Ames Mayor Ted Tedesco proclaimed Tuesday “not-so-fat” as a promotion for the Mary Greeley Medical Center gala.

Fat Tuesday, which signifies the end of Mardi Gras, is Feb. 8.

David Hunter, professor of religious studies, said Fat Tuesday is a custom for Christians.

“It was sort of a last opportunity to party before the 40-day season of Lent, the days leading up to Easter. [Lent] is a time of prayer and fasting for Christians,” he said. “It begins on Ash Wednesday, and Fat Tuesday is the day before. It is a time of eating, drinking and indulgence, because when Lent starts, people abstain from that.”

Joyce Durlam, a volunteer for the medical center, said “Not-So-Fat Tuesday” will be different than Fat Tuesday.

“The obvious focus is, ‘Let’s all try to eat healthy.’ Hopefully, we can make it a ‘not-so-fat lifestyle,”‘ she said.

“If you reduce the fat in your diet, you can reduce the risk of cancer.”

Mary Greeley Medical Center, 1111 Duff Ave., is hosting a “Not-So-Fat Tuesday” lunch Tuesday in the medical center’s cafeteria.

Margie Oldehoeft, director of volunteer services at Mary Greeley, said Cajun and low-fat foods will be served to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Educational exhibits and health information on the lunch tables will accompany the food.

Durlam said “Not-So-Fat Tuesday” is a promotion for the annual Mary Greeley Medical Center gala, held Feb. 12 at the Hotel at Gateway Center.

The theme of this year’s gala is Mardi Gras Ball.

All of the proceeds of this event will go to the William R. Bliss Cancer Resource Center.