The Daniel Fast: Everything You Need To Know

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Fasting is connected with Prayer. It not only allows you to spend more time with God but also encourages you to count your Blessings.

I find fasting extremely helpful for praising the Lord and studying the Bible in-depth.

One of my favorite Bible Verses about fasting is Joel 2:12. – “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Today we will talk about The Daniel Fast, The Daniel Fast Food List, and the spiritual, physical, and mental benefits of following The Daniel Fast.

What Is The Daniel Fast?

One of the more popular Christian fasts, the Daniel Fast is based on the kosher diet of the Old Testament prophet Daniel. Daniel followed a mourning fast for three weeks during which he abstained from meat, wine, and other rich foods. The book of Daniel in the Bible shares the dietary and spiritual experiences of Daniel upon following this way of eating.

The aim of The Daniel Fast is to avoid ‘royal foods’ including meat and wine to be more sensitive to God. Those who follow this form of fasting are encouraged to consume fruits, vegetables, and water.

No form of protein from animal sources is allowed on The Daniel Fast. For protein-rich foods, participants can consume legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

The Daniel Fast is generally followed for 21 days. Here are the two references from the Bible that led to the formation of The Daniel Fast.

Daniel 1:12 – “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

Daniel 10:2-3 – “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”

The word ‘vegetables’ in the former verse is replaced by ‘pulses’ in the King James Version. Pulses here refer to food grown from seeds such as fruits, lentils, whole grains, and other plant-based foods.

Fruits, vegetables, grains etc served for The Daniel Fast. — Daniel Fast is a plant-based diet

The Daniel Fast Food List

On the Daniel Fast, you are on a plant-based diet. This means you can consume fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, but no form of animal protein.

Below are the foods that are allowed and not allowed on The Daniel Fast.

Foods To Eat On The Daniel Fast

Fruits and Vegetables
Fresh, cooked, or frozen. Canned fruits and vegetables with added sugar, coloring, and other preservatives are not allowed on the diet. If you’re wondering what on earth can I make with just veggies, here’s a list of over 30 Daniel fast snacks to try.

Whole Grains
Barley, brown rice, millet, oats, quinoa, whole grain pasta, buckwheat, etc. Bread made with yeast is forbidden on the Daniel Fast, but you can eat unleavened flatbreads.

Nuts & Seeds
Raw and dry-roasted nuts and seeds without salt.

Beans and Legumes
Peanuts, lentils, black beans, etc. There’s no shortage of healthy meals you can make with the humble beans, from hummus to tahini and more. Here are a few Daniel fast-approved meals to try.

Oils
Plant-based oils such as peanut, olive, sesame, walnut, and avocado.

Beverages
Water is the only beverage that is allowed on the diet. But flavored water is not allowed.

Foods To Avoid On The Daniel Fast

Animal Products
Meat, eggs, and animal protein of any kind are not allowed. For proteins, you can consume legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.

Sweeteners
Added sugars, honey, maple syrup, and even natural sweeteners are not allowed.

Dairy
All dairy products are forbidden on the diet. You can substitute dairy with homemade non-dairy milk.

Processed Food
Avoid fried and deep-fried foods such as french fries and potato chips. All kinds of processed food containing artificial flavorings, preservatives, and food additives should be avoided.

Solid Fats
Butter, ghee, lard, and margarine should not be consumed. Nut and seed butter is allowed provided nut and seed are the only ingredients.

Chocolate
Avoid milk chocolates, dark chocolates, and all kinds of chocolate syrups.

Beverages
Coffee, tea, energy drinks, alcohol, and even flavored seltzer water are not allowed on the Daniel Fast.

Chewing Gum & Mints
Even zero sugar chewing gums should be avoided.

Why Should I Do The Daniel Fast?

Fasting in general is an excellent way to walk closer with the Lord.

The Daniel Fast will not only help you connect with God, but it will also improve your physical health, and overall mental well-being. Whether you need guidance in your life or need to reset your mind and start fresh, participating in The Daniel Fast can clear your mind and cleanse your body.
Below you will find the spiritual, physical, and mental benefits of following The Daniel Fast.

Spiritual Benefits Of The Daniel Fast

By focusing on prayer and Trusting the Lord, The Daniel Fast will change your perspective and encourage you to see things differently. The spiritual benefits of following The Daniel Fast are as follows.

Makes you more in tune with God.
Helps break addictions and unhealthy habits.
Provides you with encouragement and guidance.
Encourages you to rely more on God’s strength.

Mental Benefits Of The Daniel Fast

Although spiritual benefits are the top reason for following The Daniel Fast, the resulting mental and emotional benefits are worth mentioning.

Relieves anxiety and nervousness.
Helps ease depression.
Cleanses and refreshes your mind.
Improves mood and overall mental well-being.
Helps heal stressful relationships.
Reduces negative feelings and promotes positive thoughts.

Physical Benefits Of The Daniel Fast

Since The Daniel Fast is a whole-food, plant-based diet, it involves the consumption of healthy nutritional foods, which in turn promotes physical health. It helps fight against life-threatening diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Promote body’s detoxification.
Improves skin health.
Improves energy levels.
Breaks sugar addictions.
Promotes good digestion.
Sets the right hormonal balance.

The Daniel Fast Can Work For You

Biblical characters who participated in fasting include Moses, Samuel, Jonathan, David, Daniel, and John the Baptist. God used all of these men in powerful ways.

The Daniel Fast is undoubtedly a unique and life-changing experience that will advance your walk with the Lord.

People who are unable to fast due to health issues should not follow this diet. An alternative way of fasting is to give up something you have been depending on.

For example, you can take a break from television, cell phone, social media, or video games and devote that time to pray, study the bible, repent for your sins, read good Christian books, and develop a closer relationship with God.

What are your thoughts on the Daniel Fast? How often do you do it? How has it changed your life?

Bio: Apryl of Money Wise Steward

Smiling lady with long hair in a blue dress. — Apryl at Money Wise Steward

Apryl has been married for 19 years and is a mother to 3 children. She’s been living on one income for the past 12 years. When she’s not homeschooling her children, she is blogging about her faith and ways to save money on her blog Money Wise Steward.

Some Foods You Can Consume On The Daniel Fast