For many that means not eating meat on Fridays.

Every year I get stuck in a rut, making the same 2 meals on Fridays during Lent.

To avoid getting stuck in that rut, and to make sure my husband isn’t eating frozen fish sticks, I’ve come up with a list of delicious and simple meatless meals for Lent.  

Of course these quick dinner ideas could be used any time of the year.  You may also enjoy these under 30 minute dinner ideas.

Simple Meatless Meals for Lent

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Tomato Soup.  Simple comfort food.  Dress up the soup with shredded cheese, sour cream, or a bit of salsa.  Slice up a tomato to add to the grilled cheese sandwich.

Tuna Salad Sandwiches.  As a kid this was a staple during Lent.   We always had it with cream of mushroom soup.  Or, skip the sandwiches and put your tuna salad on lettuce with chunks of tomatoes on the side.

Egg Salad Sandwiches.  This has become a big favorite with my kids.  In fact, the 6 and 8 year-old can make it themselves as long as I boil the eggs for them.

Salmon Patties.  This was another dinner staple during Lent when I was a child.  The salmon patty recipe I use is super simple, and the kids love it.  Serve them with a hot vegetable and mac-n-cheese as sides, and dinner is ready in 20 minutes.

Eggplant Parmesan.  Such a yummy way to increase your vegetable intake.   We love this simple Eggplant Parmesan  recipe.

Vegetarian or Cheese Pizza.  Whether it’s delivery or you make your own, sometimes it’s nice to be able to just snuggle with the kids in front of a good movie and share a pizza at the end of the work week.   Pizza Bagels are a great alternative if it’s dinner for just one or two, or if you’re looking for a great lunch idea.

Pasta and Marinara Sauce.  Spaghetti is a staple here on nights when I need to get dinner on the table in a hurry.  Make it more fun by changing up the type of pasta used.  Want something other than marinara sauce?  Try Alfredo sauce.  Not only is this meal fast, but pasta is one of the most inexpensive meals you can serve.

Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups.  These spinach lasagna roll-ups are so delicious you won’t even notice there’s no meat involved.

Cheese Quesadillas.  Make cheese quesadillas in minutes.  Serve them with salsa and sour cream for dipping and vegetarian re-fried beans.

Bean Burritos.  Try this baked bean burrito recipe from Pint-Sized Treasures for a delicious meal that’s ready in 15 minutes.  Just be sure to use vegetarian re-fried beans.

Leave the fish sticks in the freezer.  With 7 Fridays during Lent, and these 10 simple meatless dinner ideas, there’s no need to get stuck in a rut and no need to heat up fish sticks as a last minute dinner.

You may also like:

• Simple Resurrection Garden for Lent 
• Kids Easter Crafts & Activities 
• Yummy Muffin Recipes You’ll Love

The post 10 Simple Meatless Meals That Are Perfect for Lent first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.

This children’s Lent activity helps kids visualize and better understand the events of Holy Week.  

Creating a Resurrection Garden is a simple and powerful Easter activity they will remember all their lives.

Resurrection Garden Activity

Materials Needed:

• Small Plastic Container or Flower Pot
• Miniature Flower Pot 
• Garden Soil
• Small Rock (large enough to cover the opening of the mini flower pot)
• Moss, Small Flowers, etc.  
• Small Figurine
• Small Cross 

Start by adding soil to your small plastic container.  

We used an old, shallow Tupperware dish for our Lent garden.  A flower pot would look cute as well.

Next, add a miniature flower pot to the container.  This will serve as the tomb.  If you don’t have a miniature flower pot, you could also use a small paper cup.  

Allow your child to decorate the garden with moss, small plants, and decorative rocks.   We searched our flower beds for these.

This will represent the garden that Jesus went to in order to pray before his death.  

Good Friday Activity

On Good Friday add a small cross to your garden.  If you don’t have one, you can make one by tying two small sticks together or using pieces of craftsticks.  

Have your child place the small figurine in the “tomb,” and then place a rock in front of its opening.  

This activity is the perfect opportunity to talk about why Jesus chose to die on the cross and what it means for us!

You may also want to try the rising water experiment to help explain how Jesus removes sin.  

We like to cover the Good Friday garden with a small black cloth on Holy Saturday, much like they covered the parents’ painting in the Frozen movie after they died.  It really helps kids understand the somber mood and reflect on what has happened.  

On Easter Sunday, move the rock from the entrance of the tomb and remove the figure inside.  

Then allow your child to see the garden.  

You may even want to decorate the Easter garden with colorful flowers, either real or artificial, to reflect the joy of the day and to show new life.   

If you are looking for a way to make the events leading up to Easter more tangible for your children, create your very own Resurrection Garden together this year.

More Easter crafts and activities:

• Tissue Paper Cross Collage
• Coffee Filter Cross Sun Catcher
• 15 Fun Ways to Learn with Plastic Eggs

The post Simple Resurrection Garden Activity for Kids first appeared on There's Just One Mommy.