Not giving up on Lent
Lent is a period of “giving up” on certain treats but it also gives food service outlets an opportunity to provide alternatives during this time.
Ash Wednesday on 14 February marks the first day of Lent, a period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. This year it shares the day with Valentine’s Day; a day of indulgence for some.
Pancake day falls the day before, when traditionally all rich foods such as eggs and milk were used up before fasting began.
Times have moved on with Lent now being a period of time where things are given up as opposed to strict fasting.
What is the consumer giving up?
According to openbible.info, a website that tracks what Twitter users say they are giving up for Lent (both serious and not so serious) some of the most popular things people want to banish are chocolate, social networks, meat and alcohol. It’s an exercise of self-control and discipline too.
Lent-friendly menu options
Observing the period of Lent changes people’s diets and choices during this time.
Make your menu more Lent friendly by offering alternatives to sweets, coffee, chocolate, sugar, meat, gluten, fizzy drinks – perhaps make it a seasonal theme on the menu.
Fish dishes will be in demand too as the Catholic tradition of eating no meat from a warm-blooded animal would steer towards a preference for fish based dishes.
Macphie can help with this as all our UHT’s are gluten-free, most are vegetarian and our red wine sauce is suitable for vegans.