great fast meals
Since May 2017 a medical condition has forced me and my family
to begin what many call a whole foods, plant based, oil free diet.
Because of our Byzantine heritage and tradition,
and because we do it for love of each other,
we call it perpetual fasting and its not as difficult as you might think.
Let me show you!
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Next up:
The Dormition Fast
Gregorian/New Calendar:
August 1-14th
Julian/Old Calendar:
August 14-27th
In just a short while we will begin to prepare for the Falling Asleep and the bodily ascension into Heaven of the Theotokos, Our Most Holy Mother, by participating in a two-week fast. This smaller fast is patterned after the longer Great Fast that precedes the death and Resurrection of her Son, Our Lord Jesus. Shorter, yes. Less strict, hmmm..not really. Doable? Absolutely!
From the feast of the Procession of the Venerable Cross until the Dormition we abstain from meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, wine, and oil....as usual during fasting periods. There are some other little traditions to keep in mind as well such as not eating apples, grapes, or some say fruit in general until these things are blessed on the feast of the Transfiguration. Weekends are relaxed with the use of wine and oil...(yay!) and fish is allowed on the feast of the Transfiguration.
That said, fasting in the hot summer season is quite different than in winter or early spring. There are more salads and sandwiches than soups and stews, and then there's outdoor grilling. Take a look at how we do it at our house!
Summer Salads for the Dormition Fast
Watch ByziMom
Catherine Alexander from
Your Word From the Wise
as she interviews
Abouna Moses from
Holy Resurrection Monastery on how to observe the Fast
See the Video HERE
Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate, Completed October 2020, from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies and eCornell!
My new book is out!...
As you may already know, my family has been advised by our cardiologist to adopt a perpetual fast in order to combat a family health crisis. We've adopted a whole-foods, plant-based, no oil diet...just like our Eastern Christian fast!...full time, and now that we've done it, I can help you get through 40 days of fasting too.
Here are a few of ByziMom's Great Fast Recipes:
Middle Eastern Meze: falafel, tzadziki, tabbouleh & dolmades
Fajita Night: sweet potato tortillas, unfried beans, oil-free vegetable stir fry, cashew nacho sauce, Mexican quinoa, etc.
Listen in as I chat with Cynthia Damaskos from The Holistic Christian LIfe
about my new book,
The ByziMom's Guide to Great Fast Meals!
