Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of obligatory fast and abstinence. Holy Saturday is a recommended but optional day of fast. Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Abstinence from the meat of warm blooded animals applies to persons 14 and older. To fast means to restrict oneself to one full meal on the day of fast.
Food taken at the other two meals of the day is to be less than a full meal.
Water and other clear liquids may be consumed as needed at anytime during the day of fasting. The obligatory requirements of fast and abstinence in lent seem quite minimal. However, the spirit of lent suggests that each person personally participate in the penitential nature and call to conversion during lent. Each of us knows, deep in our hearts, what we desire in our relationship to God, to self and the local community and the world.