Every year, Max and I make a nod to our shared Irish Catholic heritage and give up something for Lent. This year it's a biggie: alcohol. For a food writer who usually drinks wine with almost every meal, this one is a challenge. We did it once before, but it was before food and wine were such a big part of our lives.
We're only a few days in, but after the initial shock to my system (a meal out at a French bistro proved frustrating) and confusion of those around us ("why couldn't you give up something like herbs?") we are settling into our new routine.
I'm finding that I pay more attention to what I'm eating, although I eat more quickly, I drink more water, I go to bed and wake up earlier, and a feel just a tad lighter on my feet.
While I believe that wine and food are a natural love match, this forty-day break from wine will be a chance to reflect on why I eat and drink what I do, and to give my system a break. Spiritual pursuits are part of it too. There are many thoughts on the meaning and origin of lent, and many of you can probably speak more authoritatively to those aspects. One food-related origin of the fast was the simple need, in early spring, to fast as many of the foods stored from the previous autumn's harvest had either run out or gone bad.
While the quantity of the wine on our rack may be a little less these days, it has certainly not gone bad. But a break from drinking it is a chance to focus on other things, not the least of which is our food.
Did you give up something to eat or drink for Lent? Take the survey and tell us about it, below.
Related:
• Meatless For Lent?
• Going Vegan for Lent?
• Good Question: Giving Up For Lent
(Image: Flickr member jezobeljones, licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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Yes....alcohol. And it 's really hard... It's gonna be a long 40 days.
I decided to give up soft drinks for Lent. I'm an admitted Coke Zero addict, so it has been a little tough. I think I will benefit in the long run though, both with my health as well as my wallet! Hopefully I can turn this into a lifestyle change rather than just something I'll do for 40 days.
My daughter and I both gave up sweets. Alcohol may be added on as well especially just having heard the new study on women's health and alcohol.
Here's a link to the article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29372731/
No meat. I'm going veg for Lent. Still eating (sustainable) seafood though.
I gave up alcohol for lent as well. However, I did give myself two days of dispensation for celebratory events that we have scheduled: one was this past Saturday for a birthday party we already had planned and the other is for at the end of March to celebrate my in-laws 40th anniversary. But, like Sara Kate, I don't miss it all that much. I too feel lighter on my feet and when I hit the gym in the morning, my workouts have been effortless. I was a little worried that my margarita at the party on Saturday would lead me to a throw caution to the wind mindset, it was surprisingly easy to stick to just one and enjoy what I had. I'm sure that some days will be easier than others and also when its cold outside, there is nothing nicer than a nice glass of red to keep you warm, but I think this is good for me. But, to me, the marriage of food and wine is one that is meant to stay together and for me, this will only be a 40 day resolution.
I gave up the always predictable chocolate, as well as buying lunch during the work week. The latter is going to be verrry difficult to keep! Hopefully it'll mean that I prepare my lunches in advance more often without having to resort to frozen dinners and cans of soup for lunch...
I also gave up alcohol. I'm not a big drinker, but I like a glass of wine or a beer with dinner so it's hard to give that up. This is the first year I've tried giving up alcohol and it's hard, but I like it so far! I'm training for a marathon so giving this up for Lent is like an added bonus. Previously, I've given up sweets, sodas, and coffee. (Coffee was the hardest) One year I also fasted all forty days. That was the most challenging, but I can't do that now because of all the running. Not drinking is also keeping me from staying out too late on the weekends so I'm getting more errands accomplished. Good deal!
I gave up broccoli. ;)
Add another person to the no alcohol camp. So far no troubles, but we still have a ways to go. I guess I'm simultaneously working on drinking more water, so hopefully I can work on that habit and it will stick around after the 40 days are up.
Yup - any and all deep fried foods. Keeps me on the healthy choices when I don't have time to cook.
My mother, a devout Catholic, asked me a few years ago what I was giving up for Lent. My reply?
"Catholicism."
My mother was not quite as amused as I'd hoped.
Caveat: I am a Christian but, for various reasons, I've parted ways with the Catholic Church.
all meat products.
I gave up sugar and chips/snacks.
I'm allowing myself honey, maple syrup, agave, and brown rice syrup though. So I can still make banana bread, eat my own yogurt sweetened with agave, and make maple syrup salad dressing for my lunches.
Alcohol - but I take Sundays off. Or rather, Sundays are on!
I gave up refined carbs - white bread and pasta, snacks like crackers and pretzels. So far, so good; and I feel great!
Nope, I'm an atheist. I'm all for conscious eating and trying to eat healthy, but those are things I want to work on all the time, not just a few days a year. And I rarely drink alcohol because I don't really care for it.
Chips mainly, and other types of junk food, mostly prepackaged stuff. So pizza, ok. Chips, cookies, chocolate bars, not ok. I'm also trying to stick to just 1 cup of coffee per day.
I'm giving up Starbucks bottled Vanilla Frapps. I have a serious addiction.
ditto the Irish-Catholic nod. My husband and I are giving up drinking wine. dang. this is hard. But, one week in, and we've managed to stick to it. love all the AT sites. Thanks for it all!
In previous years I've given up meat, cheese, coffee and cigaretttes. Now, though, I'm a 7-month pregnant vegetarian, which means I basically have no food-related vices left - I suppose I could go vegan for Lent, but I'd rather not take such a drastic step while pregnant. I think God will understand. So instead I'm going to try to make it mass every Sunday - we'll see how that goes!
I gave up sugar which I have done for the last few years. It is hard but I do feel better and after the first week or so the cravings pretty much go away. Although, last Wednesday I might have hurt someone to get a piece of cake, if any had been accessible. I should make it permanent, but that's unlikely...
For the past 3 years, I've given up soda and bread. This year, I'm giving up soda and chocolate because I've been getting such a sweet tooth lately. So far so good!
I didn't give up a food item-- I gave up the elevator. I work on the fourth floor, don't exercise nearly as often as I should, and figured I should really take the stairs more often. Maybe by the end of it I can get up to my office without huffing and puffing. I try to make my time on the stairs a spiritual exercise by practicing thankfulness for my body and its abilities, as well as by pondering my physicality and mortality, both of which have a lot to do with the idea of Lent.
i gave up soda which is hard for me since I'm pretty hooked on it. but oh well, we will see.
Good luck to everyone with their sacrifices! :)
i'm not even catholic, but i used Lent as a specific window of time to give up sugar (in all forms) and artificial sweeteners after reading "<a ref="http://www.amazon.com/Spent-Exhaustion-Feel-Great-Again/dp/1416549412/ref=nosim/albinogiraffe-20">"Spent: End Exhaustion and Feel Great Again</a>".
my exceptions include agave, honey and stevia.
other than having to read a lot of labels (and discovering there's a lot of sugar out there!), it's been not too bad. i think i feel better, too. so much so, i might just keep avoiding it after the forty days.
I gave up bread, potatoes, rice and all alcohol. The food part has not been so bad but my oh my the alcohol part has been so hard very challenging...i am still going strong but going out for parties and for dinner with friends is the hardest everyone enjoys a nice glass of wine with their meal as i drink my water and cranberry juice..i am so excited to find this site at least i know i am not alone in this struggle..2 more weeks to go almost there :-)
oh forgot i gave up all beef and chicken as well only doing fish, shrimp and crab :-)