top of page

Daniel's Fast

The Daniel Fast was first observed by the prophet Daniel in the Bible. Scripture gives us some insight (such as in Dan. 10:3) into what Daniel ate and didn’t eat; however, we don’t know his complete menu. On one occasion, Daniel was greatly concerned for his people and sought the Lord’s wisdom during a time of prayer and fasting.

​

“At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips (Dan. 10:2-3).

The Daniel Fast Food List

  • All fruit – fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, or canned.

  • All vegetables – fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, or canned.

  • All whole grains – amaranth, barley, brown rice, oats, quinoa, millet, and whole wheat.

  • Tortillas - Corn tortillas yes (No flour tortillas)

  • All nuts & seeds – almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds; unsweetened almond milk. Nut butters are also included.

  • All legumes – canned or dried; black beans, black eyed peas, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), great northern beans, kidney beans, lentils, pinto beans, and split peas.

  • All quality oils – avocado, coconut, grapeseed, olive, peanut, sesame, and walnut.

  • Beverages – distilled water, filtered water, spring water, caffeine free tea and freshly squeezed juice with no added sugar.

  • Other – unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, or soy milk; herbs, spices, salt, pepper, unsweetened coconut flakes, seasonings, Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, soy products, and tofu.

    • Date Syrup, agave nectar and any other natural sweetener not derived from animals.

  • Protein - Beans, lentils, quinoa, nuts, seeds, asparagus, broccoli, kale, spinach, and sprouts are good sources of this important nutrient. Protein powder is allowed as long as it contains no animal products.  Suggested Protein powders during the Daniel Fast:  

    • Garden of Life Organic Plant-Based Protein Powder

    • Orgain Simple Organic Plant Protein Powder

    • Carrington Farms Coconut Protein Blend

    • Care/of Plant Protein

    • Your Super Organic Superfood Protein Mix

    •  Vega Sport Premium Protein

Foods to Avoid on the Daniel Fast

  • All meat & animal products – bacon, beef, buffalo, eggs, fish, lamb, poultry, and pork.

  • All dairy products – butter, cheese, cream, milk, and yogurt.

  • Tortillas- No flour tortillas. (Yes corn tortillas), no fried tortillas (tostadas) 

  • All sweeteners – artificial sweeteners, brown rice syrup, cane juice, honey, molasses, raw sugar, syrups, stevia, and sugar.

  • All leavened bread & yeast – baked goods and Ezekiel bread (if it contains yeast and honey).

  • All refined & processed food products – artificial flavorings, chemicals, food additives, preservatives, white flour, and white rice.

  • All deep-fried foods – corn chips, French fries, and potato chips.

  • All solid fats – lard, margarine, and shortening.

  • Beverages – alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, and energy drinks.

Daniel Fast Recipes

Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes Carrots and Green Beans

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe:

  • Baby red potatoes

  • Carrots

  • Olive oil

  • Fresh thyme and rosemary

  • Salt and pepper

  • Green beans

  • Garlic

 

5 SERVINGS

  • 1 1/4 pounds baby red potatoes (halved and larger ones quartered)

  • 1 pound medium carrots (scrubbed clean, cut into 2-inch pieces and thicker portions halved)

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)

  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (minced)

  • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (minced)

  • Salt

  • freshly ground black pepper

  • 12 ounces green beans (ends trimmed, halved)

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)

 

How to Roast Vegetables

 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  • In a large bowl toss together potatoes, carrots with 2 1/2 Tbsp olive oil, thyme, rosemary and season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Spread onto a rimmed 18 by 13-inch baking sheet. Roast in preheated oven 20 minutes.

  • Toss green beans in bowl with remaining 1/2 Tbsp olive oil, sprinkle with salt.

  • Add to baking sheet with other veggies, add garlic and toss everything and spread into an even layer.

  • Roast until all of the veggies are tender and slightly browned, about 20 minutes longer.

Easy Baked Tostadas With Beans And Avocado

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe:

  • Corn baked tostadas

  • Refried beans (or smashed pinto beans)

  • vegan cheese substitute

  • Avocado

  • Lime juice

  • Salt

  • Optional toppings: Lettuce, onion, tomato, salsa

 

Turn on your oven’s broiler. Layer tortillas on a large baking sheet. Sparingly spray olive oil. Keep an eye on them, because this only takes a couple minutes. You don’t want burnt tostadas! In a separate bowl, mash the avocado. Stir in a tablespoon or two of lime juice and a pinch of salt.

 

Top your baked tostadas with the refried beans, smashed avocado mixture, and any of the optional toppings: finely chopped onion, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and/or salsa. ENJOY! 

