Seven tips for observing
a Daniel Fast or Daniel's Diet
1. Be specific
Daniel was very clear in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined his objection immediately. Daniel 1:8
The king’s food was likely not kosher, against Jewish dietary laws.
Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.
The king’s food could have been offered up to idols or demons.
Write out and sign a commitment that outlines
Why you are fasting.
How long you are fasting.
From what you are fasting.
2. Fast as a spiritual commitment
The Daniel Fast involves a spiritual commitment to God. "Daniel proposed in his heart that he would not defile himself." Daniel 1:8
Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance!
3. Reflect inner desire by external discipline
Most people desire better health, but don't discipline themselves to say no to junk food, and other unhealthy foods. Our physical health is more than answered prayer. Our physical health is normally linked to many of these factors:
Your food choices.
The level of your spiritual commitment, as reflected in constant prayer during the diet of Daniel and his friends.
Your time commitment. If you determine to fast for a certain time, keep it. For example, if you determine to fast ten days, don't stop on day nine.
Your testimony commitment. Your fast is a statement of faith in God. You want God to heal your body. Faith is foundational to the Daniel Fast.
4. Pray to see the role of sin in your relative health or sickness
Read James 5:13-20 KJV
You have freedom in this Daniel Fast to modify it according to your personal physical and spiritual needs. You can modify these guidelines as you feel led by the Lord. If you feel that it would be more productive for you spiritually or physically to avoid certain foods or spices, that would be great. If you feel led by the Lord to eat only vegetables and drink only water, then do so!
The main thing is to decide ahead of time how you are going to apply the Daniel Fast. Then stick to your commitment for the length of time you have decided to fast. Some people feel that it is good to make a permanent lifestyle change to the Daniel Fast. Daniel didn't do his "fast" for a limited amount of time. It was his lifestyle. Daniel asked for permission to avoid the kings delicacies over a ten day period. Then, if he was still healthy looking, he could continue his "diet."
Daniel's reason for his "diet" are given in Daniel 1:8 The Message Bible
"But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king's food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet."
Daniel seemed to eat only things planted for harvest and drank only water. You may want to keep it simple and eat only vegetables and drink only water. If in doubt about a certain kind of food, read the guidelines! Send us your ideas of additional foods to eat, recipes, and menus to add to this page.
Whole Grains: brown rice, oats, rolled oats, oatmeal, barley, corn, popcorn, wheat
Legumes: dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, green beans, green peas, peanuts, etc. Grain legumes include beans, lentils, lupins, peas and peanuts (includes natural peanut butter).
Fruits: apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, breadfruit, cantaloupe, cherries, coconuts, cranberries, dates, figs, grapefruit, grapes, grenadine, guava, honeydew melons, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, mulberries, nectarines, oats, olives, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon, etc.
Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, any peppers, any potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, etc.
Seeds: all nuts, natural peanut butter, natural almond butter, sprouts, ground flax, all whole grain products, etc.
Liquids: spring water, distilled water, filtered water, 100% all natural fruit or vegetable juices
If you have questions about other foods, check out our Questions and Answers page!
Foods to Avoid
Basically, you want to avoid the King's food. By application, that means that we are avoiding all those things that the Jews couldn't eat. We're also avoiding foods that only royalty in ancient days could afford. It wasn't until recent history that most Americans could afford to eat meat or poultry. In most of the world today, very few people can afford to eat any kind of meat or processed foods, like the following items to avoid. Send us your ideas of foods to avoid.
Meat, because Daniel didn't want to take the chance of eating non-kosher food and/or meat that was offered to idols.
white flour and all products using it
white rice, white bread, hominy and pasta
fried foods
foods or drinks with caffeine
carbonated beverages, including diet sodas
Wine, beer or any other alcoholic drinks
foods containing preservatives or additives
refined sugar (see some substitutes)
high fructose corn syrup
chemical sugar substitutes
margarine, shortening, animal fat, high fat products
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If you have questions about other foods, check out our Questions and Answers page!
Send us your Daniel Fast questions.
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