Lent
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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 -
And to think I was just going to give up trolling on mfp for Lent...17
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So you eat the bunny ears first or start with the feet?0
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150poundsofme wrote: »So you eat the bunny ears first or start with the feet?
Tail first - then the ears0 -
Ready2Rock206 wrote: »150poundsofme wrote: »So you eat the bunny ears first or start with the feet?
Tail first - then the ears
No. You pick off the candy eyes and eat those first. Eat the rest of the bunny as you choose (I start with ears and prefer hollow to solid [bad teeth]).1 -
Ears FIRST!!! Anything else is inhumane!!0
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Yikes! The thought of giving up all grains, vegetables and fruits as well as anything with fibre or sugar in it (beans, milk, cheese, etc.) sounds awful and not what Lent is intended for. That'll make you sick!
Lent isn't a way for people to lose the weight they want to - is that what you're trying to do?2 -
Just jumping on the band wagon, I don't think I could do it. It considered it, not giving up carbs from fruit and veg but that from bread, cereals and cakes- why? Because these are the foods I'm greedy with. Giving up carbs for me, would be like giving up gluttony! However, I'm not able to give them up after much reflection!0
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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.
I find it amusing that you feel knowledgeable enough to criticize someone's religious observance, yet call it "the meat thing".
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It is worth considering that during Lent, Catholics are expected to abstain from eating meat which might make this a challenging (and perhaps unhealthy) sacrifice to observe during Lent in light of what you are still going to be eating.2
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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.
I find it amusing that you feel knowledgeable enough to criticize someone's religious observance, yet call it "the meat thing".
Born, raised, and confirmed Catholic, sweetheart.9
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