Fasting within your means

[Joshua K.]

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I have a question about fasting, in that the dormition fast is approaching, I am having trouble with the fact that fasting food is so expensive. I want to have my family keep the fasts which we do but it costs so much. How do those with very limited income keep the fast. We can barely pay our bills and rarely ever can we give to the church, let alone pay for the very expensive fasting foods. Any help or ideas would be appreciated. I am sure I am not the only one who has money problems in these hard times.
The unworthy servant of God,
Anthony

[Michael Stickles]

Odd - I haven't noticed fasting foods being more expensive than non-fasting foods (except on the rare days when we include shellfish). Of course, as a large family we buy in bulk and don't get much pre-packaged food, so that might make a difference. What kinds of foods are you finding to be so expensive?

[Father David Moser]

I've got to agree with Michael - fasting food is not necessarily expensive. We use lots of beans and rice, tofu and stirfry, fresh fruits and vegetables, borscht and vegetable or lentil soup, pasta with simple sauces, etc. Soymilk is really not much more expensive than cow's milk and thus you can use that with cereal and such. For fish and seafood, we buy frozen at the grocery outlet and usually come up with good stuff (frozen) for $2-3/lb. For at least a part of our collection of recipes (most of which are geared to an average size family with 2 working parents, since that's what we were) you can check here. Lenten food should be simple - as simple as possible. And simple is often inexpensive.

Fr David Moser

[Joshua K.]

Well, what I am having trouble with is that most of fasting recipes at least the ones my wife and I have tried, are full of soy products and vegetables etc. which are usually pricey (at least where we live) Maybe if we tried the whole beans and rice thing it wouldn't cost so much, but does fasting automatically mean eating horrible tasting food?
In Christ, Anthony

[Herman Blaydoe]

It really shouldn't mean sumptuous, savory food. Plainer is generally better, but it should be done with joy. We are not supposed to be punishing ourselves, but strengthening ourselves.

Herman

[Joshua K.]

Yes I see that one shouldn't be concerned too much with it being necessarily sumptuous. But we always somehow spend way more during fasting seasons than during regular days. I was looking for some tips from maybe someone who has been there. I work and my wife stays home with our 11month old daughter. So we have one source of income and that gets eaten up pretty fast. Has anyone been there and struggled with trying to fast with a very limited income.
Anthony

[Jeremy Troy]

As an Irishman, I would recommend potatoes and cabbage.

I'm a recent college graduate, and am currently doing temporary factory labor. My income is definitely limited, but I also don't have a family to support. I've never found it particularly difficult to afford fasting food. I buy whatever vegetables are in season at the time, and cook them up with some pasta or rice or whatever else. Oatmeal for breakfast. It works well for me.

Jeremy

[Father David Moser]

Well, what I am having trouble with is that most of fasting recipes at least the ones my wife and I have tried, are full of soy products and vegetables etc. which are usually pricey (at least where we live)

Fresh produce is generally much less "pricey" than animal protein - and if you don't want to go fresh, then frozen is downright cheap. You may or may not choose to use "soy protein" as you wish, however, tofu is generally not expensive, again certainly less than a comparable slab of animal muscle. If, otoh, you use processed soy protein that is made to look and taste like meat, well yes that is expensive.

Lentils are a quick and easy protein when mixed with grain (so lentil soup and homemade bread is a great and tasty dinner). Canned beans, are pretty bland by themselves, but spices are your friend here. Even if you just stick with the obvious (hot pepper types) it ups the flavor quotient. But then if you start adding in other Mexican/south American/Caribbean spices you get a real burst of flavor. Oh and then you can go middle eastern/Mediterranean with things like cumin, paprika, and so on. If you want you can also go Asian or Persian or Indian - all with the same basic beans and grain, just varying the spices and type of beans/grain you use.

To vary your protein, you can go with seafood - during Lent we always keep a bag of frozen salad size shrimp or shrimp pieces (again relatively inexpensive) and add a cup to a meal. Canned clams are also on that list of "things to keep on hand". All kinds of seafood pasta and stir fry are available.

During Lent - even when I am eating more seafood than usual - my grocery bills tend to drop by about half since I am not buying the expensive dairy and animal products.

check out the Food & Wine or Food Network websites (there are many many other food websites, these are the ones I use) and you will find a host of vegan/meatless recipes that are simple and made with easily available ingredients. (Oooh that reminds me I want to try tandoori tofu) Flavor is not your enemy - but you have to know how to create it.

[Father David Moser]

So we have one source of income and that gets eaten up pretty fast. Has anyone been there and struggled with trying to fast with a very limited income.

