Nutrition calendar for Lent by day: what is possible, what is not. What can you eat in the last week of fasting?

Lent 2019 is very close and it’s worth figuring out now what you can eat by day. Lent is considered the strictest of all existing in Orthodox calendar. To keep it properly, you should not only impose restrictions on food, but also give up fun and pleasures. It is held in honor of the fact that Jesus fasted in the desert for forty days, in memory of the life of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection.

Few people have thought about it, but in fact, Lent does not consist of 40 days, but it is customary to fast for 48. In 2019, it begins on March 11 and will continue until April 27.

The days of Lent have their own name and meaning:

1. Pentecost - this is what all the first 40 days are called.
2. Lazarus Saturday is the name of the Saturday that comes before Palm Sunday.
3. The entry of the Lord into Jerusalem is the day that comes a week before Easter and is also called Palm Sunday.
4. Holy Week - the last six days of Lent, which always take place before Easter.
Many people who are just going to fast for the first time believe that Lent is a kind of Orthodox diet, but in fact, the main goal is considered to be cleansing the soul.

• Who is prohibited from fasting
• Menu of Lenten dishes

Who is prohibited from fasting

1. There is a category of people who are allowed not to fast, these are those who have chronic diseases Gastrointestinal tract, oncology and others. Therefore, before fasting, you should consult a doctor. Direct contraindications include pregnancy, anemia and underweight.
2. If children in your family also fast, then you should not completely abstain from dairy products. On the contrary, it is advisable that the child does not eat sweets, due to restrictions in meat dishes There's nothing wrong with that either.
3. If you are a traveler or work in heavy industries, then you do not have to adhere to fasting in all its canons; relaxations in the consumption of milk and even meat broths are allowed. But you should turn to a clergyman for a blessing.

Rules of conduct during Lent

In addition to the fact that there are rules for abstaining from food, Easter post you need to behave correctly. The recommendations sound like this:

1. Before you start fasting, you should visit the church and take communion, and also receive a blessing from the priest.
2. During the entire period of Lent, a person should not use foul language and should definitely refrain from loud conversations.
3. Do not refuse to help people, even strangers.
4. Decline to visit mass events and under no circumstances organize celebrations that are accompanied by noise.
5. Smoking and drinking drinks that contain alcohol, as well as carnal pleasures are prohibited.
6. Make time to attend the liturgy.

Before you begin to adhere to the food restrictions that Lent implies, you should definitely consult with your doctor, and also after receiving permission from him and the priest to fast. Start physically and mentally preparing your body in advance so that it does not get too stressed while you are fasting.

Rules for meals during Lent

If we talk about the strict monastic observance of Lent in 2019, that is, not much can be done during the day, and you should eat food only once a day, then before going to bed in the evening. The only exception is on weekends; in addition to the evening meal, it is also allowed to eat after waking up in the morning.

Some restrictions, in addition to when to eat, also apply to eating hot food. Only on Tuesday and Thursday you can eat non-cold food. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday it’s the other way around. For the laity, the rules and recommendations are slightly different; they are allowed to eat small portions several times a day.

Only two weeks of the entire Lent are considered the strictest, these are the first and last 7 days.

Allowed foods during Lent

In order to have a balanced diet during Lent and not have to constantly feel hungry, you should draw up a nutrition plan in advance and stick to it. This way you can prepare varied food and eat with pleasure.

Bread, you can eat both black and cereal;
all types of cereals;
vegetables in any form, they can be fresh, pickled, lightly salted or salted;
berry and fruit jam;
mushrooms;
legumes;
dried fruits, honey and nuts;
fruits;
fish is allowed only twice during the entire period of fasting, these days are the feast of the Annunciation and Palm Resurrection.

Meal plan for dry days

Basically, the days of Lent are dry eating. During this period, you should eat food that has not been cooked over fire. It is allowed to eat on such days:

Lenten bread;
honey;
water;
fresh vegetables and fruits;
dried fruits;
greenery;
nuts;
It is allowed to eat cereals that are prepared cold, that is, cereals are infused in water.

Menu on raw food days:

1. Vegetable or fruit salads with nuts, honey or lemon juice without oil (sunflower oil is allowed to be eaten on certain days).
2. Cold porridge.
3. Bars made from ground nuts, dried fruits, honey and bran.
4. Gazpacho or okroshka without eggs, meat and sour cream.
5. Kissel from ground mixture flaxseeds and sesame seeds, which are not boiled over fire, but are poured with boiling water or cold water.
6. Tea and instant coffee.

