Our Take on Lent

Posted on 28 Feb 2024

Lent is the 40 days between Ash Wednesday (Feb 14th) and Easter Sunday (31st March), mirroring the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness and endured temptation from Satan. Many people, especially Christians, model their behaviours to honour this time, such as giving up certain foods or activities that aren’t always beneficial to them or others around them (Grime, 2020).

For me, ‘What are you giving up for Lent?’ has been a topic of conversation for longer than I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are of debates in the Year 2 classroom about whether it would be harder to give up chocolate or sweets; biscuits or crisps; orange juice or apple juice. Then there would always be one boy sitting at the back with a smug grin on his face, thinking he’d cracked it… “I give up coming into school!” Everyone would quickly nod in strong agreement.

Funnily enough, as time went on, I didn’t venture far from trying to give up chocolate for Lent, because it was still just as hard as when I was seven. That sweet and velvety smooth texture, the sugar rush, and the subsequent energy boost were hard to replace.

Sound familiar? Lucky for me, and maybe for you, our machines are now packed with all things healthy and (we would argue) just as good at giving you that sweet kick to carry on your day. Whether it’s a snack of banana chips from Ludlow Nut Company, a drizzle of Haygrove honey on your toast, or a refreshing swig from a Nettle and Elderflower can from Nuisance, we have got you covered. And of course, what’s better than scranning a few fresh raspberries to satisfy those sweet cravings?

Putting control measures on sugary foods in our diets during Lent, like giving up chocolate, has proven to help some people with weight loss and reduce their cholesterol (Khadir, 2016). Participating in Lenten practices has also shown to encourage self-discipline and help to instill healthier habits in people’s lives (Grime, 2020). So, why not give it a go?

Other snacks and drinks available in our machines in February:

  • Raspberries & Blackberries
  • Dried mango
  • Roasted & salted cashew nuts
  • Two Farmers Crisps
  • Nuisance drinks cans
  • Willys Honey & Turmeric, Beetroot or Ginger ACV shots
  • Local Apple Juice
  • Pixley Cordial

Locations of our three vending machines:

  1. Munsley Turn, Herefordshire, HR8 2SG
  2. Haygrove Newent, Gloucestershire, GL18 1EB
  3. Riverside Nursery, Whitchurch, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 6DF

Let us know how you get along with your Lent, what you think about our alternatives, and if you have any other products you’d like to see in our machines!

Chocolate will be back in Easter, don’t worry (we’re not monsters).