DANIEL FAST
Daniel 10:3: I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Don’t be afraid or intimidated and think you cannot do this fast because YOU CAN! You may follow the fast as described below or modify for some health or other pertinent reasons. (For example, some add fish and other seafood but avoid poultry, pork and red meats.)
The guide provided below is just that, a guide. Remember God knows your heart and it is God who accepts your sacrifice! However, if you modify your fast, be sure to maintain your integrity in committing to your modifications. You will glad you did!
Foods to INCLUDE in your diet during the Daniel Fast:
· All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried and juiced.
· All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried and juiced.
· All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta.
· All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also, nut butters including peanut butter.
· All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include, but are not limited to, dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans and white beans.
· All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut and sesame.
· Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
· Other: All seasonings, salt, herbs and spices. But remember using too much salt may diminish some of the physical benefits of fasting and should be used sparingly.
Foods to AVOID on the Daniel Fast:
· All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry and fish.
· All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter and eggs.
· All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses and cane juice.
· All leavened bread and baked goods.
· All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
· All deep-fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries and corn chips.
· All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
· Beverages: carbonated beverages, energy drinks and alcohol.
Note: Fasting alone is just modifying your diet. If you want more out of your 21 Days of Fasting, be sure to read the other six topics (Finding a Place and Time to Pray, Consecration While Fasting, Journal Your Fast, etc.) to enhance your fasting experience and get ready for An Awesome 2020!!!
ONE-MEAL-A-DAY FAST
On this fast you eat one meal a day, usually in the middle of the day, say around 3:00 pm or so unless you work at night. The time of day you eat is strictly up to you.
There is no scripture precedent for this fast, it was designed to give some sustenance during a prolonged fast, as opposed to a strictly a liquid fast with broth and water.
On this fast, it is recommended that you abstain from sugar and simple carbohydrates as they can cause problems with your blood sugar levels, making you very sluggish after eating. Your one meal should be mostly protein and vegetables without lots of fats and oils.
This list of foods to include and avoid is provided as a guide for the One Meal-A-Day Fast. Don’t be afraid or intimidated and think you cannot do this fast because YOU CAN! Remember God knows your heart and it is God who accepts your sacrifice!
Foods to Include on the One Meal-A-Day Fast:
· All fruits and vegetables.
· All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat tortillas.
· All legumes. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
· All foods cooked in quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut and sesame.
· Beverages: Spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
· Other: All seasonings, salt, herbs and spices. But remember using too much salt may diminish some of the physical benefits of fasting and should be used sparingly.
Foods to Avoid on the One Meal-A-Day Fast:
· All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses and cane juice.
· All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
· All deep-fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
· Beverages: carbonated beverages, energy drinks and alcohol.
Note: 21 Days of Fasting alone is just modifying your diet. If you want more out of your 21 Days of Fasting, be sure to read the other 6 topics (Finding a Place and Time to Pray, Consecration While Fasting, Journal Your Fast, etc.) to enhance your fasting experience and get ready for An Awesome Year!!!
SOUP OR LIQUID FAST
Don’t be afraid or intimidated and think you cannot do this fast because YOU CAN! Remember God knows your heart and it is God who accepts your sacrifice!
As the title implies, on this fast, you eat one bowl of soup a day. It is suggested that you have your soup in the middle of the day, say around 3:00 pm or so, unless you work at night. The time of day you eat is strictly up to you.
There is no scripture precedent for this fast, it was designed to give some sustenance during a prolonged fast, as opposed to a strictly a liquid fast with broth and water.
A Bowl of Soup Your soup should be mostly broth but can be any type of soup you prefer. However, you should take caution in choosing soups after the first three days or so. For example, heavy cream based soups like chowders can cause discomfort, so I recommend soups that are easily digestible. This is due to the fact that as the fast progresses, you will become more sensitive to the ingredients in your soup. You will find that simple soups with mostly broth is best. Also, I would avoid any soup with pork or red meat – again, this is just for your benefit as your progress in your fast.
Liquids If you are using only liquids in your fast, you will be either drinking broth and/or juices. If you choose to juice be aware of the fact that many purchased juices have a high sugar content and low nutritional value. Therefore, you may want to juice your fruits and vegetables yourself and/or purchase high quality vegetable and fruit juices. If you are juicing, you can proceed as if you were on the Daniel Fast but only use juiced fruit and vegetables. I recommend juicers that emulsify as opposed to the traditional juicers that leave out or discard nutrient-rich pulp. Again, however, this is totally your choice.
Note: Fasting alone is just modifying your diet. If you want more out of your 21 Days of Fasting, be sure to read the other 6 topics (Finding a Place and Time to Pray, Consecration While Fasting, Journal Your Fast, etc.) to enhance your fasting experience and get ready for An Awesome Year!!!
Thank you for the information. I no longer feel intimidated about fasting. Thank you for the practical tips.