For Filipinos, the Lenten Season is a time for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  Since the Philippines is primarily a Christian country with big number of Roman Catholic devotees, Holy Week is celebrated in various ways from a solemn prayer to observance of traditions unique to Filipino culture.

The most common traditions observed by Christians are fasting and abstinence.  Fasting, which is observed during Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, is defined as reducing the amount of food eaten from your normal consumption.  It simply means having a single meal a day, and two smaller meals which if added together will not exceed the quantity of the main meal.  On the other hand, abstinence is refraining oneself from eating meat and is observed on Ash Wednesday and every Friday of Lent. 

The Holy Week celebration is a bit different this year due to the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because of the enhanced community quarantine implemented in the whole of Luzon including Metro Manila, most of the Holy Week activities are cancelled and devotees are forced to celebrate in the confines of their homes. 

So how can we be healthy and happy this Lent season amidst the stress brought by the COVID-19 pandemic?

1.  Eat healthy.

Fasting or abstinence does not mean that you will starve yourself.  Eat a variety of foods to ensure adequate intake of important nutrients. Even during fasting, make sure that your single meal contains the three good groups, go, grow and glow. You can substitute meat with fish as protein source if you are abstaining from meat.

Eat plenty of fruits ang vegetables since they provide vitamins and minerals as well as fiber that our body needs. If fresh fruits and vegetables are not easily available, you may also opt to buy canned fruits and vegetables to limit your trip to market/groceries.  But, remember to read nutrition labels so you can choose products with ingredients low in sugar, salt, or preservatives.

Try to limit eating processed foods.  Ready-to-eat meals, canned goods and processed snack items and desserts are often high in saturated fat, sugars, and salt. Check the label and try to choose healthier options containing less of these substances.

Drink water regularly.  Stay well hydrated by drinking ample amounts of plain water (6-8 glasses a day for most adults).  Choose plain water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce the risk of consuming too many calories. 

2. Rest and reflect. Life moves at such a fast pace that we do not have enough time to really reflect on and enjoy the things we have. Take this opportunity to rest, reflect and meditate. Doing these will help you achieve a greater level of happiness and appreciation for life.

3. Share with others what you have. As the old saying goes, it is better to give than to receive. Share what you have - be it money, goods, or an act of kindness. Share your blessings in whatever form and create ripples of kindness.

4. Take a break from technology, gadgets and social media. Technology such as computers and mobile phones has made our lives easier. Internet and social media allow us to get connected with a lot of people, but too much screen time may also disconnect us from our family and loved ones. Taking time off from our smart phones and other gadgets, and social media will allow us to spend more time with our family, and do more productive things.

5. Pray. This is the time to reconnect with God. Focus on your spiritual healing by having a prayer devotion alone or with family. Spend your time in prayer and honor the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Repent, seek forgiveness and earn God’s favor.

Holy Week may be a bit different this year, but we can still celebrate it fully with the whole family.  Celebrate the Lenten season with a grateful heart for our redemption through Christ.  Value life. Eat well and be healthy. (TAR/NPC MEVF/NNC-NCR)

References:
Catholics reminded to fast, abstain from meat this Lent By Sarwell Meniano (published on April 17, 2019, 5:09pm at www.pna.gov.ph)
Tagle: It’s fasting, not diet by Paterno Esmaquel II (published on February 13, 2013, 5:53PM at www.rappler.com)
Holy Week detox: Say goodbye to tech, socmed for now by Jan Carlo Anolin and Marjaleen Ramos (published on April 14, 2019, 7:29 AM at www.news.mb.com.ph)
Maintaining a healthy diet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 27 March 2020
Easy, affordable and healthy eating tips during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak. UNICEF