I have read that 8 ounces (225 grams) of solid food is an upper limit for a collation.

Strictly a curious question, and nothing more, how many here are over the age of 60 but still adhere to the Lenten fast?

My assumption is that the principal meal is your only meal,

  The title of this thread is “2 small meals”.  

Strictly a curious question, and nothing more, how many here are over the age of 60 but still adhere to the Lenten fast?

I'm 64 and will adhere to it till I die, my dad held to it till he died at 86 years old. No reason not to - if there ever is a reason then of course that would be different, but so far I'm thankful for having no reason to not adhere to it.

I also had pizza yesterday, and I don’t feel guilty about it, nothing but cheese, and bread with some tomato sauce; and being that I really only eat meat for the two meals I eat every day (outside of Lent, that is), it was a struggle yesterday, but needed a break from fish

I just want to drop this image here, while not a strict rule, it is a pius thing.

Strictly a curious question, and nothing more, how many here are over the age of 60 but still adhere to the Lenten fast?

I always thought I would continue indefinitely, but this past year, a health issue has arisen.  If I don’t eat at least a small every few hours during the day when I’m active, I become faint and have actually passed out briefly on three occasions.  Once, was on the side of the road between my pickup and my mailbox.  I’d gone at least six hours without taking anything, and upon standing up and taking a few steps, felt myself going down. I was out for maybe a second and able to sit before falling backwards in the dirt.  I knew at once what had happened, but had to stay there a few minutes sitting on the ground. I was not at all injured.  It was a bad day for my arthritis so I couldn’t get up unaided.  So I rolled to the mailbox and used the post to slowly right myself.  I got the mail and rather cautiously drive the five miles down to my place.  I ate some saltines and a mug of tea with honey.  I was fine after that although my dogs were annoyed that I didn’t feed them first as usual!  
What I’m doing is eating the equivalent of two meals instead of one and a half.  One is my main meal as normal, but the other is nibbles throughout the day.  I’ve also given up two particular favorite foods that aren’t all that healthful.  As for abstaining from meat, I do that fully, on Wednesday or Saturday, and of course on Fridays.  

We see Novus Ordo churches all have Fish Fries (where they make some nice profits) on Fridays ... because abstaining from meat for 5-6 Fridays is a "big deal" for them, so they have to offset the little penitential spirit they have left by throwing these big fish fries.

For the sake of truthful information, Friday night Fish Fries predate VII and the Novus Ordo.  They go back to at least the 1950’s (that’s far back as I’ve been around) but probable much further, especially on the two coasts with seafood industries, and they weren’t necessarily just during Lent.

I am assuming that the poster of Reply #26 avoids any connection with Novus Ordo parishes, so one wonders how he is familiar with the financials of these dinners.  They obviously can’t lose money, and hopefully there are some net proceeds for good causes, but in my observation the prices are typically family friendly.  Often there is a “family price”, or the cost of the meal is by donation.  Net proceeds may go to support the parish or parochial school, but in my experience they often go to special causes such as pro-life support for expecting mothers, food banks, seminarians, Special Olympics (founded by a Catholic), and so forth.  These and other works of mercy (both corporal and spiritual) need to receive funding from somewhere.

One Lenten practice that in my experience is post VII (though it may have happened in traditional times) is that parishes have a Soup Night.  In a former parish a volunteer would collect donated vegetables from area grocery stores (those “about” ready for compost) and make a hearty and tasty vegetable soup.  If there were enough cabbages and carrots a coleslaw might be made, but usually it was just soup and bread (again, donated from a store’s “pull date” stock).  Coffee, water, and a punch were provided.  There was a Lenten program afterwards.  Leftover soup and bread was taken to a local homeless shelter.  People brought their own bowl, spoon, and cups and were asked to donate what they otherwise would have spent for dinner that evening, but this was all anonymous.  Proceeds went to our St. Vincent DePaul Conference and the community food bank.  In my current parish we have soup night on Monday’s in Lent.  Different parish organizations host each week, their members bring soups, there are always some vegetarian options for those observing a stricter abstinence during Lent.  Bread, crackers, coffee, and juice are provided.  People bring their own table ware (it is provided for those who forget or are new).  There is an anonymous donation box and proceeds go to our St. Vincent DePaul Conference, which operates a large food bank (typically serving 1,100 or more every Wednesday). 

MY POINT is NOT promoting the diocesan parish programs, but that these activities, especially the soup nights, would seem to work well also in traditional chapels.  In addition to offering a simple meal at an affordable cost (and giving mom’s a break) they could provide opportunity for chapel members to become acquainted, to learn about the different apostolates at the chapel, to raise funds for chapel needs or other works of mercy.  They could be in conjunction with a Lenten talk or a devotion such as the Stations (which don’t only have to be on Friday, or if on Friday’s it would be easy enough to have soups without meat).

I pray that everyone's Lent is going well so far.