What is The Daniel Fast?

One of the Spiritual Disciplines for Christians is Fasting.  Biblically Fasting is abstaining from food and using that time to remind us of our dependence on the Lord for our strength, practice self-denial, resisting the flesh, and to act as a catalyst for our prayers.

In the Book of Daniel, we have two examples of the Hebrews exiled in Babylon rejecting the rich food of the Kingdom and eating a diet of vegetables…one to show their obedience to their faith and in another case to pray and fast in a time of uncertainty.

Modern-Day Christians have adopted the “Daniel Plan” of eating Fruits, Vegetables, and some whole grains to fuel healthier lifestyles.  While that’s admirable and I totally encourage that, when one is fasting the focus is on the spiritual part of fasting and not about weight.

On a Daniel Fast, we don’t eat

  • Any Animal Products
  • Sugary Beverages
  • Anything with Added Sugar
  • Most Refined Grains

We do eat

  • Fruits (including Juices but Raw Juices and not sugary juice)
  • Vegetables
  • Whole Grains

I cut out coffee and Tea.  I tend to stick with water, sparkling water, and Hot Water with Lemon and Cinnamon.  I do drink Kombucha once a week.

It’s customary for many churches to do a Daniel Fast at the beginning of every year.  Many people do the Daniel Fast for 21 Days but you can do it for 5, 7,10, or even 40 Days!

Here are some of my Best Practices and Tips that I’ve picked up over the years!

Tip 1: PREPARE

This is THE Tip.  You must prepare for the Daniel Fast ahead of time. Plan your Meals Weekly and make a List for your Grocery Shopping. Make sure to buy snacks as well in case you get stuck.  Please do not try to wing it.  You will not make it.

Tip 2: Set yourself up for success

Don’t buy sugary snacks and other tempting items during the fast. 

Tip 3: Keep Track

Keep a list of your favorite Meals and Recipes each time you do a fast!  This makes meal preparation so much easier if you keep a google doc or File of Daniel Fast recipes.

Tip 4: Soups are your friend

You can make Large Quantities to have on hand for later.  Amy’s soups are great to have on hand if you do not have time to prepare a meal.

Tip 5: Raw Juices are great for Breakfast and/or Lunch 

There are times when I fast for 24 hours and I drink juices before meals

My personal favorites

  • Cold Pressed Green Vegetable Juice (not the sugary types. Straight up Green Juice)
  • 100% Carrot Juice
  • Orange Juice

Tip 6: Have some Convenient Go To’s on hand

Here are some of my Convenient Go-To’s

  • Amy’s Soups
  • Amy’s Vegan Burgers (Mushroom, Quinoa, AND NO SOY) I would eat those when not fasting.
  • Trader Joe’s Jackfruits (Full Disclosure: I can only stand these during the Daniel Fast I put Dijon Mustard on them but my mother says that doesn’t help anything and this is the worst thing Trader Joe’s ever created.)

Tip 7: Go Easy on the Fats

I got carried away with the Nuts a few times because I wasn’t eating enough protein and I ended up getting sick and having stomach cramps.

Tip 8: Think about which habits you would like to keep after the fast

I’m keeping the warm water with Lemon and Cinnamon before coffee.  I just like it. I also liked the Amy’s Veggie Burgers

Tip 9: This isn’t a diet.  It’s a time of cleansing, renewal, and consecration

While there are numerous health benefits to fasting, the priority for Christians is not to lose weight.  The priority is to practice self-denial, remind ourselves of what truly nourishes us, and fight battles in the Spiritual Realm.

If you’re going to Fast as a believer, then you must pray.  Otherwise, you’re just going on a diet.  Get prayer partners, have specific times of day for prayer, and spend time meditating listening to God.