Oh yeah - been there, done that. And I am there and am doing that now. The parish pays a minimal wage and only 2 days a week at that but I am "full time" as the priest. My wife works but got laid off and is now working on a temp contract for about 1/3 of her previous salary. All it takes though is not buying processed foods, and cooking a lot from scratch. Your wife should be able to do that (even with an 11 month old) since she is home all day. I do most of the cooking in our family and it usually takes less than an hour of actual "hands on" time for most of my recipes (actually more like 20 min most days) - although sometimes it takes a lot of extra time for soaking, marinating, monitoring, boiling or whatever; but you don't have to be all there for all that.

Watch the sales, clip coupons, you know the drill I'm sure. We scored some great "Black bean burgers" real cheap on sale at Costco. I wouldn't necessarily buy them at regular price, but on sale they were quite affordable and great for those days when you just don't have time to cook.

Oh and btw I noticed you were in an OCA parish. Lots of Russians (of all immigrations) use a lot of fish during the fasts (except for Great Lent of course and also not for Dormition fast because "you don't mess around with the Mother of God"). And while I thinking of it - get acquainted with the various ethnic fasting foods. Greeks, Russians, Georgians, Serbs, Arabs all have stuff that they have made for centuries - and its quite inexpensive. Tabouleh and hummus can't be beat! (I remember a monk exulting once after a meal of tabouleh and hummus because we had just eaten the very food that the Virgin made for her Son as a child.) Potato and Cabbage Varyeniki/Pirogi; borscht; dolmates/stuffed grape leaves, etc are all easy to make and use very inexpensive ingredients - they are, after all, peasant food.

Get yourself beyond the "burger and fries; steak and potatoes; eggs and toast mentality of the average American diet and you will find a wonderful world of tasty, inexpensive, easy to make food out there.

Fr David Moser

[Paul Cowan]

OUr local mexican dives here in Houston have huge bean burritos for barely $3 bucks. One of these will last 2-3 meals if you let it. Fr. David is right about the grocery bill going down during fasting seasons. If you can't find fasting foods, you're not looking hard enough. There are plenty of fasting lenten recipes on this site, check them out.

We have all tried one way or another to "get out" of fasting at one time or another with any excuse we can think of.
"My doctor says I need more protein in my diet" woohoo steak for dinner.
I have relatives coming and I have to serve ice cream for dessert"
Shellfish is so darned expensive and I have this perfectly good pot roast in the freezer".
"its raining"
"Its sunny"

Been there said it all myself. It's like anything else in our lives. If it's important, we'll do what ever it takes. If it's not...pass the BBQ sauce.

Paul

[Mark Harris]

I have been living in Romania for 1 and 1/2 years and fasting is practiced by many many people in this Orthodox country. Many are thankful for becasue its obeyance is in fact cheaper than their usual diet. People in Romania live on as little as $150 per month average income is $350 a month so buying meat is expensive. I thought fasting was about giving things up and not trying to substitute them with technical alternatives - otherwise what is the point?

[Herman Blaydoe]

Seafood was once very plentiful and cheap, people living near a coast could generally go out and dig up their own clams or mussels or crab, and catch their own fish. Not so much these days, particularly for those living inland, or with busy lifestyles. The sea bestows her bounty only on those who are persistent and patient, who has the time?

However, there is much about rice and potatoes that the average American does not know or appreciate. I remember days even before I was Orthodox where one baked potato was the entire meal for my wife and I, though not by choice. Rice, beans, vegetables and bread sustain life. There are those who live on such things year round these days. Vegan and vegetarian websites offer an incredible variety of alternatives that are cheap, easy, and even tasty. It does take a bit of effort but I think that is kind of the point....

Herman

[Olga]

Seafood was once very plentiful and cheap, people living near a coast could generally go out and dig up their own clams or mussels or crab, and catch their own fish. Not so much these days, particularly for those living inland, or with busy lifestyles. The sea bestows her bounty only on those who are persistent and patient, who has the time?

Though I'm a saltwater fisherman myself, fish and other seafood can also be caught in rivers and lakes, which are in far greater abundance in most parts of the world compared to here in Australia. A common practice here is for those who live in rural or semi-rural areas to "seed" their dams with trout and yabbies (small freshwater crayfish).

However, there is much about rice and potatoes that the average American does not know or appreciate. I remember days even before I was Orthodox where one baked potato was the entire meal for my wife and I, though not by choice. Rice, beans, vegetables and bread sustain life. There are those who live on such things year round these days. Vegan and vegetarian websites offer an incredible variety of alternatives that are cheap, easy, and even tasty. It does take a bit of effort but I think that is kind of the point....

Very, very true. I might add that much Asian and Mediterranean food is wonderful, simple to prepare, and not expensive.

[Joshua K.]