Meal plan for the first and last week of Lent

As has already been described above, the first and last weeks of Lent are considered the strictest. These days in terms of nutrition are subject to adjustment with the Church Charter with special care.

1 week of fasting:

Monday, you should completely abstain from eating. Allowed to drink water;
Tuesday, in addition to water, eating bread is not prohibited;
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday – days of dry eating;
Sunday is the lightest day during Lent. It is allowed to eat hot lean food and add vegetable oil to it. You are also allowed to drink some real red wine that does not contain alcohol.

Holy Week:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – dry eating;
Friday – complete abstinence from food, only water;
Saturday – dry eating after the 1st star.

Menu of Lenten dishes

Options Lenten dishes there are a lot of them on the Internet, so the question of what you can eat every day during Lent 2019 should not arise. The simplest thing you can prepare is salads; just mix the vegetables you like with lemon juice, for example, or soy sauce.

It is also possible to prepare porridge, just pour boiling water or cold water over the cereal and let it brew. Diversify these dishes with fruits.

When it comes to soups, give preference to those that cook quickly and are not heat-treated, such as tomato soups and vegetable okroshka.

Be sure to drink a lot of water, you can add tea to your diet, only tea that does not require cooking.

After the intoxicating morning of a cheerful, joyful Maslenitsa, the ascetic, strict Lent begins, which does not provide for physical, earthly joys. Believers observe Lent as a tribute to the fasting of Jesus Christ, who fasted for forty days, and after carrying out His baptismal rite, retired into the desert.

Since Lent is just around the corner, it will be useful to talk about prohibited and permitted foods for our table, and especially discuss nutrition in the last week of Lent before Easter.

How to fast during Lent?

For Orthodox Christians, Catholics, and some other denominations, this is the most main post, which is a period of preparation for the celebration of the bright holiday of Easter.

It includes the forty-day fast (Four Day), as well as the fast of Holy Week. Since it involves strict restrictions, it is better to prepare for it in advance, then it will be much easier to withstand. This is especially true for those people who are going to fast for the first time.

It should be noted that the Church does not consider fasting an immutable dogma where one must blindly obey strict rules. Not at all. For example, for those who are preparing to limit themselves in food for the first time, various concessions are provided. For example, a person can decide for himself how much food and drink he needs per day.

At this time, it is much more important to observe certain church norms and rituals than to very strictly limit yourself in food.

But if you feel the strength, feel the need to observe all the rules of Lent, including food restrictions, let's talk about what is allowed and what is not allowed to eat at this time.

What can you eat and what can you not eat?

As the Church prescribes, during Great Lent it is forbidden to consume animal products: meat, eggs, milk, fish, and all food in the preparation of which they were used. Vegetable oil is also not allowed, and alcohol is strictly prohibited. It seems that these products are very easy to determine at first glance whether they are in cooked food or not. But this is far from true.

For example, ordinary chewing gum and many types of candy contain animal gelatin and are therefore prohibited. The same goes for chocolate and many other types of foods.

During this period, homemade preparations will be very useful to you. Salted and pickled vegetables, fruits, berry compotes, juices and jams will be good for nutrition. Timely prepared frozen or dried mushrooms, berries, vegetables.

Be sure to eat fresh, dried, salted garden herbs - parsley, dill, celery, and other spicy, healthy herbs. Add them to any dishes, lean vegetable, mushroom soups, and the table will not seem too bland to you. Special attention pay attention to the first courses, try to eat them hot, “piping hot.” Do not forget that during this period you need to abstain from sexual activity until the end of the fast.

How to eat during the last week of fasting?

The last week before Easter is called Holy Week. At this time, the believer sincerely grieves from the inevitable near death Christ, therefore this period is bound by the strictest restrictions.

But even in this strict fast there are some pretty nice moments. This period is perhaps the most best opportunity prepare for the bright Easter holiday for a true believer.

During this week (for example, in 2013 from April 18 to 24), Orthodox Christians pay great attention to preparing their home and their family members for the coming Easter. They decorate their home, think about how they will spend this day, select holiday cake recipes, and make holiday menu and, of course, they strictly observe church traditions, rules, and rituals.

For example, on Saturday of the sixth week of Great Lent, the church celebrates Christ's last miracle - the resurrection of Lazarus. The Savior performed this miracle before embarking on a difficult path Holy Week. Therefore, Lazarus Saturday is the only day of the whole year when Sunday worship is performed on Saturday.

