Thanks for the triathlon encouragement! I’m pretty excited to be checking off another bucket list item…plus doing it with my dad is one of the best parts about it. To be honest, I haven’t so much as dipped my toe in a pool (or any body of water for that matter) in several years. [Insert nervous laughter] Yes, I did swim team growing up, but still. I definitely don’t have a cap or goggles (or non-bikini suit?) currently. So it will be an interesting “training” period to say the least. My dad, on the other hand, has already done a sprint tri, so he’s not exactly starting from scratch. Speaking of hippie pops…
Here’s my dad with another guest post on using Lent to improve your health:
Growing up Catholic leaves many lifelong impressions. I was raised Catholic, including the full religious training, serving as an altar boy (with Latin recitations, no less) and 8 years of grammar school. One prominent part of the church year is the season of Lent. For the unfamiliar, Lent is the 6-week period of atonement leading up to Easter. In the 1960’s when I was in my formative years, we were encouraged to make a Lenten commitment. This usually meant committing to give up something. Something that you liked and/or something you did that was “bad”; something that was difficult to give up. Like candy. Or swearing. Or (for adults) smoking or alcohol. It was supposed to be a challenge, to help strengthen one’s soul. The debate at the time that I recall centered on the positive vs. the negative Lenten commitment. The negative meant not doing something bad; the positive meant doing something good.
Many devoted Catholics I know still make commitments for Lent. I have not made one in decades (not surprising since I am not what one would call a devoted Catholic). But this year I thought I would. Not for a religious reason, but for the sake of the health of my body. I was going to have a specific plan to add something healthful and/or remove something unhealthy from my diet. The sense of accomplishment I will feel upon achieving my goal on Easter Sunday is a side benefit. Originally, I was going to re-enter the old realm with a grand plan, but I struggled with the specifics about how to eat healthier. At first reflection, this would seem to be a lame or easy thing, something that I should “just do” anyway, and not truly worthy of a Lenten commitment. But for me to make a real change, I need structure. The formality of a Lenten commitment lends a certain seriousness, such that breaking the commitment is a failure of sorts, like I’m letting myself down (or, in the guilty Catholic’s mind, letting God down). So, whether I chose a negative commitment (giving up desserts or making a specific meat restriction were leading candidates) or a positive one (e.g., eating salad every day), my goal was to modify my behavior over a long enough period of time to possibly continue a meaningful change even after Easter. One year I think I ate all the candy on Easter that I had given up during the entire 6 weeks of Lent – I’m hoping to avoid that this time.
So here is what I came up with – not monumental, but the most consistent improvements often are incremental. I went with the negative: I gave up soda, and I am not eating meat twice a week.
We all know that soda is not good. In recent years, going with the “most things in moderation are OK” idea, I have reduced my soda intake but I still drank a fair amount of it. Lately, my decision has been a trade-off between the nastiness and calories of HFCS or the strange and mysterious artificial sweeteners in diet soda. Often I would ask for a mix of real Coke and diet Coke at a restaurant. Strange logic not based in any science. Most recently I’ve read about the toxicity of the caramel coloring in brown sodas such as Coke (diet or regular) and am even more turned off. So, as hard as it can be to find something healthy to drink for lunch or a mid-day break, I’ve committed not to drink soda for Lent.
My other commitment is a little easier and isn’t a big change. With the support of Melinda and Elise, I’ve already reduced my meat intake in the past year or so. But for Lent, I’ve added the specific goal of eliminating meat completely two days per week. I’ve been a little surprised how easy this is, due to the availability of tasty and healthy vegetarian food options in California and the cooperation and support of my wife who loves to garden and cook.
So I guess my next question is what will happen after Easter. Will I wash down 12 steaks with a 6-pack of Coke that first week? Unlikely, because my goal is “bite-size” and something I think I can continue. It feels strange and kinda good to reprise Lent after all these years, especially with this new twist.
Thanks for another great post dad.
Who else gave something up for Lent? I personally didn’t. I’m not sure why. In general though, I’m more of a fan of making a positive change for an improved lifestyle (as opposed to eliminating something perceived as a negative). When it comes to habits, I’m all about the “add first, subtract later” mantra.
When my parents were in town, they went to lunch at True Food Kitchen (sadly I couldn’t join because I was working).
The restaurant has a few locations, in CA and AZ, with a Santa Monica branch opening soon. Sweet!
My parents went to the Fashion Island location and (at my request) were nice enough to take photos of their meals to review…like my personal taste testers. 🙂
The menu looks delightful – with veg options aplenty – and offers everything from quinoa tabbouleh to spaghetti squash casserole to grass fed bison burgers. The prices are completely reasonable as well.
