The church teaches that Catholics in good health are to observe the following practices during Lent unless for some serious reason they are unable to do so
Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. Fasting as explained by the US Bishops means partaking of only one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the main meal. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk prodicts or condiments made of animal fat.