On Sunday of the sixth week - celebrated Palm Sunday. On this day, the Savior, riding a white donkey, descended from the Mount of Olives to head to the walls of Jerusalem. He was greeted by residents with palm branches in their hands. We replaced them with willow branches.

What is allowed to eat during this period?

During Holy Week, one should observe the strictest fasting - the second degree. It involves dry eating. This means that food should not be brewed, boiled, or fried under any circumstances. The ban remains for all products that we mentioned above. Eat fruits, vegetables, drink clean, fresh water.

During the entire period of restrictions, you can kiss your husband or wife (this is only allowed for spouses), but only in dark time days.

But then the bright holiday of Easter will come and all restrictions will end. Following asceticism and strict self-restraint in everything comes a period of celebration. You will be able to drink wine, have fun and finally have a hearty, delicious meal. Rejoice in life, praise our Savior in your prayers and be happy!

The first week of Lent - how to spend it, what can you eat, what should the menu be like? All this should be scheduled on a daily basis so that abstinence from food does not turn into a regular hunger strike or diet.

On March 11, 2019, Lent begins, which lasts 7 weeks until April 27. One of the conditions for abstinence at this time is a strict restriction in food of animal origin.

You can go this route if you know the rules of food restrictions. You need to start with preparation by learning how to fast during the first week of fasting.

What is the meaning of Lent

The main purpose of fasting is spiritual growth, during which Orthodox people They try to get as close as possible to the Creator, to be filled with His power of love.

During Lent, pacifying and cleansing their flesh, believers spend time remembering the great sacrifice of Christ, who gave His earthly life to cleanse humanity from sins and illnesses.

This is a blessed time when Orthodox Christians can spiritually focus on the great mission of Christ, given to humanity the grace of salvation through faith in Jesus.

The Savior said that those who believe in Him are the temple of the Living God (1 Cor. 3:17). Cleansing our body is preparation for the celebration of Easter, when a miracle of miracles happened. Christ rose again after physical death, giving us hope for eternal Life.

Important. Throughout the 48-day abstinence period, it is not recommended to eat animal products. The use of vegetable oils is limited.

On certain days, fish and seafood products are allowed:

• crayfish;
• lobsters;
• squid;
• shrimps;
• mussels and others.

The first week's nutrition consists of dry eating; the list of products is as limited as possible, but with a properly composed menu you can live with dignity in abstinence for 7 days.

1st week of abstinence - basic rules

The nutrition of the first week of Great Lent is limited to minimalism. Only Orthodox Christians who have walked this path more than once can comply with strict rules.

According to the strict canons of the Church, during this week it is recommended to eat only in the evenings, once a day, and twice on weekends. Particularly steadfast Christians can withstand this regime of abstinence.

Orthodox Christians who have decided to perform the feat of abstinence for the first time should draw up a menu to determine for themselves how to fast on these days.

Products for the first and second days of Lent are selected taking into account the fact that this is a time of dry eating. That is, eating food without heat treatment.

For fasting, you should prepare fresh, dried and pickled vegetables, fruits, honey, crackers, mushrooms, and berries.

Monday

Eating on the first day of fasting is limited to a minimum. If the strength of faith and health allows, then no food is prepared during the day; dry eating is established on this day.

In preparation for fasting, Orthodox Christians dry crackers and fruits in advance, and prepare juices and infusions.

It will help to withstand strict abstinence on the first day fractional meals, every 3-4 hours, so that there is no feeling of hunger.

Avocado sandwich

During this time of grace, a person should concentrate on spiritual food, and not on the stomach.

• You can start the day with a cracker with honey and a cup of fruit juice.
• For second breakfast, a cabbage salad with carrots, onions and a small one sprinkled with sesame seeds is suitable.
• A snack before lunch with nuts and a few prunes and dried apricots will give you strength to get through the day.
• At lunch, you can satisfy your hunger by mixing with avocado pieces, seasoned with soy sauce and ground flax.
• Before dinner, you can eat it, which will give you a feeling of fullness.
• The daily diet is completed by taking juice, infusion with several crackers or bread with honey.

Tuesday

The second day of the great fast in the first week of abstinence before Easter is also under great prohibition.

Orthodox Christians who fast regularly continue to consume bread or water only in the evenings.

For those who are not confident in their abilities, but are very keen to go through the path of cleansing, a menu is drawn up for Tuesday.

The church allows people who are starting to fast to brew tea and coffee to start their Tuesday. A piece of bread with honey is added to the drinks.

