Great post 2017, meals on days and weeks - Nutrition rules in Lent 2017 for Orthodox

Lent 2017: Basic Nutrition Rules for Orthodox Believers

Before proceeding to describe the basic rulesfood for Orthodox believers, operating during Lent 2017, it is worth telling about the history of its occurrence. The duration of the Great Lent is 47 days - almost as long spent in the desert of Christ, praying for the salvation of the souls of men. The whole period of 40 days the Savior refused to eat and struggled with devilish temptations. After this test, Jesus returned to the laity, but was arrested and crucified on the cross. Adhering to the strict rules of eating the Lent, believers tend to repeat the way of Christ and be cleansed of their sins. But if we compare the "diet" of Jesus and the diet during fasting, then the basic rules of nutrition for Orthodox believers will not seem so strict and strict. After all, Christ during his ascetic stay in the desert almost completely refused food, and the fasting diet of believers is not so meager. Firstly, during the Great Lent period only products of animal origin, such as meat, milk, cottage cheese, lard, eggs are strictly prohibited. Secondly, the most severe restrictions on food are characteristic of the first and last weeks of fasting. The rest of the time the diet is fairly balanced and full. And thirdly, on Saturday and Sunday in lean food is allowed the addition of vegetable oil and the use of a small amount of grape juice or wine.

How to choose the right food for your diet in Lent 2017

Now let's proceed to the description of food for the diet in Lent and how to choose them correctly. Among the acceptable food products are:

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  black bread, whole wheat bread, breadcrumbs


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  fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits


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  mushrooms (fresh, salted, pickled)


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  beans (beans, peas, soy, lentils)


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  nuts and dried fruits


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  honey


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  cereals (rice, buckwheat, barley, corn, pearl barley)


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  jams, jams, pickled and salted billets


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  fresh fish (twice for all the time of the fast - the Annunciation of the Virgin and Palm Sunday)

As you can see, the list of allowed products is not soso small, and with the skilful compilation of the menu, which will be discussed later, it is possible to eat a variety and tasty meal during Lent. Another important issue concerns how to choose the right food for the diet in Lent 2017. First of all, it is worth giving preference to homemade preparations - sauerkraut, marinated mushrooms, salted cucumbers, etc. Of course, you can also use ready-made store blanks, but in this case there is a risk of getting into the body of chemical preservatives and flavor enhancers. But fasting is not only spiritual, but also physical purification. Also, when choosing fresh vegetables and fruits, you should give preference to seasonal and local variations. In other words, choosing in April between radishes and zucchini, take the first. Also, do not forget about herbs and spices, skillful use of which, can significantly enrich and diversify the taste of ready-made lean dishes.

How to make lean food during Lent a balanced diet

If we talk in more detail about how to do itlean nutrition is more balanced and diverse, it should be noted a few simple rules. Adhering to these simple recommendations, you will significantly improve the quality of nutrition, which will immediately affect the improvement of your health.

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  The balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. To ensure that nutrition benefits the body during a fast, you need to correctly combine different foods. For example, legumes are rich sources of proteins, and cereals are rich in protein and complex carbohydrates. Add some vegetables to the bean porridge and get an example of a balanced and useful lenten lunch.


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  Variety of ways of preparation. This rule applies mainly to fruits and vegetables, which are best used during fasting in raw form. But just a raw apple can quickly get bored, but a fruit salad, sliced ​​or baked option will help to discover the new palatability of this fruit.


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  Sufficient liquid. During fasting, when the body is under stress for a long time, it is very important to consume enough fluids. And we are talking not only about water, but also about useful drinks - compotes, fruit drinks, tea, juices. It is also useful to make fruit and vegetable tinctures, for example, to drink water with a lemon or cucumber.

The main rules for feeding believers in Lent in 2017 on the days of the week

In addition to food restrictions, there arerules for nourishment for lay faithful in Lent on the days of the week, which are the main principles of the lean diet. These rules apply to the whole period, except for particularly strict first and last weeks. So, Monday, Wednesday and Friday are raw days. At this time, you can eat without oil, which is not amenable to heat treatment. For example, fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, honey. On Tuesday and Thursday, on the contrary, one should eat boiled food, but without vegetable oil. It can be boiled vegetables, cereals, lean soups. And on weekends, Saturday and Sunday are allowed to eat boiled food with butter. A little grape wine is also allowed for the weekend. In addition, on weekends the number of meals increases to two, in contrast to one reception on weekdays.

Features of the food of the Orthodox in the first and last week of Lent

The most stringent during the Great Lent arethe starting and closing weeks. This severity is, first of all, in a very limited diet. So, in the first week on Monday, nothing is eaten, and on Tuesday only bread and water are allowed. Then follows two days (Wednesday, Thursday) when you can eat only raw food without butter. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday you can eat boiled dishes with butter.

As for the last week, the first three days(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) -cleaning without oil. Then on Thursday you can eat boiled food with vegetable oil. On Friday, nothing is eaten at all, and on Saturday in the afternoon, raw meals are allowed. Therefore, on Sunday, on the last day of the week - the fast for Easter ends and the believers break with eggs, buns and meat products.

An example of a diet for each day of the week for believers in Lent 2017

To show you that lean food canbe delicious, we offer an example of a diet for each day of the week for believers in Lent. The presented menu can be used in any week of Lent, except the first and last. Also, this example of diet for each day of the week of Lent can be used not only by believing laymen, but also by those who are striving to lose weight and cleanse the body of toxins.

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  Monday. Rye bread, a salad of fresh vegetables and herbs with lemon juice without oil, pickled mushrooms, fresh from a mix of vegetables and fruits


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  Tuesday. Buckwheat porridge with boiled beans, black bread, honey with nuts


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  Wednesday. Vinaigrette without oil, sauerkraut, breads, compote of dried fruits


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  Thursday. Lenten vegetable soup without fried, stewed cabbage with mushrooms, mors or tea


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  Friday. Fruit salad, vegetable sliced, jam, bread, water with lemon


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  Saturday. Rice porridge with honey and dried fruits, vegetable salad, fruit


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  Sunday. Wheat porridge with vegetable oil, stewed cabbage with mushrooms, compote

As you can see, food in Lent 2017 canbe diverse, useful and tasty. The main thing is to show a little imagination when making the menu and then pass the tests of the fasting period will be much easier. And if you are not ready, as the Orthodox laity go through the entire fasting calendar from the first to the last week, then try at least a diet for each day of the week, which we have made above. Perhaps, so you quickly master the basic rules of lean food.