If you have been following this Substack, today, you may be ready to break the fast of the First Week of Lent and have the first meal since last Sunday evening. If you are used to this kind of fasting - may God bless you. If this is your first time, here are some “pro tips” that you might find helpful:
Do not plan on having one large meal. The best strategy is to have a very small meal and be satisfied with that until tomorrow, but this may be difficult, as the sense of hunger will return the minute you eat any amount of food. It may be best to divide your meal into two or three portions - the first one being the smallest - and to have short breaks between consuming them.
If this is your first time, you may not want to follow the Small Home Rule and have “bread and rough greens” for your first meal in a week. It is likely that you will have an upset stomach from all the roughage. It may be best to start with something very mild and gentle - like apple sauce. Try eating a cup of that and waiting awhile before continuing to more robust foods. Raw vegetable juices do not seem to agree with everyone. Perhaps, fruits or berries cooked in water with some honey - the drink mentioned in the Typikons - is the better option.
Stay away from harsh foods, such as raw onions, garlic, or spices. Have pity on your stomach lining.
If you take your first meal after the Presanctified Liturgy today, it is likely that it will be a mid-day meal, since most such Liturgies seem to be served in the mornings. (A separate post is required for this topic, along with the practice of eating breakfast and lunch, and then “fasting” until the Presanctified in the evening.) This mid-day breaking of the fast may actually be good for you if this is your first time. Avoid eating too close to bed time.
I am opening this post up to comments from everyone. If you found these tips helpful, join the discussion - share your experience and offer your own tips. I suspect that in monasteries or in families that traditionally practice actual fasting, older monks or parents guide the younger generations in best practices and offer their tried-and-true tips and advice. For the rest of us, God tolerates the internet. Let’s share the knowledge.
Last but not least, this is a reader-supported publication; please share it with your friends and family! And if you are saving a lot of money by fasting, please consider becoming a paid subscriber - it is only $5 per month (even less if you subscribe for a year); it is hard to even get a lunch these days for that amount of money.
May your Lent be fruitful!
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