Fasting and Allergies

[Book_Worm]

At four, my DGS is too young to be bound by the Lenten fast obligations, but my DD passed a comment the other day wondering how they’ll handle it when he is.

DGS is allergic to fish, shellfish, all dairy, eggs, as well as peanuts and tree nuts. (He has multiple other allergies - including cold! - but those are the ones pertinent to fasting.).

Now his main sources of protein are beef and chicken, which of course, are not permitted. The usual options - fish, eggs, peanut butter - are all things that he can’t have. When he’s a little older, skipping protein for a day won’t have much impact on his life, but when he’s seven, taking away some of the few things he can have seems severe since he’s already missing out on protein sources like milk.

Has anyone faced this problem. FTR, DD’s solution is for God To answer our prayers and have him outgrow some of these allergies.

 

[Kelfa28]

Honestly, when it comes to a person’s health, especially that of a child, fasting from food takes a back seat.
Some people have very strict diets they must adhere to, per their doctor’s orders. Some people must eat before taking medications. Some people have severe allergies that limits their food intake.

I know pregnant and nursing women aren’t obliged to fast during lent. I’m currently pregnant and have essentially been either pregnant or nursing for the past 4 lents. While I abstain from meat on Fridays…since allergies don’t pertain to me…I don’t fast for the entire day on say Good Friday.

I choose other ways to fast. This past Ash Wed I abstained from the internet completely. I plan on using that as a way to fast. I’m sure there are other things one can fast from that would be considered a hardship that wouldn’t effect one’s health.

 

[pensmama87]

You might try doing some searches for vegan recipes high in protein. Lentils and other beans might be an option. I like the website budgetbytes.com. The author is not vegan or vegetarian but she posts recipes that have broad appeal and are not expensive (which is a big plus in my book.) This link is to all of her vegan recipes.

Honestly, when it comes to a person’s health, especially that of a child, fasting from food takes a back seat.
Some people have very strict diets they must adhere to, per their doctor’s orders. Some people must eat before taking medications. Some people have severe allergies that limits their food intake.

I know pregnant and nursing women aren’t obliged to fast during lent. I’m currently pregnant and have essentially been either pregnant or nursing for the past 4 lents. While I abstain from meat on Fridays…since allergies don’t pertain to me…I don’t fast for the entire day on say Good Friday.

I choose other ways to fast. This past Ash Wed I abstained from the internet completely. I plan on using that as a way to fast. I’m sure there are other things one can fast from that would be considered a hardship that wouldn’t effect one’s health.

Though this is also good to keep in mind. Your child is not required to do this yet, so concerns about adequate nutrition are primary, but by the time he is older it would probably be good to know a few ways to cook foods that will enable him to abstain. Plus expanding your repertoire is a good idea anyway, IMO. We eat vegan or vegetarian a couple times a week simply because it saves a lot of money.

 

[KnitNut]

At four, my DGS is too young to be bound by the Lenten fast obligations, but my DD passed a comment the other day wondering how they’ll handle it when he is.

DGS is allergic to fish, shellfish, all dairy, eggs, as well as peanuts and tree nuts. (He has multiple other allergies - including cold! - but those are the ones pertinent to fasting.).

Now his main sources of protein are beef and chicken, which of course, are not permitted. The usual options - fish, eggs, peanut butter - are all things that he can’t have. When he’s a little older, skipping protein for a day won’t have much impact on his life, but when he’s seven, taking away some of the few things he can have seems severe since he’s already missing out on protein sources like milk.

Has anyone faced this problem. FTR, DD’s solution is for God To answer our prayers and have him outgrow some of these allergies.

I was so shocked by your post that I had to look up the answer…

Canon 1252 All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

This is taken from catholic.org/clife/lent/abfast.php So according to your church’s laws, there wouldn’t be any obligation until age 14 at the earliest.

In a more general sense, I suggest you/she/he (when older) raise the matter with your priest for guidance. In Orthodoxy, fasting is undertaken with the guidance of one’s priest/spiritual director, who knows the person and understands their spiritual state/maturity and how best to guide them in the mastery of their passions (including attachment to foods). I would think (though I don’t know with certainty) that your Catholic priests would be able to similarly assist you with this situation.

 

[Antegin]

I come from a family of diabetics. Fasting is just not an option. Some of us who are on insulin, can have bad days where they can not even observe the one hour fast before receiving communion and have to drink apple juice during the mass. So we found an Act of Adoration that we use privately before receiving.

Some suggestions:

• Give up some time and money to cook for and feed the homeless and hungry
• Instead of going out with friends, pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy
• Turn off the TV, IPOD, computer and read the Bible or some other pious book
• Instead of seeing friends, visit an elderly person who is alone
• Do or eat something your doctor wants you to that you would hate to(personally, my doctor gives me more penance than my priest

 

[Kelfa28]

You might try doing some searches for vegan recipes high in protein. Lentils and other beans might be an option. I like the website budgetbytes.com. The author is not vegan or vegetarian but she posts recipes that have broad appeal and are not expensive (which is a big plus in my book.) This link is to all of her vegan recipes.

Though this is also good to keep in mind. Your child is not required to do this yet, so concerns about adequate nutrition are primary, but by the time he is older it would probably be good to know a few ways to cook foods that will enable him to abstain. Plus expanding your repertoire is a good idea anyway, IMO. We eat vegan or vegetarian a couple times a week simply because it saves a lot of money.

Good points. Irregardless of who is actually obligated to fast and who isn’t…it is always a good idea to start looking into alternative recipes like vegetarian options. There are some really delicious ones out there.

I have a tendency towards gestational diabetes. Haven’t been tested yet for this one but I had it with the last baby. Vegetarian options were easy, healthy and cheap…depending on what was in season and what I made.