A vegan menu for those new to vegan eating that uses only ingredients from the supermarket. For those new to Orthodox fasting.

I wanted to share a vegan menu for people new to vegan eating that included only common ingredients from the supermarket.  This is not an oil free menu.

The first time I decided to attempt a fast, I stopped eating for the day in order to pray for a friend.  I ended up lying on the couch with a massive headache and too dizzy to be able to stand.  I asked my (Baptist) pastor what I should do.  She didn't have an answer for me.

Then I discovered the Orthodox church, with a very long tradition of fasting.  An Orthodox fast is fasting from all animal products for the 40 days before Easter and Christmas.  Fasting is hard.  It's a struggle.  And that's o.k.  You're building up your will power muscle gradually.  You can't run a whole marathon without any practice.

After trying and failing to complete an advent (pre-Christmas) and lenten (pre-Easter) fast I decided to slow down.  First I did a vegetarian fast for two weeks before Easter and Christmas.  Then I extended it to four weeks. Later I cut out eggs, and later still dairy.  It was a few years before I managed the 40 day vegan fast.

These recipes are just part of the practicalities of the fast.  It's more important to fast from anger, hate, judgement and other sins and to pray and to repent.  Your spiritual father should be able to give you advice.  But if you're feeling alone and just don't know what to cook, despite your best resolutions, I hope these recipes help.

	Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snack
Mon	Banana Porridge	Salad Sandwich with hommus, artichoke hearts, grilled egg plant, roasted capsicum.	Stir fry with cashews and noodles	Vegan banana muffin
Tue	Avocado Toast	Salad with pumpkin and pinenuts Replace honey and oil with a tiny bit of balsamic.	Falafel wraps  or you can buy pre-made falafels or a falafel mix.	Apple and almond/peanut butter
Wed	Orange and Pear Bircher Muesli	Salad Sandwich with hommus or avocado and baby spinach, tomato, and grated carrot.	Soup and bread Also used in the dhal recipe for friday	Hommus and rice crackers Use any brand of hommus and crackers.
Th	Avocado Toast	Greek lentil Soup or leftovers	Homemade vegetable pasties	Veggies and peanut butter
Fri	Blueberry Porridge	Salad Sandwich	Dhal and rice	Popcorn
Sat	Toast with avocado, wilted spinach, baked tomato and pan fried mushrooms	Take away Vegetarian Sushi	Lentil Bolognaise	Fruit and nuts
Sun		Left overs	Oven baked jacket potatoes with chilli sin carne.  Top with a mix of fresh tomato, avocado, coriander, lime.	Protein ball

I want the depth of the church to be available to my children

Dear Children,

Yesterday, we visited a mega church. It's not a new experience for any of us.  But I've learnt some things since joining the Orthodox church.  I have a whole new experience and understanding to draw on.  My experience gives me new perspectives.  I'm glad that you have had these varied experiences also.  You understand that there are other ways.  I hope that makes you understanding of others, and accepting of others, and willing to listen.

I found it interesting to compare this church, and our own tiny Orthodox church. I am fascinated by the differences, and I'm fascinated how underlying beliefs change the way people act.  I'm always asking, "Why is this as it is?" and "What is the effect of this belief?"  I'm worried that you think I dismiss anything that isn't Orthodox.  Questioning why is not saying it is bad.

The service was bright, appealing, flashy, slick, entertaining and professional.  The MC spoke briefly, the transitions were smooth, the videos were expert, the singers were in tune, the band played well.  It was short and punchy.  The people up the front were well dressed, happy, representative of the congregation.  The music was familiar. The sermon had jokes and pop culture video, interesting quotes, and talked about the ordinariness of our every day lives, speaking to our culture's desire for fame and fortune.  All the senses were engaged.

The ushers standing around had t-shirts that said, "Here to help" on them.  I love that.  What a great invitation written on a T-shirt.

I could see that you might be attracted to this.

Our own church is small.  It's very unprofessional.  There's no video, no band, no well dressed and groomed people ready to be video recorded and beamed up onto the big screen.  The music is ancient, and the same every week.  The sermons are about the bible.  It's long.

I'm so glad that you hear the same prayers and scripture readings over and over.  They're imprinted on your brain.  When you need them, the Holy Spirit will bring them to the front of your mind.  You can listen for a long time.  You have experienced sacred ceremony.  You know the creed and can test any teaching against it to see if it's really what the church has always believed.  You are aware of the long family tree of followers of Jesus who can share their wisdom from the last 2000 years with us.  You have experienced traditions that will guide you, the doing will lead to the understanding.

What I worry about is that this slick mega church presentation will cheat you of something.  I'm worried you'll miss out.  It's FOMO! (Fear Of Missing Out) I'm worried that you'll miss out on depth, on wisdom, on Christian teaching, on answers on how to follow Christ when the going gets hard.

I should not worry.  Jesus said that.  But I hope I can teach you to question, and to seek and to find eternal answers that matter.

For the humble man is always at rest, because there is nothing which can agitate or shake his mind. Just as no one can frighten a mountain, so the mind of a humble man cannot be frightened. If it be permissible and not incongruous, I should say that the humble man is not of this world. For he is not troubled and altered by sorrows, nor amazed and enthused by joys, but all his gladness and his real rejoicing are in the things of his Master.  - St. Isaac the Syrian,  “Homily 72: On the Vision of the Nature of Incorporeal Beings, in Questions and Answers,” Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian