Meal Plans for Lent

Meal Plans for Lent 2015
**A Work in Progress!**
Lent is certainly not an excuse to make a pit stop at a fast food restaurant for a fish sandwich, or a date night at Red Lobster. Friday should be a mindful change in the week, focusing on your meal prayer and quiet reflection on personal sacrifices you've made during the week. But in an effort to teach young children, you can make that prayer and reflection a group sharing moment. In our family, we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in impromptu/spontaneous prayer in addition to our traditional meal prayers. 

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday during Lent are obligatory fasting days where you eat one larger modest meal and two smaller meals/snacks which do not include meat. All Fridays during Lent follow suit by allowing only fish (a symbol of Christ) to be eaten, no meat. Traditionally this is for ages 14-59, but it is a good practice for children to join in on. It teaches them a lesson in sacrifice and penance. It also makes the transition to adult faith practices easier.

*Catholic.com: Why do Catholics fast and abstain during Lent?
*USCCB: Fast & Abstinence Obligations
*About Religion: Should Children Fast? 


So what should we eat? Here are some ideas!
I will link recipes as time allows, but most you can search online by keywords. 
Many I will be saved on my Pinterest board 
MARDI GRAS – FAT TUESDAY
Purple-Gold-Green (Gluten Free) Pancakes w Scrambled Eggs
Banana Cinnamon Pancakes w Chicken Apple Sausage
Turkey Breakfast Sausage Patties (& Cheese) w GF Pancake Bun
Muffaletta Sandwiches w Cajun Sweet Potato Fries
Jambalaya or Gumbo (Soup)
Red Bean Chili over rice
Shrimp Creole or Etouffee
King Cake

ASH WEDNESDAY& GOOD FRIDAY
  A day of fasting, include two small meals (snack size) and one larger meal. It's all about portions. Meatless.
*Any Friday meal idea.
Cross Pancakes
Hot Cross Buns
Lentil Soup
Pretzels w Raspberry Honey Mustard Dip
FRIDAYS
  Fridays are meatless during Lent.
Breakfast
Berry Rice Cereal w Almond Milk
Celery, Nut butter and Raisins
Cinnamon/Sugar Lefse w strawberries 
Egg Bake
Oatmeal w Fruit (Blueberries, Strawberries, Mangoes, Apples, Peaches)
Omelets w veggies
Quiche or Frittata
Quinoa Fruit Salad
Yogurt w Granola
Zucchini Fritters
Lunch
Basil Pesto Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles)
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Cheesy/Alfredo Sauce and Quinoa/Noodles w green onions and peas
Garbanzo Bean Salsa and Guac w Sweet Peppers and Corn Chips 
Grilled Cheese w Tomato Soup
Nut butter & Jelly Sandwiches
Salmon or Tuna Cucumber Cups/Bites
Tuna Hotdish w Carrots & Ranch dip
Tuna Melts w Carrot Sticks
Tuna Cucumber Salad

Supper
Baked Cod w fries/chips and coleslaw
Baked Cod w Asparagus, Cooked Carrots
Coconut Codfish w Stirfry Normandy Vegetables
Fish n Chips
Mahi Mahi (Teriyaki or Roasted Garlic) w Sautéed Summer Squash
Mahi Mahi or Salmon w Slv Almond Green Beans
Salmon Patties w Asparagus and Ratatouille
Shrimp or Tilapia w Pasta
Spaghetti Squash and Marinara
Tortilla Encrusted Tilapia Tacos with corn or salad
Tuna Broccoli Casserole
Zucchini Spaghetti (Zoodles)

HOLY WEEK
HOLY THUR: Cinnamon Unleavened Bread

HOLY SAT: Cake

 GOOD FRI - Above
EASTER SUN: Empty Tomb Rolls

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