Food and Lent and Children's/Youth Ministry

On Shrove Tuesday, my friend was later than anticipated getting here after work so we missed out on the church pancake suppers in town. Instead, we made our way to a diner.

We both opted for the pancake combo – 3 sausages, 3 slices of bacon, 3 eggs (no menu item had less than 3) and 2 pancakes that were the size of a small dinner plate and half an inch thick. Our waitress made sure we knew that it didn’t come with home fries or toast. The idea of eating any more in one sitting made us both laugh. We barely managed to finish what was brought to us.

This is not a usual thing for me, eating until I could burst, but our culture certainly holds it up as a value. I’ve often seen people at buffet restaurants race to fill their plates, taking pride in how much they are able to eat, trying everything offered or loading up on particularly expensive items and coming back for seconds and thirds. It can seem more like a contact sport than a dining experience and the waste is appalling.

We are living in a time where food sustainability is in question - over-fishing has threatened fish stocks, extreme weather and drought destroy crops, GMOs and seed security are hot topics, our food is shipped from hundreds or even thousands of miles away, and the prices keep climbing as so many struggle to buy the basics.

We are experiencing a dramatic rise in serious food allergies and sensitivities requiring special diets, as well as an increase in vegetarianism, veganism and other conscious lifestyle choices which can make planning for a church supper or kids’ program a real challenge. No doubt about it, food is a huge issue.

In children’s ministry over the years I’ve seen a shift from appreciation for a couple of store-bought oatmeal cookies for snack to the expectation of elaborate, home-made treats that go with the day’s theme. Many children expect variety and will ask for something else if they don’t like what is served. There is also the reality of kids who come hungry and who will eat whatever they can to fill their tummies. Much is wasted and taken for granted, and then there is the whole issue of food being used as a toy and for games.

Lent provides a great opportunity to explore some of these issues around food with your children and youth. Consider doing any of the following:

1. Hold a 30 hr famine with your youth to raise awareness about hunger and related issues – there are excellent resources at http://www.30hourfamine.org/ .

2. Learn about healthy eating and reading labels, visit farms and grocery stores to see where our food comes from, prepare food together so they value what goes into what they eat, and provide the opportunity to serve others whether at coffee hour or a soup kitchen.

3. Have them track what they eat in a given week - are they making wise choices?

4. Encourage sharing food with others who do not have enough, whether through a food drive or helping others at school without a good lunch (talk about food allergens and what to avoid sharing just in case).

5. visit websites and talk about food sustainability, consider designing and planting a garden in the spring to grow food, either on church property or at another location

6. Encourage saying or singing grace before meals and snacks and adopt it as a practice at your programs. Include the congregation in collecting favourite graces that can be compiled into a booklet or handout and sent home to use.

7. Encourage mindfulness in eating – eating slowly and with gratitude – and drinking water first. Often we are thirsty when we think we are hungry.

8. Particularly with youth, talk about healthy serving sizes, body image and eating disorders, and our attitudes about different body sizes and about what we eat.

Beyond giving up a certain food for Lent, children and youth can also be encouraged to fast for a meal a week (with parent permission) or to give up snacks and instead focus onreading their Bible or prayer or other spiritual activities. 

Finally, as leaders, discuss the role food plays in your programs. Often, we’re so busy we go for what is easiest – ordering pizza and putting out chips. I’ve been there many times. How can we model good food choices in the snacks we offer? How can our kids be involved in preparing the food? How can we actively teach gratitude and limits?

May God be praised through our use of food during Lent and always!