Grilled Flatbread ~ Smoked Garlic, Caramelized Onions, Black Fig and Gorgonzola
Halibut Tacos ~ Avocado, Cotija Cheese, Tomatillo Salsa, Sour Cream and Pickled Onion
And look! A non-soda drink 🙂 Well done, dad. Can’t wait ‘til I can try True Food Kitchen for myself at Santa Monica Place.
I was raised Catholic, but also am not a practicing Catholic anymore. I too, remember giving up chocolate and binging on it Easter Sunday. I’m not sure it srengthened my soul. I have also given up liquor, smoking (best habit to kick!) which turned into a permanent quit, and also running. I gave up “thinking” about running, to actually “doing” some running. 🙂 I love that your dad blogged for you …. I have a sweet spot for dads.
I was raised by a Catholic mom and Episcopalian dad but went to a Catholic HS, so I’ve given up stuff for years. It’s natural to me, and when I give up something I really do love (sweets) I feel like it IS a sacrifice. I don’t think God is going to smite me if I cheat or something, but I really like how your dad said there’s a certain seriousness to the commitment- it reminds me that there’s a bigger reason besides health or looks to give something up.
Hey Elise, I love your blog and it’s so fun when you feature posts by your dad. I am not catholic but wanted to offer a quick thought — the sentence about “guilty brainwashed Catholics” seems a little offensive. Like I said, I’m not catholic, but I am a person who has faith in God, as do many others!
Great post! I’m with your dad. I was raised Catholic (though don’t really consider myself Catholic today) but I still practice lent–frankly, as an opportunity to do something healthy/good for my body. Every year I give up sugar which, after 40 days, reorients my body to crave it less. It feels great. It also challenges me to get creative and find healthy alternatives to sweets. And, as with your dad, these are habits that I plan to carry beyond the 40 days–not gorge on sweets on Easter (which I have done before and learned my lesson :)).
I loved the Dad guest post. I was also raised Catholic and went to Catholic grammar school through 8th grade. Though I haven’t been to church in years, I still find myself welcoming Lent as an opportunity to do good things for myself or for others. This year I went vegan for Lent. I’ve found it pretty common that non-practicing Catholics still embrace Lent. I think maybe it’s the combination of it being an attainable time frame and the sense that you’re making the change for more than just you. I agree with your dad that a lenten promise seems to have more solemnity than just a personal goal. Good luck to your dad for planning on sticking to his soda-free and two day meat-free plan past Lent.
the restaurant eats look so good. grilled flatbread! yum. I do not give anything up for lint but I absolutely LOVE hearing about the tradition it holds. thanks for sharing that
All of your food reviews make me want to come to Santa Monica SO badly! I’ve been once, and I loved it. it’s definitely time for another trip.
Great post from you dad, thanks! And what a great view on Lent. I gave up nut butters which wasn’t that hard for me truthfully.
True Food looks great, I wish we had one near me in Northern California.
I don’t do lent but I do think it is a great concept with amazing meaning behind it. Love the post! Also, I need to visit Cali. Soon.
I definitely agree with using Lent to make healthy choices! I didn’t grow up in a church that celebrated Lent, but since I’ve been older I usually attempt to use Lent to make healthy lifestyle changes. I don’t usually stick to them, but it’s worth a shot, right?? 🙂
I’m excited to try True Food Kitchen! Looks like a place I could get behind.
I haven’t observed Lent in many years, but when I was growing up my sisters and I were always encouraged to “be nicer to each other” or something of that sort. We usually gave up meat too (even before my vegan days I was never much of a meat eater so I thought this was pretty cool).
Well done to your papa indeed!! And may I join you when said restaurant opens up? That SM has got the snazziest food court. Heart.
yes yes yes
Everyone has called me crazy when I tell them, but this year I decided to give up bread for Lent! It hasn’t been too hard because I had been cutting down already, and lately I haven’t even missed it! I think I miss subway the most..but pasta and cereal have been the ones that have definitely made a difference considering I always over-indulge.
that place looks great! let’s go when they open!
I was born and raised Catholic but never practiced lent, my family isn’t religious so it was something we didn’t do. I do have tons of respect for those that do, it’s definitely not easy giving up something you love. That flatbread looks incredible, yummy! 😀
yum yum to that flatbread. I went the opposite way of healthy for lent and gave up shopping for myself!! It’s been tough to say the least…Love your blog!!