That's Fit

No pizza, bagels or pasta carbo-loading for observant Jews the night before this year's Boston Marathon -- the April 21 race falls smack in the middle of Passover. Jews that follow Passover dietary rules do not eat leavened foods such as bread, pasta or any fermented grains for eight days. Passover kicks off April 19 with a lengthy seder dinner celebrating Jewish freedom from Egyptian slavery. Another seder is held the second night.

No doubt Jewish runners participating in the 2008 Boston Marathon will handle the conflict differently. One couple practiced carbo-loading before previous races with potatoes and fish. Another is breaking the rules and eating bagels on marathon morning. One rabbi reports he'll be consuming plenty of matzoh (unleavened bread), but he's not entirely confident that matzoh -- a star food in a seder dinner -- is the best choice. It reportedly can bind you up. Constipation and marathons do not go well together.

I wonder if a couple bowls of Bubbie's matzoh ball soup honestly slow down marathon times. I suspect it doesn't matter whether you carbo-load on potatoes and kugel or pasta and bagels, but it might be a good idea to try out any new diet on a few longer training runs first. I mean, it's an honor to run the Boston Marathon, ya gotta be prepared!

When I was a young girl I was quite lucky. My best friend (still a dear friend of mine) was Jewish and, through each others families, we each got to experience our different religions. She helped decorate our Christmas tree, went to church and learned what communion was all about. I went to temple, helped light the Menorah, and celebrated Passover with them. From the youngest of ages we learned that even though we had different beliefs we could respect, appreciate, and find the beauty in each others religions. It was a wonderful lesson to learn. (I kind of wish some of our world leaders had grown up in my neighborhood!) Though my friend has moved out of state, I still stay in touch with her family and, at certain times of the year, I start remembering the traditions of my youth.

One of my favorite tastes of Passover is Matzo Ball Soup. The version I make is of the pinch-of-this, bit-of-that variety so I have no idea of the nutrition information. But Whole Foods Market has a Roasted Root Vegetable Matzo Ball Soup recipe that sounds simply delish. Enjoy!