• Nuts and apples make a great second breakfast.
• Nuts and dried fruits satisfy hunger quickly and for a long time.
• During your lunch break you can cook nutritious apple, carrots with the addition of cranberries.
• A small sandwich with cucumber and tomato sprinkled with sesame seeds will be a great snack before dinner.
• — ground dried fruits in the form of dried apricots, prunes, raisins, poured with any unsweetened juice, will be a wonderful addition to an evening drink.

Important! Having finished your daily meal, do not forget:

• before going to bed, thank the Savior for the gift of food;
• ask for forgiveness for obvious and implicit sins committed during the day;
• pray for blessings on the coming sleep.

Wednesday

Many believers are concerned about the question: how many times a day can you eat in the 1st week of fasting?

For steadfast Orthodox Christians, monks and clergy, the first week is one of the “hungry” weeks, when food is taken once in the evening in the form of bread and water.

Other people should not immediately burden their bodies with such restrictions. The menu below will help you live Wednesday in worship of God and dry eating.

• For breakfast on the third day of the first week of Lent, we recommend preparing a drink in the form of an infusion or with bread flavored with honey.
• Carrots, grated and mixed with raisins, will help you get through the day until lunch.
• with fresh cranberries, bread sandwiches with champignons will fill you up at lunch.
• A handful of nuts mixed with orange slices is a hearty afternoon snack while abstaining from fast food.
• Crispbread spread with ground banana, honey and poppy seeds will help with abstinence on the third day of fasting.

Thursday

Greens in the form of green onions and fresh herbs. You can pre-order them or buy them in the store.

Dry eating continues on the fourth day of Lent. Food these days cannot be heat treated: it is not boiled. does not fry, does not bake and does not steam.

Candied dates

The main foods for food during fasting remain vegetables, fruits and bread products without the addition of butter and eggs.

• After reading morning prayers, the fourth day of abstinence before Easter can be started with, seasoned with orange juice, with the addition of ground flax. You can use water or fruit drink as a drink.
• A few walnuts, chopped with honey, can be recommended for second breakfast.
• Juicy turnips, coarsely grated carrots, pieces of sour apples with added pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds are quite suitable for lunch. It can be varied with a piece of bread sprinkled with flax.
• A few pieces of candied herbs with a cup of infusion will help you not to go hungry until the evening meal.
• A banana mashed to a pulp, wrapped in a sheet of lavash, turns into savory rolls. If you cut it into pieces you will get Lenten dinner. It fully meets the requirements of dry eating.

Friday

The fifth day of the first week of Lent refers to a strict restriction of all products.

Friday is the day of Christ's crucifixion.

On this day, food intake should be limited to a minimum. In case of acute hunger, snack on bread with cabbage salad or other vegetables, giving up fruits and berries.

Important! Lay people with chronic illnesses, children under 12 years of age, pregnant women and people old age are exempt from the severity of the first week.

This issue should be discussed with your confessor.

Saturday

Having passed the first stage of fasting with dignity and strict abstinence, you can prepare a berry smoothie on Saturday morning. You can take berries.

• To prepare a vitamin cocktail, just mix 250 g of any berries and 2 tbsp in a blender. water. A fruit smoothie will give you a good boost for the whole day.
• The second breakfast will complement the vitamin supply of the morning dish with a salad of pear and orange, seasoned with honey and nuts.
• Bright with ingredients will decorate the dinner table.

Berry smoothie

To prepare, you should prepare the following vegetables, chopped to the state of Korean strips: carrots, turnips, pumpkin in a weight ratio of 1:3:2. For taste, add salt, black pepper, lemon juice, and a lot of herbs. After thoroughly mixing the prepared mixture, you can start lunch with a piece of bread or cracker.

It will be a worthy reward for a week spent in shit.

Everyone knows that our ancestors adhered to traditions and considered every day of fasting a joy. This time was special. Historically, fasting is the restriction of a religious person in something for the purpose of repentance. Some Christians use the metaphor "springtime of the soul." It characterizes the internal state of a person who has set the goal of sacrificing himself to God. The Lord set an example for believers when he stayed in the desert for 40 days and did not eat anything. Spring in nature means awakening, new life Likewise, fasting is a time for testing oneself, self-improvement, and prayer. Some people can do it on their own, without foreign aid, look for flaws, shortcomings, correct them.

In Christianity there is a special time for this, called fast days. During periods of fasting, active spiritual work is performed, passions are eradicated, and the soul is cleansed. To do this, you must go to church often, pray in the morning and evening, do good deeds, give alms, visit the weak, prisoners, and learn humility.

