Do You Give up Something for Lent?

We gave up soda as a family and hoping to make it a permanent sacrifice, not just 40 days (except maybe special occasions).

I gave up beer. My substitute is hard liquor. :)

Substitute for chocolate - maybe get one of those convenience store soft pralines. They're the caramel colored blobs wrapped in plastic by the register. They are sweet, chewy, dense. Similar to chocolate and have a little salt in them. Really good.

You could try Werthers Caramel Chews.

Maybe international house coffees. They have some great flavors that would give you that hot chocolate satisfaction.

A few of my friends gave up social media.

I gave up trying to give up something.

I do hold true to the traditions of the family who converted me to Catholicism tho, and that's to not eat meat on Friday's.

I do LOVE this time of year tho. Renewal is always a good thing.

Sending good thoughts your way. :)

Last year I gave up soda. This year I may do the same. But, I was thinking, instead of giving something up, maybe doing something proactive for the community...like volunteering, doing a daily good deed, donate a little more at Church each week, etc. Any ideas???

I gave up sweets. All sweets. I am also reading the Gospels each night.

My husband gave up meat.

My 6 yr old has committed to remembering to say his prayers every night, and my 9 yr old daughter is having a hard time committing to something.

As for the cravings, they should go away in a few days. If not, try eating another type of candy.

Yes, I gave up my very favorite food and it is not easy.

At Mass yesterday, our priest said, "The 3 main things to remember about Lent are: fasting, almsgiving (sharing) more, and praying more." All will bring you closer to God.

Good luck!

Have to agree with Mary C., our priest too mentioned the fact that its not so much about 'giving up' something. Our priest mentioned Lent being a time of reflection and of becoming closer to God, such as reconciliation, if you hadn't been in some time, more prayer, fasting, giving of yourself. Great things to keep in mind! :-)

I gave up soda.

How about yogurt covered raisins for a chocolate substitute?

Best of luck!

When I crave sweets, eating salty foods helps. Good luck!

Our youngest is giving up dessert.

The rest of us are giving up sugar, meat, caffeine, and alcohol.

We're all taking on additional prayer. We have a Lenten meditation book that our priest gave us, and we're reading it and discussing it together as a family each night.

Yogurt covered raisins, or nuts.

Carob covered, raisins or nuts.

Just smile and think "chocolate easter candy when it's over". We do the normal meatless Fridays (use fish or eggplant or whatever instead), I have limited my computer time and exchanged that for more devotional time, and I have been SO PROUD of myself for going down to one coke every day or 2 (seriously, disgusting, but I was doing a 3/day minimum)---but I've been weaning myself off. I figure what you give up is supposed to "mean something" to you, so I'm going to have no more cokes at all during Lent. Perhaps I'll not even want it so much when it's over?
A substitute for chocolate? Hmm. I don't really crave chocolate, but my grandma used to say that if you have a craving for chocolate, you could eat a pickle wedge instead. She swore it worked, and she had a MEAN sweet tooth (and was diabetic).

I give up self-deprivation.

Eat something completely different.
Raisins, dried cranberries and apricots, etc.

I gave up desserts this year. Last year, I gave up swearing. ^_^

When I worked at a weight loss clinic, we suggested clients eat carrots when they crave chocolate. Supposedly there is something in carrots that satisfies the chocolate craving. I can't guaranteed it will work (and honestly I don't see how it could) but it's worth a try!

anything sweet should help lol.. i always used to give something up for lent.. growing up i went to ccd from 1st to 8th grade so it was a big deal then.. as i got older and we started only going to church on holidays i would give something up but it would never last i would end up forgetting b4 lent was over.. it sounds horrible but now i dont even bother

Isn't dark chocolate supposed to be good for you in moderation? I would give up other snack foods before chocolate. But to answer you question, I find that nuts are very filling. I keep a bag of almonds around for that 3pm sweets craving.