Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Farewell to the flesh -- if only temporarily
Lindsey Nair
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My family didn't observe Lent, but my 10th-grade sociology teacher, Mr. Bartley, made every student give up something for the season to see what it felt like.
I gave up soda, and for a few weeks took great pride in my ability to abstain -- until I went to Grandma's house for a visit and she plunked down a glass of Coke.
Without thinking, I took a long draw. I realized what I'd done before I even set down the glass.
I guess it wasn't as easy as I thought. Pride flew out the window, where it belonged.
I had trouble following through with one Lent, so I have great respect for the hordes of Christians who observe the 40-day period before Easter every year.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. For the next 40 days, many Christians will deprive themselves of something or take on a new responsibility, such as public service, in observance of this period.
The next 40 days of sacrifice are a stark contrast to the celebratory carnival period that ended yesterday with Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).
The word "carnival" is probably Latin in origin and roughly translates to mean "farewell to the flesh." So what better time than the day after carnival to say goodbye (temporarily, perhaps) to meat?
The Rev. Thomas Miller, the priest at St. Andrew's Catholic Church in Roanoke, said he couldn't guess how many of his parishioners choose to give up meat for Lent. That's probably because Christians are really not supposed to talk much about how they choose to sacrifice.
"I think if we engaged in broadcasting it, it would be sort of self-demeaning," Miller said. "It would turn it into a point of pride."
Even Catholics who don't choose to give up meat during Lent are supposed to skip it on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during the 40-day period.
"How sacrificial that is for people is questionable," Miller said with a chuckle. The ban "does not include fish, so a fish lover does not find that sacrificial at all."
Becoming a 'flexitarian'
Religious provocations aside, there may be great merit to the idea of cutting meat from the diet, at least once a week.
A nonprofit initiative called Meatless Monday, which started in 2003 at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, suggests that individuals pick one day a week to avoid meat. It doesn't have to be a Monday, but campaign president Peggy Neu said Monday is a good day to start off the week on a healthy note.
According to Neu, research has shown that by cutting out meat one day a week, people can cut their saturated fat consumption by 15 percent. That translates into a lower risk for conditions like heart disease, cancer or obesity.
Neu calls it "flexitarianism": "Not necessary to totally do away with meat, but if we can do away with it just one day per week it can really make a difference."
The Meatless Monday initiative is particularly concerned about beef consumption because beef tends to have a higher saturated fat and cholesterol content than other meats.
Some Americans may be figuring that out on their own. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, beef consumption has dropped since 1996, pork consumption has remained static and poultry consumption is up.
These days, that could also have to do with the fact that some beef products are more expensive than other meats.
Neu points out that meat in general is often the most expensive food product on the grocery list, so cost savings are yet another reason to go vegetarian once a week.
Finally, Neu said she hopes Americans will think about the environmental benefits of dropping meat once per week. Livestock takes up land and consumes water, and transporting the finished product to grocery stores can burn a good bit of energy, especially if it's coming from across the country or overseas.
I'm not sold on giving up meat entirely (I tried that in high school, too, but could not live without steak), but the idea of cooking vegetarian once a week sounds like a great opportunity to find and try new recipes.
Vegetarian cookbooks are everywhere, as are Web sites dedicated to vegetarian cooking. To get started, check out the Meatless Monday site at www.meatlessmonday.com for more information and a few starter recipes.
Farewell to the flesh!