Why is a fast day needed?

In the practice of Christianity, there are 4 multi-day fasts (the Great Fast takes place in the spring, the Assumption and Petrov fasts in the summer, the Rozhdestven fast in the winter) and separate fast days- Wednesday and Friday. During long fasts, the main ones are the first and last weeks. At this time, a person needs to be extremely attentive to himself and his loved ones. What is important for a fasting person is his internal state, actions, actions, and spoken words.

What should abstinence consist of?

Many people mistakenly believe that they need to limit themselves only to food. Self-control is very complex action, requiring considerable effort. It is to track these changes that the Lord created the state in which man resides. If a Christian fully observes external conditions, but visits places of entertainment, watches entertainment programs, behaves unworthily, this can be called an ordinary diet. In this case, the Lord will see the wickedness, and spiritual development will not be. It happens the other way around, when a person consumes forbidden foods, but fasts in his soul. An example would be a stomach or intestinal disease that requires a strict diet. This desire and perseverance will be highly appreciated.

What you can and cannot eat

So, now let's figure out what food you can eat during fasting and what you can't. There is a simple rule about nutrition. Eating foods of plant origin is allowed and eating animal products is prohibited.

Forbidden

• products, poultry.
• Fish (but on some days of fasting it is allowed).
• Eggs, as well as products that contain them.
• Dairy products, butter, dairy products, sour cream, cheeses.

Allowed

You can eat these foods:

• Vegetables in in different forms, pickles.
• Fruits, dried fruits, nuts.
• Porridge on the water.
• Legumes, soy products.
• Mushrooms.
• Bread, lean pastries.
• Fish (only on permitted days).

During fasting, you need to diversify your diet as much as possible, since the body is accustomed to proteins and fats. You need to eat everything, such as juices, soy products, sweets, chocolate. In addition to basic ingredients such as vegetables and fruits, you need to introduce a variety of modern products.

You should definitely try eggplant, celery, spinach, broccoli, arugula, and chickpeas (from the legume family). Ordinary vegetables from the garden can be prepared in a special way, experimented with, and various herbs and seasonings added.

For any housewife, preparing a new dish is a special ritual, during which a woman immerses herself in her element. To do this, you can create a personal diary and write down each recipe. Lenten days will be brightened up by communication with loved ones, as sharing a meal brings you closer together. Try recommending methods of cooking dishes that really turned out great to your friends and sharing experiences. It is important to remember that the body must be supported by foods that contain protein, glucose, and fats.

Lenten recipes for every day

The most common ingredients in Lenten cuisine are vegetables; they are suitable for both side dishes and gourmet dishes. There are a huge number of recipes. Let’s say it’s easy to make excellent cutlets from ordinary potatoes, as well as a salad or casserole. From boiled vegetables- the vinaigrette.

IN Lately It has become fashionable to make puree soups. They are very nutritious, quickly and thoroughly digested. This cooking method will appeal to young children and older people. Use of this product does not cause any difficulties. The recipe is very simple, because all the selected ingredients must first be boiled and then chopped in a blender. Next, the resulting mixture is added to the broth.

Depending on the ingredients, the calorie content and nutritional value of the dish may vary. In some countries, this cooking method is the most common. Here is the recipe for such a soup.

Cream soup with potatoes and white bread

To make the dish rich in vitamins and minerals, take parsley, celery and carrots, a head onions. Wash them under running water, peel them, cut them into small pieces so that the cooking process takes less time. Place on the stove and cook for 30 minutes over medium heat. Now strain the broth into a separate container and set it aside.

So, it's time for the potatoes. We clean it, wash it, divide each tuber into 4 parts and put it in the broth. We do the same with white bread. Yes, you just need to cut it and boil it along with the potatoes.

Then we take some wheat flour. Mix it with vegetable oil and place it in a pan with potatoes and bread. Cook until done, then strain off the broth. You can use a colander to separate the potatoes and bread from the broth.

The cooking process is coming to an end. Grind all the ingredients that were cooked earlier in a blender and send them back to our broth. The highlight of the soup will be croutons, which need to be fried in advance in a frying pan with butter. If the dish turns out to be thick, you need to dilute it with boiled water.

Diet variety

What else can you eat during fasting, besides vegetables and fruits? Of course, porridge cooked in water. Cereals are very healthy. In the first place is buckwheat, rich in vitamins and microelements that can be absorbed by the body in as soon as possible. It can be cooked with fried onions, mushrooms, broccoli, spinach. The list of cereals is huge, let’s list some of them:

• rice;
• pearl barley;
• millet;
• wheat;
• barley;
• corn;
• semolina.

