Of course most Greeks are of the Greek Orthodox faith. And religion plays a very big part of Greek life. Equally important, to the greek faith is that there are serveral fasting periods to be observed throughout the year. The longest and seamingly the strictest of Greek fasting, is the 40 day long fasting period which begins approximately 7 weeks prior to Easter.
Foods to avoid during Greek fasting.
- meat and fish (containing blood)
- eggs
- dairy products
Egg alternatives.
- For more vegan egg alternatives click here.
- apple sauce
- flax seed eggs
Dairy alternatives.
- homemade nut milks such as almond milk and hazelnut milk.
- olive oil
- coconut milk and coconut cream
- freshly squeezed orange juice
- cold pressed juices – carrot juice, apple juice and beetroot juice.
Foods allowed during the fast.
The rules are really simple! Think outside the box! Basically eat anything that doesn’t contain animal products.
- legumes
- fruit and vegetables
- nut butters – homemade almond butter
- rice and rice noodles
- octopus and squid
- olive oil, coconut oil
- tahini
- honey
- tofu
- nuts
- vegan cheeses
- vegan ice-creams
- donoughts
- smoothies and smoothie bowls
- energy balls here and here
- fasting cookies
- vegan chocolate eggs
- halva
Holy Week.
Also known as Megali Evdomada – basically it translates to the “Big Week” in Greek. Whilst there are those who fast strictly for the full 40 days, there are those that follow a rule of no animal products Monday, Wednesday and Friday or something similar.
Today – most people and children will fast only during this important religious week. But in all honesty, there really is such a vast variety of foods to eat from, that you don’t really notice the lack of animal products.
My boys are surrounded with plenty of plant-based snacks and food that not eating animal products doesn’t enter their heads, unless of course they are craving a souvlaki. And I can take care of that, by fixing seared tofu or with vegan meatballs or vegan textured protein meat souvlaki. YUMMO!
So many of the traditional foods can be veganised and so they can instantly become a nistisimo version. The choices are endless. We are only limited by our imagination.
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