Lent, take 5
B and I do lent. We aren't Catholic, but we enjoy the process of focusing on what we do or don't eat and the benefits it gives us mentally, spiritually, and health-wise. Year 1 we gave up potato chips and soda, which was a very big deal at the time and now would be nothing - thanks to lent we changed that habit pretty much forever. Year 2 was red meat, year 3 was all meat. We over-boca'd, but we learned about some new foods and were pretty happy with the results overall. Bacon was hard. Our trip to San Diego last year fell in the middle of lent, and there was no way in hell I was giving up anything that I might potentially possibly eat in San Diego. So we tried adding - 5 fruits and veggies a day. B did well by starting each day with 5 bananas and then continuing to eat whatever for the rest of the day. I pretty much failed, which dissapointed me after 3 years of doing so well.
So - for Year 5 we are giving up American food, except breakfast. There has already been much debate, much dragging out of the Oxford Companion to Food, to determine what is and isn't American. The debates will continue, I'm sure, but thus far: no potato chips, burgers (ow!), hot dogs, soda, pizza, buffalo wings (double ow!). It is more about looking at other cuisines, especially cuisines of developing countries, and experimenting with new ingredients and preparations. No being lazy about food, in other words.
B and I do lent. We aren't Catholic, but we enjoy the process of focusing on what we do or don't eat and the benefits it gives us mentally, spiritually, and health-wise. Year 1 we gave up potato chips and soda, which was a very big deal at the time and now would be nothing - thanks to lent we changed that habit pretty much forever. Year 2 was red meat, year 3 was all meat. We over-boca'd, but we learned about some new foods and were pretty happy with the results overall. Bacon was hard. Our trip to San Diego last year fell in the middle of lent, and there was no way in hell I was giving up anything that I might potentially possibly eat in San Diego. So we tried adding - 5 fruits and veggies a day. B did well by starting each day with 5 bananas and then continuing to eat whatever for the rest of the day. I pretty much failed, which dissapointed me after 3 years of doing so well.
So - for Year 5 we are giving up American food, except breakfast. There has already been much debate, much dragging out of the Oxford Companion to Food, to determine what is and isn't American. The debates will continue, I'm sure, but thus far: no potato chips, burgers (ow!), hot dogs, soda, pizza, buffalo wings (double ow!). It is more about looking at other cuisines, especially cuisines of developing countries, and experimenting with new ingredients and preparations. No being lazy about food, in other words.
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