People too often look upon fasting as something entirely to do with the ritual of religion, or they imagine that it has only to do with self-denial of different kinds, such as giving up luxuries in order to be able to save a little more for charities. Therefore, many people never realise what is the real physical meaning of fasting. Of course, from the ethical side, fasting, with its self-denials, is very good for the mind, but the fasting that I am writing of is equally good for body and mind. It is the resting time, or holiday time, of the overworked digestive organs.

Therefore, fasting (or eating less) makes the mind, as well as the body, healthier and clearer, and more ready for work.

If people would experiment a little more in fasting during Lent, or, indeed, at any time, they would be surprised to find how much healthier and more clear-headed they would become during such a period.

One easy way of beginning would be to have the lightest possible breakfast, for nothing clears the brain so well for the work of the day as having a light breakfast.

Then comes the question of what to eat in place of flesh foods during Lent?

Recipes for one or two light breakfast and lunch dishes are given here, together with a simple dinner menu. The dishes can be changed about by way of variety for the different meals.

People who are supposed to be "fasting" often eat far too much at a meal; if they knew a little more about the science of food values, they would understand that it is not quantity but quality that is needed in foods, and that it is far better to finish off a meal by feeling as if one had not eaten enough than as if one had eaten too much.

Another good way of beginning "fasting" is to have meatless dishes twice a week - say on Wednesdays and Fridays. Those who try this plan would find that they did far better work on those two days than on the other days of the week, for Wednesdays and Fridays would be the rest days (or the "rest cure") of the busy world within them, and would be helping them to cope better with the busy world without.

The following recipes will be found good:

Breakfast Menu

Fishless Kedgeree. Geneva Eggs.

A Cup of Proteid Food.

Lunch Menu

Welsh Rarebit. Lombard Eggs. Fruit.

Dinner Menu

Soups

Chestnut Soup or Celery Cream Soup.

Entrees

Lenten Fillets or

Vegetable Curry Cutlets, with Curry

Sauce.

Vegetables

Lettuce, Onion, and Peas. Mashed Potato. Mashed Turnips.

Sweet or Savoury