Summer Menus

Following an idea found on Mary's former blog, Wyatt and I have created and followed a weekly menu for the past couple months. This has proven to be a great way for us to prepare meals that are, for the most part, easy and healthy, and always tasty.

We started the lenten/fasting menu during the Apostle's fast and then modified it for a Summer menu. We'll be switching back to a lenten menu for the Dormition fast, though we'll tweak things a bit since we won't be including fish. Also, I should mention that since I am still breastfeeding our nearly 6 month old daughter, I will often add in some dairy, fish and meat while Wyatt abstains.

I think the main benefit for having a weekly menu has been ease of planning, once the menu is set, and this helps in various ways. We know what we're going to have, so there isn't any debating and pondering the issue while we could otherwise be preparing or already eating a pre-planned meal. Shopping is also much easier, cheaper and faster. There isn't any guess work, so when shopping day comes around we simply check to see if we have our week's menu ingredients on hand and go from there. Our food choices are healthier, our snacking more controlled, cost is kept at a minimum, and there is less food wasted.

Wyatt and I are still quite new to some aspects of real food, particularly when it comes to grains. You might notice that we still have quite a few carb-y items on our menu. We have become particularly used to eating, and particularly snacking on carbs and grains over the years and are currently trying to learn some new habits and wean ourselves from some of the less traditional forms of grain products. Any snack suggestions are welcome!

Also, I'm sure you'll see that Wyatt and I are still working on getting this method down. For example, I just noticed that our Wed./Fri. breakfast has oil in it. Oops! But, this is also the sort of thing we try not to be too crazy about as, for us, legalism can slip in waaaaay too easily. We try our best, and as in many efforts for obedience and self-control, we periodically fail. But then we get up and try again! Pray for us. Lord, have mercy.

Anyway, without further rambles, here are our menus, merely for example. Once we figure out our Dormition menu we'll try to get that posted as well.

Apostle's Fast Menu

Monday:
Breakfast - (soaked) Oatmeal w/Fruit
Lunch - PB and J
Dinner - Spicy Black Bean Soup, served over tortilla chips

Tuesday:
Breakfast - Raisin Carrot Muffins
Lunch - lavash wraps with hummus and veggies
Dinner - Beans, Salsa, Rice

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Oatmeal w/Fruit
Lunch - PB and J
Dinner - Vegetable Soup w/Barley

Thursday:
Breakfast - Raisin Carrot Muffins
Lunch - lavash wraps with hummus and veggies   
Dinner - Shrimp and Vegetable Pasta

Friday:
Breakfast - Oatmeal w/Fruit
Lunch - PB and J
Dinner - Lentil Soup

Saturday:
Breakfast - Raisin Carrot Muffins
Lunch - Tuna/Sardine Sandwiches
Dinner - Leftover Pasta

Sunday:
Breakfast - Fasting
Lunch - Naan Stop!(eat out)
Dinner - Salmon/Trout with roasted veg

Summer Menu

Monday:
Breakfast - Scrambled eggs
Lunch - lavash wrap with veggies
Dinner - Chicken, Mexican rice, and refried beans

Tuesday:
Breakfast - (soaked) Oatmeal w/Fruit
Lunch - lavash wraps with hummus and veggies, and a hard boiled egg
Dinner -Beef and veggie lasagna

Wednesday:
Breakfast - Raisin Carrot Muffins
Lunch - PB and J
Dinner - Spicy black bean soup

Thursday:
Breakfast - (soaked) Oatmeal w/Fruit
Lunch - Egg salad sandwich 
Dinner - Chicken and vegetable soup

Friday:
Breakfast - Raisin Carrot Muffins 
Lunch - PB and J
Dinner - Pasta with shrimp

Saturday:
Breakfast - Kefir pancakes
Lunch - Tuna or Sardine/avocado Sandwiches
Dinner - Leftovers

Sunday:
Breakfast - Fasting
Lunch - Eat out or leftovers
Dinner - Salmon/Trout with roasted veg

As with all Orthodox praxis, we encourage you to be under the guidance of your spiritual father when it comes to fasting. Our example is only that, an example, and not meant to be the guidelines for how others ought to fast.