Seven tips for observing
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Please make sure to READ THE LABEL when purchasing packaged, canned or bottled foods. They should be sugar-free and chemical-free. Keep this in mind as you review this list of acceptable foods.
Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast
All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
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, 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: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.
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 including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) 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, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.
One thing I want to advise: be prepared! First, have the right kinds of foods in the house that you can eat for the Daniel Fast. See the Daniel Fast Food List. Also, plan your menus and prepare the foods so they are available to you. See the Daniel Fast Cookbook, plus there are many recipes on this site that you can make ahead.
Second, you might want to get rid of or at least put away foods that are tempting. Kind of like the biblical accounts of Jewish women as they prepared for the Passover by cleaning their houses from top to bottom and removed all yeast from their homes. Many Jews engage in this same practice today when they prepare for the Passover.
Third, plan time to prepare meals as they will likely take a little longer than when you are not fasting. Most of the mels you prepare will be from scratch since there are so few prepared products that don’t have chemicals in them. So you will want to set aside enough time to prepare your meals, not only for those you will have at home, but also those you will have at work or when you are traveling.
Of course, you also want to prepare your heart for the 21-Day Fast. Seek the Lord’s guidance as you get ready to start the fast. Are there issues in your life that you need to address? Are their needs in your family or ministry that can use special attention? Are you seeking healing? Do you feel oppressed by financial bandages? These last few days of the year are an excellent time to search your heart, open yourself to the Lord, and allow Him to lead you into you personal 21-Day Fast. See The Daniel Fast for the Body, Soul and Spirit.
So as long as any product has an origin from an animal of any type, it is not allowed on the Daniel Fast. This goes for all dairy products, cheese, eggs, etc.
Easy High-protein Breakfast Stir-fry for the Daniel Fast
Sometimes it can be hard coming up with good breakfasts on the Daniel Fast, especially if you are used to eggs. I made what I thought was a delicious breakfast and it was quick.
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 cup firm tofu, diced in bite-sized pieces
garlic salt to taste
Italian herbs to taste
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add oil and heat for a couple minutes. Add the onions and green peppers and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add tofu, garlic salt and Italian herbs. Continue to cook until vegetables are soft.
Makes two servings.
This was so tasty. The tofu is about the same consistency as egg whites and it soaks up the flavors of whatever it’s being cooked with. Very easy, tastes great, and lot of protein.
Originally developed in the late 1800’s by Swiss nutritionists, museli is a delightful cereal made of whole grains, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. It’s easy to make (1/2 cup museli with 1/2 cup water, bring to a boil and then simmer for 2-5 minutes).
I use Bob’s Red Mill Old Country Style Museli which is an Oregon company, so I am not sure if it available all over the country (I live in Washington State). But there are other companies that make museli if you can’t find Bob’s.
Museli is also great as a cold cereal with soy milk or applesaucse. I like mine cooked and plain, somtimes with a little soy milk.
Zoom, zoom, zoom! It’s a great hot cereal that’s been around for decades! Made by Krusteaz (the pancake folks), the cereal is 100% whole wheat. It’s the only ingredient and cooks in less than 2 minutes after the water boils!
I actually like this very inexpensive cereal. The box I just opened cost me $1.68 and contains 14 servings! That’s a pretty good deal in my book. After the cereal is cooked, I just scoop it into a bowl, add some raisins and sometimes a little soy milk. That’s it!
You could also sweeten the Zoom with chopped up sweet apple or apple juice, apple sauce or some other fruit. You might also want to add some cinnamon.
A couple great tools for the Daniel Fast
There are two kitchen helps I find so very useful during the Daniel Fast.
• Rice Cooker - mine is small and makes a maximum of 6 cups of cooked rice, but that’s an okay amount for what I need to prepare. For every cup of dry rice, I add 2 cups of water. Toss in some sea salt, pop on the lid, and flip the switch. It turns off automatically when the rice is cooked and it takes about 40 minutes. It’s so easy!
• Salad Spinner - okay, here is my true confession: I hate making salads. I know I am not supposed to confess negative things over me (maybe I will try and declare that I love making salads during the fast [pic]) but for some reasons, making salads is not a thrilling experience for me. That’s why I like using the salad spinner. Easy to just wash, tear, spin and the lettuce is ready.
Just another word on salad making strategies. When I return home from grocery shopping, I cut up all the fresh ingredients for salads and store them in air-tight containers in the fridge. Then when it’s time to make a salad, I just add the amount of each ingredient I want to the bowl and it takes about 3 minutes to put together the medley. The good news is that for someone who has an aversion to making salads, this almost makes it a non-issue! Pray for me!
Yummy Brown Rice and Apple Breakfast
1 cup cooked brown rice
fresh apple (cut up into bite size pieces - to taste)
raisins (to taste)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspooon 100% pure edible coconut oil
Mix all the ingredients together in a microwave-safe bowl (except the oil), heat for 2 minutes. Add oil, stir and Eat! It is delicious!