You can also combine porridges with each other, for example, rice and millet. To make the taste less bland, add margarine or spread. In the morning you can eat chocolate balls with honey and juice. During fasting days, muesli will be an excellent reinforcement during working days. The same can be said about dried fruits that serve as a snack. Supermarkets sell a lot of frozen vegetable mixtures, fruits, and berries at any time of the year. These products make an excellent filling for Lenten pies, pancakes, and dumplings.

Homemade pickles and marinades, compotes and jams will help diversify your diet. Sauerkraut or lecho will be an excellent addition to pasta, potatoes or buckwheat. Today in stores you can find many products, for example, mayonnaise, cookies, waffles, which have the inscription “lenten”.

In modern Orthodox practice, many priests recommend that parishioners consult with their doctor before doing so. Here are some medical tips that will be useful. For digestion in the first couple of days, it is better not to eat chips, crackers, sweet nuts, carbonated drinks, strong coffee, tea. Also, in recent days, Orthodox Christians should not suddenly switch to permitted products. Do not pounce on eggs, Easter cakes and smoked meats. We must remember that there is such a sin as gluttony. Sometimes we don’t notice how we get pleasure from eating food, we eat greedily even during fasting. It is worth controlling your feelings.

Fast days. Wednesday and Friday

It is known that in each calendar circle the time of fasting falls on different dates. The fast days of 2016 are a special time for Orthodox Christians. We also noted that Wednesday and Friday are no less important in this regard throughout the year. But there are also weeks without fasting, for example, before Maslenitsa, Maslenitsa itself, Trinity, Bright, Christmastide. You can always look at the calendar of fasting days to glean the necessary information.

Wednesday became fast in connection with the memory that Judas betrayed Christ the day before. With their real sins, people betray the Savior, who suffered for us. A fasting Christian remembers this event and laments. To understand the seriousness of the historical date, a fast day is observed almost every week. Friday is a fast day, when Christ died for the sins of the world, He was publicly crucified on the cross as a thief. So that believers do not forget about the great event, on Friday it is necessary to especially abstain mentally and physically. The fast days of the Orthodox are called to take care of the spirituality of believers.

Important goal

Fasts and fasting days are skillfully and wisely structured. They alternate with idle time. This sequence encourages us to renew our souls, strive for repentance, compassion, and mercy. Then you are allowed to have fun and rejoice again. It was this way of life that helped our ancestors stay in a good mood and be healthy mentally and physically. Despite the restrictions and abandonment of usual activities, the result will not be long in coming. Harmony always and in everything is the basis of a correct lifestyle. To all Orthodox Christians on the day of fasting - the most good wishes, strength, patience, joy.

What can you eat in the last week of Lent? This week, which is called Holy Week (in 2019 - from April 22 to 27), received its name in memory of last days earthly life, death and burial of Jesus Christ.

It is also called Clean or White Week, taking into account the observance of spiritual and physical purity by believers.

These days in church calendar symbolize the greatness and importance of events that took place about two thousand years ago. Believers spend this time in strict abstinence from food and fervent prayer.

Throughout the entire fast, which in 2019 is observed from March 11 to April 27, it is prohibited to consume animal products. This is meat, fish, eggs, milk and all products based on it.

Pay attention to the ingredients on food labels to avoid consuming ingredients of animal origin that may be found in chocolate, baked goods, and food. instant cooking and etc.

What can you eat in the last week of Lent?

Along with the first week of Great Lent, the last week is considered the strictest. During this period, believers are instructed to significantly limit their diet. An exception is made for sick people, travelers, children, pregnant and lactating women.

Let's tell you more about the menu for the last week of Lent. During Maundy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (April 22, 33 and 44, 2019, respectively), you must abstain from cooked food, that is, limit yourself to raw vegetables and fruits.

When talking about what you can eat in the last week of Lent, you should also mention Good Friday, which in 2019 falls on April 26. On this day you cannot eat food until the shroud is taken out during the church service.

Holy Saturday (April 27, 2019) before the appearance of the first star is also considered a time of strict fasting. Then dry eating is recommended.

Sunday is the end of Lent. You can include all foods in any form in your diet. According to established tradition, the Easter table has always been splendid and plentiful. Easter cakes and Easter cakes occupy a special place here, along with colored eggs that have become symbols of this holiday.

The clergy observe a stricter fast, and, accordingly, their menu for the last week of Lent differs from the secular one.