Fasting and Praying with a Spouse
I have to include praying along with fasting otherwise I start thinking fasting is merely to “discipline” myself or to purge my body of toxins. And when I say with a spouse, I don’t mean fasting together. I mean, fasting when you have a spouse. How does one fast from food when your spouse isn’t? I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to eat in front of someone who’s not eating (for whatever reason).
The trouble really only comes if you go on a complete food fast. Then you’ll have to figure out how you both sit there while one is eating pasta and the other merely watches.
Personally, I don’t fast when I’m with my wife. In the same way people don’t fast on Sunday because it’s the day of the Resurrection and we should be celebrating that day. I eat when I with my wife and celebrate her. And really, I’m mindful of the times when I should break my fast. Whether you’re on a total fast or just fasting from sweets, to eat with a friend who needs to talk or to taste your boyfriend’s latest attempt at tiramisu is an appropriate time to break your fast.
Also instead of a total fast, you can do a partial fast, eliminating certain kinds of food, like meat or sweets. In this way, you and your mate can plan meals accordingly.
links: Ken Collins has a nice list of types of fasts.