Ash Wednesday Fasting - Abstaining and Fasting Recipes for Lent

For Catholics, an indulgent Fat Tuesday is followed by a scaled back menu on Ash Wednesday. Today, The Church asks followers to practice fasting and abstinence. But what, exactly, does that mean? The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provides guidelines for fasting — eat one full meal; two smaller meals or snacks are allowed, but they shouldn't equal a full meal — and abstinence — no meat, although a strict vegetarian diet isn't necessary. Fish and other seafood are allowed.

If you're among the observers of this doctrine, there are plenty of great recipes that will help you stick to today's fasting and abstinence rules as well as the edict to abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent.

If you need small snacks to serve as one of the lesser meals for your day of fasting, try some of these simple, meat-free recipes:

Gorp: A simple mix of nuts and dried fruits provides lots of good fats and nutrients in a small dose.

Cinnamon Oranges: Orange slices with cinnamon provide nutrients and a little bit of fiber.

Cottage Cheese Salad: Instead of a full meal at lunch, opt for a small salad with cottage cheese, bell pepper, tomato, and scallions.

Mini Greek Pizza Muffins: One or two of these bite-sized treats make a great vegetarian snack.

Waiting until dinnertime to feast on your full meal? Try one of these family-friendly meals you can get on the table fast:

Vegetarian Tortilla Pie: This dish is assembled in a jiffy, thanks to its no-cook filling of canned black beans and corn, prepared salsa, and preshredded cheese. Serve it with a vegetable-filled salad.

Lo Mein Primavera: This protein-packed dish is satisfying and simple.

Salmon Steaks with Tricolor Pepper Relish: Roasted salmon is a heart-healthy option that provides a lot of protein in a single meal.

For more great meal ideas to help you get through the Lenten season, check out the recipes below.