How to Avoid Eating Meat on Fridays During Lent

Giving up meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday during Lent has been a Catholic tradition my whole life. I am unsure if this tradition applies to any other religion, but if it does apply to your religion, this article should help you, too! Over the years, I've met more and more people who seem to have trouble giving up meat just for one day a week. It's not that these people never eat meat-free meals; it seems to be more that they can't come up with ideas because of the pressure that is put on you not to eat meat. I haven't eaten meat since 1999, so I guess I don't see why it's so hard! Below I have shared my ideas and my methods for avoiding eating meat during Lent if you are having a hard time with it.

Make a Plan
If you tend to forget it is Lent and tend to accidentally eat meat, you have to learn to plan ahead, especially if you have a whole family you want to participate in the tradition. First off, when Lent is approaching, make a list of meal ideas (or just choose my ideas from below!) Tell your family that for the Fridays during Lent you will only be eating meals off of that list. If you want to make it more fun for your kids, perhaps let them come up with their own meat-free lunch and dinner ideas! Make it a challenge and let each family member choose what you will eat one Friday during Lent. Write the final choices on the calendar so that you have no way of forgetting.

You will also want to plan what you eat on Thursday. One thing a lot of people tend to do is make a roast or other meat meal on Thursday, then on Friday they make the excuse that they HAVE to eat the left-overs otherwise they will go bad and they don't want to waste the food. To me, you have to plan better so that doesn't happen. Make Thursday a night for light dinners such as sandwiches, take out, or anything else that won't leave leftovers. That way your family has no excuse to eat meat on that day.