Fasting Discipline: Minimizing Nutritional Temptations
The main idea is that observing the fast implies abstaining from rich, hearty foods, including food additives that could "alleviate" the sensation of hunger. In this case, the prohibition of butter and cheese illustrates the rejection of animal-based products, which add nourishment to food and are perceived as "meat substitutes." At the same time, even the consumption of tea reflects the commitment to a strict fasting diet: tea is recommended to be drunk without bread, which in itself acts as an accompaniment contributing to satiety.Thus, according to one of the sources, those who observe the fast are instructed as follows: "Drink tea in three cups without bread and do not tell anyone about it. And if you have guests, crumble only the bread, as Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow did. They served him sterlet soup, he ate a bit of ushitsa, and only crumbled the fish. Tea during fasting another time — with repentance." (source: link txt, page: 71-72)This instruction highlights two aspects: first, the limitation on the quantity of tea consumed (no more than three cups), and second, the necessity of excluding bread as an accompaniment, reflecting the aim to minimize any “easing” elements that detract from strict self-denial.It is also noted that dishes containing butter and cheese are prohibited for those fasting: "Butter and cheese are prohibited for those fasting, although butter may be used in moderate amounts to maintain health in difficult conditions." (source: link txt)Thus, traditional regulation of the fasting diet emphasizes two main restrictions: avoiding nutrient-rich and enriching foods (such as butter, cheese, and bread with tea) and maintaining strict control over the quantity of beverage consumed. These measures help those observing the fast preserve a spirit of abstinence by eliminating any additions that might soften the severity of the fast.