Countdown to Lent, Part 2

Lent Minus 6 days and counting...some ideas for Lenten spiritual practices related to:

Fasting

For Catholics, numbers 1 and 4 are "required". However it seems to me that if you do these two because you "have to", neither will have much value.

"When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

1. Try following Catholic teaching on Fasting during Lent, shall we say, religiously? On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday eat only one full meal and two (very) light meals that together add up to no more than the full meal.
   
   
2. Try fasting – the real thing, not the Catholic Lite version. Don’t eat any solid food for an entire day, or any beverages that have any significant calories like milk, juice or soft drinks. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are particularly good days to do this.
   
   
3. A Golden Oldie: Abstain throughout Lent from one or two pleasurable foods or drinks you typically enjoy as a treat. Last year I passed on Starbucks for 6 ½ weeks (a personal addiction). For you maybe it’s ice cream, Krispy Kreme, or chocolate.
   
   
4. Abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays. Catholicism 101. It never seemed like much of a sacrifice to eat fish instead of meat, so for extra credit, try not eating fish, eggs or dairy products either. (I wonder if vegans should abstain from fruits and vegetables, and only eat meat & fish?)
   
   
5. Sign up to participate in The H2O Project.
   
   
6. Participate in Operation Rice Bowl.
   
   
7. Fast from a non-food item -- TV, Facebook, texting, a hobby