Austerity measure: Britain's PM May gives up crisps for Lent

[March 01, 2017]    LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is not known for her self-indulgence, has revealed she will be giving up crisps in the run-up to Easter -- a period called Lent when many Christians fast or give up luxuries.

 British Prime Minister Theresa May smiles as she greets her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve at Number 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, February 17, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

Lent, which begins on Wednesday, commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert preparing for his ministry. May, a vicar's daughter, is a regular church goer.

Crisps, known as potato chips in the United States and often high in salt and saturated fat, are a staple snack in Britain.

"The prime minister will be giving up for Lent: crisps," her spokesman told reporters, adding that May's favorite flavor was salt and vinegar.

He was unable to say how many packets of crisps the prime minister consumes in a typical day.

(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Gareth Jones)

[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.