Nutrition rules >>>> Diet and Great Lent - how to combine

Diet and Great Lent - how to combine.

Spiritual cleansing and rehabilitation of the human soul during Great Lent allows you to cultivate the ability to refrain from addictions, one of which is gluttony. But this does not mean a complete rejection of nutrition, but selectivity in nutrition. And for those who don't follow any diets, fasting time is a time to test willpower. And for those whose diets are not particularly compatible with the rules of Great Lent, you can make adjustments to foods and modify their own diet, taking into account the recommendations for the correct observance of the fast.

How to combine diet and fasting during Great Lent ? To ease the psychological burden of waiting for "hungry" days, it is worth mentioning that in ancient times, when people also observed the rituals and conventions of religious canons, it was not possible to have fresh fruits, vegetables, berries and herbs on the dinner table during Great Lent. Today the problem of plant nutrition in the cold season does not exist due to inter-territorial trade and technologies that keep plant products from spoiling during long-term transportation. So it is worth taking advantage of the gifts of modernity and holding Great Lent, if not under a strict regime of restrictions, then at least within the framework of abstaining from food of animal origin.

If you have denied yourself the purchase of expensive non-seasonal fruits and vegetables all winter in favor of meat products, now is the time to do the opposite - pamper yourself with natural plant foods that your body misses so much.

In fasting, it is not recommended to have meat, fish and dairy products in the diet. This group of products also includes eggs, fish roe, animal and milk fats and all derivatives of dairy products. It is not recommended to eat baked goods made with eggs and dairy products. Alcohol is temporarily banned.

Almost all of these products are included in the category of proteins and fats necessary for the body. For this reason, during the fast they switch to vegetable proteins and fats, which are quite capable of replacing proteins and fats of animal origin. It's just a matter of eating habits. It is easiest for vegetarians to fast, since their diet is close to fasting regimes. But people who are accustomed to animal food always have the opportunity to eat quality food during fasting.

Instead of meat, fish and eggs, legumes are used - these are one hundred percent proteins. Frying food during fasting is not prohibited (unless a strict fast is observed) or the days of alternating "raw food" and hot food, so that vegetable soups, vegetable mashed potatoes, frying in vegetable oil, sautéed legumes, salads from boiled legumes, pancakes from vegetables - these are quite high-calorie dishes.

Cereal porridge is another reason to get addicted to healthy food. We recommend porridge with vegetables fried in vegetable oil, with vegetable cutlets (legumes, beetroot, carrot). One of the nuances of cooking cutlets from vegetables is the absence of eggs - a gluing element. This role can be played by starch (corn or potato) or thick flaxseed broth.

You can cook cutlets with onion filling from porridge and get a double pleasure. To prepare such cutlets, you will need cold cereal porridge (not liquid) from buckwheat, oatmeal, millet, corn, rice or barley (pre-cooked), three to four large onions will go for one and a half to two liters of porridge, which must be cut into cubes and over medium heat fry until golden brown, but not crunchy (the onion should be soft), salt the fried onion to taste. Next, make cutlets from a mixture of fried onions, porridge, starch and fry them until golden brown in vegetable oil.

How to replace dairy products in fasting? For these purposes, you can use nut milk, soy milk, rice milk, coconut milk. Dairy sauces, ice cream, and cottage cheese can be made from plant-based milk.

To replace butter with sandwiches, you can spread peanut butter or avocado pate, one of the fattest fruits. Instead of butter, you can put ground avocado pulp in the dough. There are ample recipes for vegetable oil doughs where sunflower, corn, olive, and rapeseed oils work well. But if it's really a matter of thick fats for baking crispy cookies, then lard and other animal fats are one hundred percent substitutes for palm oil - a vegetable product. The same butter can be pounded into creams and ice cream as a substitute for butter and cream.

Great Lent is the time for vegetable terrines. Gelatin plus an assortment of boiled and fresh vegetables can completely replace aspic and ham.

When it comes to desserts, it is not at all difficult to treat yourself and loved ones with sweet dishes during fasting. These are fruit jellies, halva made from seeds and nuts, various sweet flakes, soy ice cream with fruit syrups, nut dressings and natural chocolate, fresh fruits, berries, dried fruits and nuts in caramel, powdered sugar or chocolate glaze.

Drinks during fasting can be represented by juices, compote, jelly, fruit drinks, various types of tea. You can make smoothies or other spiced drinks.

Incidentally, Lent does not imply fasting to the detriment of health. On the contrary, for people suffering from any kind of nutritional or metabolic disease, it is advisable not to go to extremes.

And Great Lent does not imply competition in food - it is not a fasting competition "who can last longer without food." It is not the abuse of certain foods during fasting - this is a tribute to your soul, and not a sacrifice of your health.

What should people do who are unable to part with meat and dairy products for a day, but would like to correlate their diet with religious rules? There are flavoring additives (aromas) that imitate the taste and smell of familiar products with almost one hundred percent accuracy:

Bacon, boiled pork - imitates the taste and smell of meat;
Smoke - imitates the taste and smell of smoking;
Nutritional yeast - mimics the taste of cheeses;
Additives that mimic the taste of dairy products.

There are spices that will add a smoky flavor to any vegetable or grain dish - these are garlic and marjoram (sausage herb).

The main goal of Great Lent is not to limit a person in the joys of life, but to give him the opportunity for several weeks to transfer his attention from worldly problems to his own inner world. Sit quietly at a lean table, thinking about how many good undertakings can be accomplished (for the sake of oneself and for the benefit of loved ones), if you do not concentrate all the time on the hustle and bustle of everyday life. To impose at least a temporary ban on irritation, despondency (boredom), anger, discontent. "Get out" of stress and look around - is life really so difficult, or does a person complicate its course by himself.

For many people, the period of fasting can be the beginning of a revision of their eating habits, it helps to understand that not all foods are equally needed by your body, that it is quite possible to do without food waste, and for this there is no need to make any special inhuman efforts - enough just look at your life and the health that provides it with different eyes.