -
pickles!1
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kiiibbb112253 wrote: »So I have a religious lent coming up in a few days. What I give up is carbohydrates. Completely. Do you guys have any ideas for foods with no carbs (not low carb)? Please don't tell me it's unhealthy because I already know. Thank you
Completely? Meat and fat it is then...0 -
annacole94 wrote: »
I think the meat thing is mostly just for Fridays, but it's the idea that meat is expensive and was part of celebrations and giving it up was humbling and somber.deluxmary2000 wrote: »annacole94 wrote: »Rice and beans would be more true to the goals of Lent, while donating the grocery savings to the poor.
But hey, if you want to spend more money and live entirely on meat and pretend it's about God, I guess that's an option.
It's been a long time since I went to church, but I seem to remember as a kid that the point of Lent is to NOT eat meat... at least on Fridays, correct?
This seems super backwards to me.
After 13 years of Catholic school, the best thing I learned was that the no meat rule came from a fishermen's lobby in medieval Rome. It must be true because my high school History of the Church teacher told me it's true. (Please don't prove me wrong. I love this story too much to give it up.)
Would be interesting to know what kind of amusing stories are behind giving up oil and cooked food for these same groups! Not trying to prove you wrong, just giving you additional amusing options to contemplate! Wonder if they had a firewood lobby back then.1 -
My father is a practicing Catholic. The point of Lent, he says, is to give up something that you enjoy to experience, if only marginally, the suffering described in the Bible before the events celebrated at Easter. It doesnt have to be food, it can be something else that you refrain from for 40 days. Watching tv, video games, or eating out are also options. He gives up ballet and barrel jumping every year. He is a miserable old cuss until we break out the chocolate bunny ears.10
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I'm not catholic, but I used to work with someone who gave up chocolate for lent.
Maybe you could just cut out things like potatoes, chips, breads, crackers, and pasta, but still eat vegetables with your meat, plus lo carb fruits and cheeses.This seems more doable.1
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