by Natasha Austin

Created on: March 10, 2009

The Easter season is fast approaching, and many people will be wondering what they can and can't eat to honor the holiday and follow tradition for that sacred weekend. Eating a big dinner on Easter Sunday is a tradition for most people of the Christian faith. But what culinary traditions are acceptable for Good Friday?

First of all, for those who wish to follow the standards set by the Bible and the church, fasting is a requirement. This means taking a break from physically nourishing the body, except for one meal that day. A person may take two meals as long as they are smaller than a normal meal. No snacking is allowed between meals. Individuals from 18 to 60 years of age are required to fast in the Catholic tradition. Those who have or may have health concerns, such as the elderly, infirm, or pregnant, should not fast.

So what is allowed in this one meal? Abstaining from certain foods is a requirement. Meat, and anything with meat in it, is to be avoided completely on Good Friday. No beef, pork, chicken, veal, turkey, etc., is permitted. Seafood is fine to consume on Good Friday, although this has been debated. Many people do not consider fish meat, so they have it with their Good Friday meal. Others say that any creature that breathes and/or has a bloodstream, heart, other organs, etc., is and should be considered meat. Should an individual choose to eat only salad or fruit for their meal, it would be permissible, also. Drinking tea, coffee, juice, or milk is acceptable.

The most popular food eaten on Good Friday is hot cross buns. The base for this delicious bread food is flour, salt, milk, yeast, and water. They can be made with currants, raisins, or other dried fruit. Some people put sugar or honey in them, as well as cinnamon and/or nutmeg, vanilla, and eggs. The choice is yours as long as you enjoy it!

The buns are marked on top with a cross going all the way down all four sides of the bun. The cross can be icing or just a cut in the top of the loaf. You can also use different colored dough rather than icing if it is too sweet for you. The buns may be served warm with butter, jam, preserves, or whatever you like.

Many Roman Catholics and other Christians will eat only fish and vegetables on that day. You may prepare foods like meatless spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, and minestrone. Enjoy a veggie wrap or some spinach lasagna. It really isn't difficult to find something to serve that is meatless and delicious as well.

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