Fasting Tips For Newbies

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Hi, all! I've just recently started *trying* to participate in the fasts of the Church. I can handle the normal Wednesday and Friday fasts without much trouble, but boy am I struggling with the long ones! I know, it's suppose to be hard....but I'm wondering if some of you have some words of advice.

One thing in particular I'm wondering about is how to suppliment protein and calcium on the longer fasts (Great Lent, Apostles Fast, etc.). For women, calcium is a big issue because most of us struggle to get enough of it even when we can eat dairy. I don't really want to have to invest in a bunch of suppliment pills. And protein, we all have to have this to maintain muscles. Being that out heart is a pretty important muscle, we don't want to be lacking.

Can I get some tips from y'all? Thanks!

 

[ufonium2]

Be sure to pick up a copy of my new cookbook Fasting for Young, Broke, Lazy People which is due out soon. It won't answer any actual nutrition questions, but with all the money you'll save by eating like a refugee, you can buy all the supplements you need to stay healthy.

 

[Matrona]

Start taking the one-a-day women's formula vitamins--they give you 100% of your daily value of calcium, IIRC, plus folic acid and many other things us gals need.

Also, invest in a Lenten cookbook. You can usually get one at an Orthodox bookstore. They will give you meal ideas for just about anything the fasts can throw at you.

 

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Be sure to pick up a copy of my new cookbook Fasting for Young, Broke, Lazy People which is due out soon. It won't answer any actual nutrition questions, but with all the money you'll save by eating like a refugee, you can buy all the supplements you need to stay healthy.

LOL! Actually, I suppose I shouldn't laugh at that. I bet if you really did write that book you'd be rich! You just have to have the word "diet" in the title. I bet you'd make a fortune off a book called "The Refugee Diet."

 

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Oh, and Matrona: Vitamins will help with mineral loss (calcium) but I don't think they have any protein in them. I hear legumes are a pretty good source, however, I'd need that cookbook you mentioned to know what to do with them.

Has anyone ever tried soy milk? I'm kind of afraid to try it. If you've ever smelled soy baby formula you'll know why.

 

[Matrona]

Oh, and Matrona: Vitamins will help with mineral loss (calcium) but I don't think they have any protein in them. I hear legumes are a pretty good source, however, I'd need that cookbook you mentioned to know what to do with them.

Has anyone ever tried soy milk? I'm kind of afraid to try it. If you've ever smelled soy baby formula you'll know why.

Soy milk is gross... I tried vanilla flavored once and about got sick from it, it was so bad. I do like other soy products, like tofu dogs, etc.

You can also get protein from seafood without backbone--shrimp, clams, etc. And we all know that fishsticks do not have backbone, either!!!

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

Soy milk is gross

Not to cause division, but I think soy milk is one of God's greatest gifts- but only during fasting periods.

My only advice would be to start slow... Instead of jumping into a fast head-on, try just going meatless at first. Then next time, go a little farther. It's pretty common for newbies to get over-zealous in their fasting right away, and then in a year or so when the zeal for self-deprivation wears off, they (we) have no foundation for fasting.

The most important thing, though, is to be under the guidance of a Spiritual Father, and do not fast any stricter than he suggests. You can't go wrong in submitting to Orthodox authority

Moses

 

[countrymousenc]

Sun Soy and Silk (found in the same section as cow's milk in the grocery store) are two brands of soymilk that aren't horrible (which is about the best you can say about soy milk). (Sun Soy is the least expensive.) Avoid the low-fat brands - there's no making them taste decent. That said, you can make make soy milk taste ok (if you like coffee flavor). Get a stick blender (if you don't already have one.) Into your glass of soy milk blend a teaspoon of instant coffee, and a sugar-free (or not) flavored syrup of your choice. I like hazelnut or coconut. The coffee zings away the soy taste.

For extra protein, there's a soy-based product called "Carb Solutions." Vanilla is good in juices, and the chocolate is good in soy milk, if you remember to add that tsp of instant coffee.

 

[Momzilla]

I'm struggling with this, too. The Fast of the Holy Apostles is my first lengthy fast, and I've been trying to do it with a non-orthodox husband and two kids under fasting age. My strategy has been to stay firm on Wednesdays and Fridays and to cut myself a little slack at other times. Working on staying meatless is a good start. As you develop some fast-appropriate recipes that you like, it will get easier.

As far as protein... Really, it's not as hard as you think. Nuts and legumes are an excellent source of protein--think peanut butter, red beans & rice, vegetarian chilli, etc.

 

[Oblio]

Soy milk works for me on cereal or in coffee.

 

[Oblio]

Try Falafel.

 

[Momzilla]

Or hummus. Mmmmm.

 

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

Try Falafel.

Falafel??? Wasn't he that little mouse guy in that Disney movie a few years back?

Yes, I've consulted a priest about this issue. He didn't give me any specific tips, but just basically said that I should do what I'm ready for. Basically I've only been avoiding meat. I started out trying to do the full fast and thought I'd have a nervous breakdown at every meal time trying to find something I could eat. I was almost reduced to tears one day in the supermarket in the canned soup isle. This was when I discovered that most canned soups contained either meat stock or some sort of dairy product.

This past Saturday I had to put aside fasting for the day. I had a family reunion to attend and knew I'd be heavily criticized if I refused to eat (there was NOTHING there that would have been meat/dairy free).

 

[Momzilla]

This past Saturday I had to put aside fasting for the day. I had a family reunion to attend and knew I'd be heavily criticized if I refused to eat (there was NOTHING there that would have been meat/dairy free).

From what I understand, that's just fine. Fasting should not be used to alienate others. When I'm in a social situation on a fast day, I do the best I can without standing out and making a show of myself--which is exactly what Jesus criticized the Pharisees for doing during their fasts.

 

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

From what I understand, that's just fine. Fasting should not be used to alienate others. When I'm in a social situation on a fast day, I do the best I can without standing out and making a show of myself--which is exactly what Jesus criticized the Pharisees for doing during their fasts.

Thanks for reminding me of that, Momzilla! Was it you that said you have a non-Orthodox husband and young children too young to fast? If so, I can relate. Right now I'm living with my parents help: ), who also aren't Orthodox. I'm kind of at their mercy as to what kind of food I have available to choose from.