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I hope that I didn't give the impression that I was looking for an excuse to not fast. I would fast even if it cost twice as much. Obviously we haven't been doing something right.
We will try to implement those suggestions you gave Father, and thank you for the advice.
Anthony

[D. Morrell]

Hello, Joshua.

I will add that a rice cooker and a crockpot are good tools to have in the vegetarian kitchen. Our very modestly price rice cooker has been used almost every other day for years and works flawlessly with brown rice as well as lentils, barley, etc.

Peace - Andrew

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions. I hope that I didn't give the impression that I was looking for an excuse to not fast. I would fast even if it cost twice as much. Obviously we haven't been doing something right.
We will try to implement those suggestions you gave Father, and thank you for the advice.
Anthony

[Father David Moser]

Our very modestly price rice cooker has been used almost every other day for years and works flawlessly with brown rice

Andrew, do you have to make any adjustments when using brown rice rather than white? It seems that when I use brown rice in the cooker it tends to be undercooked.

Fr David

[D. Morrell]

Father, yes, I added more water than for white, for example: 2 cups brown rice, 2 1/2 - 3 cups water rather than 1-to-1 for white rice.

Sometimes I'll also throw in chopped onions, cabbage, a head of garlic - whatever - during the cooking process.

I also occasionally use it with pasta. This week, I made cold sesame noodles in the rice cooker. (Well, they were eventually cold.) Our very particular son gave them two thumbs up.

May all your cooking endeavors be a blessing to those you are serving!

In Christ,
Andrew

Andrew, do you have to make any adjustments when using brown rice rather than white? It seems that when I use brown rice in the cooker it tends to be undercooked.

Fr David

[Theodora E.]

My favorite fasting food is Middle Eastern. There's a local Antiochian parish with lots of immigrants and the food was so wonderful I learned to cook it myself. Do a little Googling for Middle Eastern recipes.

A favorite one of mine is lentils and rice, cooked together, seasoned with lots of cumin. I also do a bulgur (cracked wheat) and chick pea pilaf (again, with lots of cumin) that is very cheap and filling.

Something I like to do - non-Middle Eastern - is pasta and frozen veggies. Cook as much pasta as is needed for your family for a main dish. You could use spaghetti noodles, but I like using the spirals or bowties. Halfway through pasta cooking time, add frozen veggies. I like green peas with pearl onions. Add a bag or two of veggies, depending on how many people you're feeding. Drain, add margarine, salt & pepper, and voila! It's very tasty. You could do this with broccoli or any number of frozen veggies. Leftovers nuke very well.

You can easily make hummus with a blender or food processor. A can or two of chick peas (garbanzos), chopped up garlic, cumin, salt, lemon juice, & a bit of olive oil. The tahini (sesame seed paste) can be a bit pricey, but to make hummus without it, just load up on the cumin and you won't miss it much.

A soup I came up with - cheap, quick, and easy: take a can each of black beans, diced tomatoes, and cream-style corn (the "cream" is cornstarch). Empty all cans UNDRAINED (ok, maybe you drain the beans) into medium saucepan, heat through, and that's it! Petite diced tomatoes are nicer. You can add Mexican spices if you wish (cumin, chili powder, cayenne) or chilies (mild green or jalepenos - canned) depending on your tolerance for spice. It's very tasty, keeps well in the fridge for a few days, and everyone raves about it. You can add broken up corn chips to the bottom of bowls before adding soup, or even some rice. I live on this during Lenten seasons, and just the smell of it says "Great Lent" to me.

If you have access to good tomatoes (homegrown or farmer's market), make tomato sandwiches. I grew up on these in the summer. On whatever bread, put sliced tomatoes. Season with salt & pepper, basil, and a dribble of olive oil, if it's an oil day. Very tasty. Cucumber sandwiches are good, too.

PB&B - peanut butter & sliced banana sandwiches are tasty and filling for work/school lunches and a change from PB&J.

I like to make couscous & tomatoes. Make a box of couscous (it will be in the store near the rice). Add a can of well-drained diced tomatoes, maybe a bit of chopped garlic, salt & pepper. I don't heat up the tomatoes.

Pasta salad is cheap and easy for summer fasting days.

[Paul Cowan]

Hello, Joshua.

I will add that a rice cooker and a crockpot are good tools to have in the vegetarian kitchen.
Peace - Andrew

Rice cooker!?

What ever happened to a good ol fashioned pot of water with a lid? Can't say I've ever made a bad pot of rice. Brown, red or white.

[D. Morrell]

I've been cooking rice for 40 years, I love the rice cooker. Set and forget. You are clearly a more organized individual than I, amigo... I have burned a few pots of rice.

But, in cars, I still prefer roll down windows to electric.

Peace - Andrew

Rice cooker!?

What ever happened to a good ol fashioned pot of water with a lid? Can't say I've ever made a bad pot of rice. Brown, red or white.