Lenten Fast and Cooking

[JessicaCeleste]

I’m new to the practice of fasting / abstaining and was wondering something.

If, while in the process of making dinner, one should happen to taste-test a dish to judge seasonings, does that blow one’s fast?

I’m fasting / abstaining, or trying to!, during this Lent and did this about 5 minutes ago without thinking. Granted, my fasting is a private devotion, but what if this happened during the Church mandated fast / abstinent days?

Not trying to be overly scrupulous, mainly just curious

Jess

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I’m new to the practice of fasting / abstaining and was wondering something.

If, while in the process of making dinner, one should happen to taste-test a dish to judge seasonings, does that blow one’s fast?

I’m fasting / abstaining, or trying to!, during this Lent and did this about 5 minutes ago without thinking. Granted, my fasting is a private devotion, but what if this happened during the Church mandated fast / abstinent days?

Not trying to be overly scrupulous, mainly just curious

Jess

Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, according to the Church, consist of not having more than one full meal. Taking in some substanance to maintain strength is allowed, but eating between meals is not.

So, tasting to check for correct seasoning, does not break the fast, but boy, it sure makes fasting a lot harder.

When I fast, I usually have my one meal, a small insignifacant one for breakfast. At lunch, I’ll have a slice of bread and perhaps an orange and cup of tea, just to maintain my strength and mental clarity while at work. In the evening, I’ll have another slice of bread and water.

Jim

 

[kujayhawk]

If taste testing while preparing a meal breaks the Lenten fast (not speaking of the communion fast here), then the next step should be to define the length of time a meal can take, time it carefully, and stop eating the second that time expired.

That’s ridiculous.

In just using common sense, the preparation is, in a very real way, part of the meal for the cook - not that he or she should snack throughout.

It’s the same principle that some time can elapse between the main course and dessert,(What? Dessert during Lent?) or the soup or salad before the main dish. If you are “eating out” it’s very possible if not probable, that time will elapse between the serving these courses.

But,even that can be carried to the extreme, and extend meals for hours. Again, it’s the use of common sense that is required.

This was the norm for determing the definition of meal times which was used during the days of mandated Monday - Saturday Lenten fasting. I was there, I did it! I remember it!

No eating between meals means no snacking at 10:00 a.m. when one has had breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and lunch/dinner is at noon.

 

[Dirk_Skene]

I know this is “'cheating” :tsktsk: but just keep in mind that the style of deserts called Viennese pastries was developed by good Catholic folks in Austria to help sustain them during the Lenten fast. Lenzer torte, Sache torte, strudel… O yea! :bounce:

I am also on a cooking forum. We are discussing it now