Hannah Foley ’14
Staff Writer

Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, delicious barbeque potato chips, and brightly colored bags of Skittles- these are a few of my favorite things.

That I couldn’t have for 40 days.

I have not had one piece—not a SINGLE piece—of junk food since March 9, which was Ash Wednesday and the start of the Lenten season for Christians.

Every year, Christians give up something that they love or care about for 40 days, just like Jesus gave up food and water for 40 days when he went into the desert. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when people receive palm tree ashes on their foreheads, and it ends on Easter Sunday.

Most Christians participate in Lent, but do not follow the extreme fasting rules such as eating only one main meal a day with smaller portions of food throughout the rest of the day. Instead, many Christians, myself included, follow the rules of abstaining from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all of the Fridays in Lent.

There is no possible way that I could give up all junk food and eat only one main meal a day. I would probably pass out.

I realize that giving up junk food is nowhere near as extreme or painful as giving up food or water, but it is still exceptionally hard.

During lunch, my friends will happily walk over to the warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate cookies and, fully aware of my Lent, say “I think I’ll have two today. Do you want one Hannah?”

It’s not funny.

And let’s face it, fruit salad and granola bars are in no way as satisfying as a delicious, heavenly, perfectly made double chocolate, chocolate cookie.

When I got a 96 on my Geometry test, what was I supposed to do? Celebrate with an apple?

Even though I complain about this huge sacrifice, I feel good and well, holier, when I keep a hard Lent like this one.

I wasn’t going to give up soda. I rarely drink it unless I’m at a party.

I wasn’t going to give up watching TV. With all of my homework and sports, I barely have time to watch it.

I wasn’t going to give up homework. I tried that in first grade and my teacher wasn’t too thrilled about it.

Junk food seemed like the only thing that I could give up, and have a challenge doing so.

And trust me, it has been a challenge. I always thought people were crazy when they said they felt like something was “calling out to them.”

I was completely incorrect.

I have never thought that cookies were so evil with their seductive, enticing ways. Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Snicker Doodle, Ginger Snap, and Sugar cookies all scream out to me from my kitchen cabinet.

Once Easter comes, I’ll definitely be making a pilgrimage to the Hershey and M&M stores in New York City.