Spaghetti squash spaghetti

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe:

 

  • 1 medium spaghetti squash (3 pounds)

  • 1 garlic clove

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter (or sub olive oil for vegan)

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano

  • 1 tablespoon dried basil

  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more to serve (or Vegan Parmesan Cheese)

  • Marinara sauce (use Easy Marinara Sauce or Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with meat or veggie crumbles)

  • Protein, if serving as a main dish (Since squash isn’t as filling as normal noodles, you may want to serve with meat, lentils or another plant based protein. We served with goat cheese, bread, and a salad)

 

Instructions

  1. Cook the spaghetti squash: Make Roasted Spaghetti Squash or Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash.

  2. Mince the garlic.

  3. When the squash is cooked, heat a large skillet to medium low. Add the butter and olive oil and warm until melted. Add the garlic, oregano, basil, onion powder, and garlic powder. Warm, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 4 minutes until garlic just starts to brown. Remove from heat and add squash noodles, kosher salt and grated Parmesan cheese. Toss until well combined. Taste, and add salt as necessary.

  4. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce and a bit more grated Parmesan cheese.

Chopped Kale Salad with Edamame, Carrot and Avocado

Ingredients You’ll Need for This Recipe:

 

SALAD

 

  • 1 bunch kale (preferably lacinato/Tuscan/dinosaur kale but regular curly kale works, too) fine-grain sea salt

  • 1 cup chopped snow peas (slice off tough ends first)

  • 1 large carrot, peeled and ribboned with a vegetable peeler

  • 1 small red bell pepper, deseeded and chopped

  • 1 heaping cup organic edamame (if using frozen edamame, defrost by tossing into a pot of boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes)

  • 1 avocado, pitted and sliced into small chunks

  • 1 large shallot, finely sliced handful cilantro, chopped handful Thai basil (or regular basil), chopped


 

Tamari-Ginger Vinaigrette

 

¼ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon finely grated ginger

1 tablespoon low-sodium tamari (or other low-sodium soy sauce*)

2 teaspoons lime juice

3 garlic cloves, pressed or minced

 

Instructions

 

Use a chef’s knife to remove the tough ribs from the kale, then discard them. Chop the kale leaves into small, bite-sized pieces and transfer them to a mixing bowl. Sprinkle the kale with a dash of sea salt and use your hands to massage the kale by scrunching up the leaves in your hands and releasing until the kale is a darker green and fragrant. Toss the remaining salad dressing ingredients with the kale.

To make the vinaigrette, whisk together all the ingredients until emulsified. Toss the dressing with the salad and serve.

Steps to Fasting

  1. Come to the Lord in Prayer

  • Confess any sin

  • Communicate the reason for your fast.

  • Explain what you will fast. 

  • Be clear about when you will begin the fast and when the fast will conclude.

  • Close prayer.

 

 2.  During the Fast:

  • During the fast we should intentionally be in prayer and the reading of scriptures. 

  • Many times especially in the beginning and in our need and desire to fast regularly we do not have a day and time where we can stop everything and fast. If this is the case then we must look to be intentional throughout our day seeking the Lord. While working or driving or running errands we pray. 

  • We begin our day with one passage of scripture and we memorize it and meditate on it throughout our day. 

  • We look for moments in our day to reflect the beauty of God’s creation. 

  • Look and listen for the Father’s voice throughout your day. 

  • If we are not fasting food and choice drinks but something else than we should still abstain from any alcoholic beverages. 

​​

 3.  Conclusion the Fast:

  • Once the time has arrived for your fast to complete come to the Lord in Prayer.

  • Do not make a decision to continue the fast past the time you originally told the Lord. Keep your word and if you feel you can fast longer than attempt that on your next fast. Do your best to keep your word to the Lord and what you said you will fast, why you will fast, and the time period of your fast. 

  • Once you are in prayer the following is suggested: Worship the Lord. Tell Him that you are now at the conclusion of your fast. Thank the Lord for giving you the strength to endure the fast. Ask Him to receive the Fast for His honor and glory. Ask His blessing over the area of why you are fasting. Tell the Lord that you love Him and trust Him and that you desire His blessing alone. Close the time in prayer. 

  • Whichever type of fast you completed you can now go back to enjoying that area. If it was food you fasted, you may go back to eating. It is recommended that you slowly get back into eating and not do too much at the beginning. 

​​

 4.  If I accidentally break my Fast:

  • If this happens do not be too hard on yourself.

  • Ask the Lord to forgive you and begin your fast again. 

  • You can either restart it from where you left off or pick another day and continue. 

  • Do not give up on fasting all together because you accidentally broke your fast.

2024 January church-wide fast (Instagram Story).png
bottom of page