A person is prone to extremes - self-denial or selfishness, hunger or feast. Fasting is one way to find a middle ground. English author Lewis (who created The Chronicles of Narnia) writes that in order to balance the taste for novelty and the desire for stability, God created a rhythm. Perhaps that is why believers are fasting 4 times a year. Of course, as a result of decades of imposed atheism, we have broken the connection between generations, many traditions related to nutrition have been lost.
In the life of our ancestors, the posts were organically connected with the agricultural calendar, and therefore, each time had its own dishes, which corresponded to the religious canons for a certain point in time. Now we have to painfully search the Internet for dishes whose components are inexpensive (or at least familiar!). Sometimes you can make amazing discoveries for yourself, but more often an inexperienced housewife gets a conditionally edible lean dish. And the thing is that the authors who write recipes on the Internet, do not strive to make it tasty, but to make their recipe unique, that is, even small phrases of the text are not found anywhere else. Can you imagine what happens if technical goals are set instead of culinary ones? Yes, it turns out tasteless, even sometimes inedible. Therefore, you need to take information from large resources that you trust. Or turn to decent books, which can also be a good option.
What are the general rules that you can eat in the post? Classically, animal products are prohibited. However, there is a class of products that are certainly of animal origin, but are permitted even during Lent. What can you eat non-vegetative at this time? A variety of crustaceans and mollusks, squid. They were called "sea fruits" in ancient Russian books. And eating was allowed in those days when boiled food is allowed.
In general, there are several measures of the severity of the post, namely 4. Which post is supposed to be on a particular day can be seen in special calendars. Moreover, there is no formal difference between the diet of monks and laity. If you find it difficult to post fast, consult with a priest who knows you well and ask him to allow you some additional products.
The hardest thing is to withstand dry eating - this means that the food is undigested, however, you can eat bread. Even with this type of fasting, heated and cooked drinking is prohibited. That is, you will have to refuse your favorite coffee. And from food, confine yourself to raw vegetables and fruits, and again bread. Compote, coffee and tea cannot be drunk on such days. However, there are not so many such days.
The second measure of severity of fasting is permission for boiled food, but without vegetable oil. What can I eat in a post when such a measure of rigor is applied? Cereals (tasty with mushrooms), potatoes, beans, carrots, lean soups.
The third measure of the rigor of fasting is a permit for vegetable oil. What can I eat in a post if the oil droplet icon is on the calendar? This means that on such a day you can fry food in oil in a pan. Of course, such a fast is much easier to carry, because more energy comes into the body. A plate of rice (even with mushrooms) is one thing, and a portion of well-fried potatoes is another.
The fourth measure is a fish permit. On such days, you will feel that there is almost no fasting. And animal protein can enter the body. Although not all fish are allowed. What can I eat in a post of fish products? Only low-fat fish, so it is better to save salmon and trout until the next religious holiday.
In general, one must remember that nutritional restrictions during fasting are created in order to discipline the spirit. Therefore, do not forget about the main component of fasting - abstinence from sin and joy. And then the Lord will reward your efforts in fasting with grace. And the question “What foods can I eat in fasting?” Will not torment you.