Staying Healthy During Lent

During Lent, many people give up foods or sweets that they enjoy. The practice of fasting or giving up something is to help us turn away from whatever has distracted or derailed us and to turn back to God; thus allowing us to focus on turning our hearts and minds back toward God.

Here are some healthy eating tips from Dietitian Christelle Bedrossian

 •Choose grilled fish instead of deep fried fish that contains unhealthy fat
•Choose baked vegetables instead of the fried ones such as eggplant, zucchini, cauliflower, potatoes
•Make sure to include proteins every day. Proteins help you avoid muscle mass loss: fish, seafood, legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans,

•Vary your fish and seafood sources and take advantage of the opportunity to try out some new recipes; fish filet, tuna in water, grilled or steamed shrimps, raw or grilled salmon

•If you are not avoiding eggs and dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt): these foods can be a great source of protein to replace chicken and meat.

•Vegetarian recipes tend to be healthy, with low levels of cholesterol and saturated fat. In addition, they feature some new and exciting flavors that you do not experience in your regular diet
•Salads with different exotic ingredients, that contain tropical fruits, veggies, and nuts, can be filling and satisfying to your palate.
•Get inventive in the kitchen and use soy products to have a complete source of protein: soy patty burger, tofu in salads, soybean nuts as a snack
•Make sure to have a few simple, filling snacks during the fasting days to keep your energy and metabolism up.
•If you need healthy snacks rich in protein, try having edamame and soybean nuts.
•Unsalted nuts and seeds like sunflower or chia can be filling as a snack full of protein and healthy fat; you can also add them to your salads
•You can keep up your energy during Lent and get the protein you need especially if you exercise and lift weights by drinking protein drinks made with whey or soy. Protein bars serve the same purpose (make sure they don’t contain eggs and dairy products)

Lent is a great time to challenge yourself, Make sure to benefit from it physically and spiritually.