February 13, 2002 Lenten Ways In recent years, I've taken to a type of fasting for Lent. I usually go vegan -- you know... no meat, no cheese, no animal products. It usually meant for a lot of weight loss between me and Mike. I'm not sure if that's because we were only eating vegetables or if it was because of all the *ahem* toxin removal that our large intestines experienced. When I got diagnosed with diabetes, about 3 months after lent, it made sense when I realized that I'd felt pretty awful during lent that year. Since then, I haven't been able to figure out how to do lent very well. For example, the year I was pregnant, we skipped it. I figured a diabetic pregnancy was its own sacrifice. Then last year I was nursing, so I it wasn't happenin'. This year we talked about it and decided that we'd go ovo-lacto vegetarian (eggs and cheese). With my diabetes, I can't handle the straight carb diet of being a vegan. I need some level of protein. I was an ovo-lacto vegetarian like that right up until I was pregnant, so I know me some tasty recipes. Tonight, we're having vegetarian chili and if I'm feeling adventurous, some cornbread. I figure that will get us through a few nights of supper. And it's good for us. Right now, the only thing meat-like that isn't in the freezer is the boullion stuff in the back of the fridge that stays good for six months. I told Mike that and he eyed it over a little too hungrily until I told him that bacos are soy protein and he could eat those all he wanted. He smiled rather too readily with a hint of evil. I'm thinking there's going to be a night really close to Easter when we're going to be wrestling on the floor for the last sprinkle of bacos. My sweet little omnivore. Of course, now we've got a fridge full of soy products, including phoney baloney, tofu dogs, and tofu cakes. I'm going to buy a bunch of salad stuff and I'm thinking seriously about calling the organic food guy who delivers about 45 minutes from here. There's nothing like fresh organic food to make vegetarianism food for the soul. Last night, we did try to go to the church's Fat Tuesday celebration, complete with hotcakes, eggs, and sausage, but ended up lasting about 15 minutes in a line of close to 100 people that moved a whole 15 feet while we were there. I had given them some money at the door and finally, when it became apparent with two squirming children that it wasn't gonna happen, I suggested IHOP and we all bailed. I gave my apologies to Father Jeff, left our donation and we ate bad food and LIKED it. Good thing, too, for today we fast. Happy Lent! New Pix on the Picture page Last Link | Next Link