Are Impossible Burgers in the Spirit of Lent?

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OnAJourney

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I read this article today because I was having trouble finding an appropriate Lenten option and it really did get me thinking. Lent is meant to be a time of penitence and reflection, impossible burgers while not made of actual meat it could be argued they are not in the spirit of Lenten sacrifice because we’re consuming it as a close substitute for what we can’t have. I understand there’s some that are allergic to fish and I could see the argument for why they would eat them, but for those of us that aren’t allergic to fish should we?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/02/28/catholics-eat-impossible-burger-lent/
 
It is not meat.

The spirit of Lenten sacrifice does require us to give up the taste of something.
 
OnAJourney said:
I read this article today because I was having trouble finding an appropriate Lenten option and it really did get me thinking. Lent is meant to be a time of penitence and reflection, impossible burgers while not made of actual meat it could be argued they are not in the spirit of Lenten sacrifice because we’re consuming it as a close substitute for what we can’t have. I understand there’s some that are allergic to fish and I could see the argument for why they would eat them, but for those of us that aren’t allergic to fish should we?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/02/28/catholics-eat-impossible-burger-lent/
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Second thread on this topic in as many days.

These…things…are not meat, and therefore do not break the abstinence requirement. As for the spirit of the law, let each soul discern this for herself.

These disgustings things WILL be a penance for ME. This may not be the case for others.
 
I’m too suspicious of these highly processed vegan products to even feel comfortable putting them in my tummy or putting them in my family’s tummies.
 
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if you’ve ever worked in fastfood you know if they are busy and have a beef patty already cooked, guess what you’re getting.
 
porthos11 said:
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OnAJourney:
I read this article today because I was having trouble finding an appropriate Lenten option and it really did get me thinking. Lent is meant to be a time of penitence and reflection, impossible burgers while not made of actual meat it could be argued they are not in the spirit of Lenten sacrifice because we’re consuming it as a close substitute for what we can’t have. I understand there’s some that are allergic to fish and I could see the argument for why they would eat them, but for those of us that aren’t allergic to fish should we?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/02/28/catholics-eat-impossible-burger-lent/
Click to expand...
Second thread on this topic in as many days.

These…things…are not meat, and therefore do not break the abstinence requirement. As for the spirit of the law, let each soul discern this for herself.

These disgustings things WILL be a penance for ME. This may not be the case for others.
Click to expand...
Hey, they’re not meat, but they’re not that bad.
-the guy who makes them

P.S. still prefer a regular whopper, but still
 
What may not be well understood is that the fasting rules are a minimum - like the 5 precepts of the Church.

A minimum.

You may go as far beyond it as is medically and practically advisable (job, kids etc.). I know of one parishioner who, IIRC, eliminated all sweets and sugar, ate one small meal per day and zero food of any kind on Fridays. Lost 35 pounds during Lent.

Think of Christ in the wilderness. Think of the desert fathers. Desire to hunger as they did. As the body loses, the spirit gains.
 
. . . . It’s a non-issue. People indulge in Crawfish down South. It’s not a penance, because people LOVE it and it’s a treat here. It’s not about the food item. It’s about the heart. I mean vegetarians aren’t better Catholics, right? The all meat requirement is to insure everyone gives up something substantial. For a vegetarian it wouldn’t be. So, maybe their favorite dish would suffice? No one can assume the intentions of anyone eating these burgers during Lent. . . .
 
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Emeraldlady said:
I’m too suspicious of these highly processed vegan products to even feel comfortable putting them in my tummy or putting them in my family’s tummies.
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Could you post a link to why you’re suspicious?

Peace.
 
Consuming food during Lent, which provides the sensual experience of what we are to abstain from, is not strict obedience. It is, IMO, treading a very thin line, putting our God to the test.

When Christ stated that man does not live on bread alone, did He then turn those stones into fish?

Can we not even deny ourselves for 40 days, let alone 365 days?
 
TK421 said:
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Emeraldlady:
I’m too suspicious of these highly processed vegan products to even feel comfortable putting them in my tummy or putting them in my family’s tummies.
Click to expand...
Could you post a link to why you’re suspicious?

Peace.
Click to expand...
It’s just a collection of both experiences and hearing warnings from scientists that make me conscious and suspicious I guess. I always know for example when there’s msg in food because my heart starts racing. Just reading the ingredients on this little sugar substitute packets freaks me. My boys had sensitivities to lots of different additives as well when they were children.

So many of the man made vegan products are highly processed and contain chemically synthesized food substances to artificially re-create taste, texture, colour. Not for me!
 
According to an article in Good Housekeeping, (April 2019) these are the ingredients:

“ Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, and 2% or less of: Potato Protein, Methylcellulose, Yeast Extract, Cultured Dextrose, Food Starch Modified, Soy Leghemoglobin, Salt, Soy Protein Isolate, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Zinc Gluconate, Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), [Vitamin ](22 Best Foods With Vitamin B12 - Great Sources of Vitamin B12

What keeps me from even wanting to try it is it just reads as a list of chemicals.

I would eat a veggie burger or get a fish sandwich as a non-meat options before I ever ate this.
 
I understand being cautious about a new product that hasn’t been consumed by the public for a long time, but chemicals are simply chemicals and there’s nothing good or about them just because they have a long name. Any substance consisting of matter is a chemical and it includes air and water. I recognize almost everything on that list and there’s nothing special about them.

Not that I’m saying it’s healthy. You can eat vegan and still get a ton of calories in your meals.
 
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I just like to eat real things as much as I can. Fruits, vegetables, meats, you know. ☺️
 
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