You could probably add soy milk to this, but I don’t like soy milk so I didn’t and it was just as tasty and filling!
Thank you for this opportunity to share and for your awesome ministry.
God Bless!
Renee Hastings
a.k.a. Daniel Fast Blog Friend
“Plus” Your Water
When you “plus” something, you take a “good thing and make it better.” Daniel Fast Blog Friend Renee Hastings shared this great thought about “plussing” drinking water:
Some folks don’t like the “taste” of water, which is critical during the fast. How about suggesting they add cucumber and lemon slices? The flavor combination is very refreshing!!
Daniel Fast Recipes
I know many of you are in the process of collecting recipes and making decisions about how you will prepare meals during the Daniel Fast. Actually, that’s why I wrote The 2008 Daniel Fast Cookbook.
But even with the cookbook, there will be times when you prepare other recipes. You will need to decide what it “okay” on the Daniel Fast and what isn’t. So I wanted to write a few keys to help you as you make your decisions.
1. You will probably need to cook a vast majority of your meals “from scratch.” That’s because so many of the prepared foods include sugar and chemicals, which are both no-no’s on the Daniel Fast.
2. READ THE LABELS. You will likely be amazed, and maybe even a bit discouraged, as you try to find prepared foods that are sugar-free and chemical-free. And this is why in point #1 I said you will likely prepare most of your meals from scratch. But make sure you read the labels.
3. Use frozen vegetables. Obviously, you will increase your use of vegetables on the Daniel Fast. The good news is that the vegetables found in the frozen food cases are usually totally free from any chemicals and they are more nutritious than most vegetables found in the produce section (that’s because fruits and vegetables lose their vitamins and minerals the longer they are separated from their vine or branch - wow, there’s a spiritual truth in that statement - and when the foods are flash frozen within only a few hours from harvesting, they retain more of their food value). Frozen fruits and vegetables are also “ready to go.” They are washed, trimmed, sliced and diced and ready for you to do your creative work on them to make them even better!
4. Generally, if a food is a fruit or vegetable and free from sugar or chemicals, it is okay for the Daniel Fast. Make sure you review the Daniel Fast Food List and then make a call.
5. Beans, rice and tofu are great sources of protein. The Daniel Fast is a great time to find new recipes that may become family favorites. There are millions of people in the world who eat foods consistent with the Daniel Fast as their core diet. Look for Asian, Latin, and East Indian recipes and you will find many are appropriate for the Daniel Fast with just a few variations.
Frozen Veggies for the Daniel Fast
You will most likely increase your vegetable intake during the Daniel Fast. Fresh is great for your salads, but for cooking you might want to turn to the frozen food section of the grocery store.
The truth is that frozen foods maintain more of their vitamin and mineral content because they are flash frozen within a much shorter period of time from harvesting than those in the fresh produce section of the grocery store.
There are great vegetable medleys perfect for stir fry plus some mixed vegetables that are great for rice dishes and soup. Plus, when you READ THE INGREDIENTS you will find only the list of frozen vegetables . . . no sugar, no chemicals . . . just food!
The other great benefit is that these vegetables are all ready to go! They’re cleaned, cored, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces. So the frozen vegetables come out on top in most cases when it comes to cooked dishes.
Stevia is a natural sugar substitute
There is a natural herb called Stevia that is a sugar substitute. You can find it in health food stores, in the natural foods sections of larger grocery stores, or on the Internet. It’s an excellent product, safe and you may want to use it all the times!
Now, here is the challenge . . . do you want to use a substitute on a fast that one of the major restrictions is “delicacies.” This truly is one of those things that is between you, your family, and the Lord.
Don’t feel guilty if you decided to use a natural sweetener rather than sugar. But also, make sure you pray about it and see if the Lord wants you to go without sweets or sweetened foods during the fast.
The time when Stevia comes in handy is for breakfast when you’re using whole grain cereals without milk. A little sweetness is nice, especially for children. Raisins can serve as a great addition with a little cinnamon. But this may be a time to use Stevia, also.
So, you need to decide. Remember, there is no power in the foods eaten or not eaten. The power of the fast is that you have consecrated your body, soul and spirit unto the Lord. Keep that in mind. If using Stevia would help you and your family members be more successful on the fast, my opinion is to go for it. But if sense the Lord leading you to stay away from all sweet foods, then forgo the use of this natural herbal product.
READ THE LABELS when selecting prepared foods
Major food companies are “getting it” and now provide many chemical-free products. They’re not as good about sugar additives. So READ THE LABELS and see if the product you are considering meets with the Daniel Fast Guidelines of no sugar and no chemicals.
Good News! Pasta can be part of your Daniel Fast
I don’t know if you’ve noticed the pasta companies are heeding the desires of more and more people who are getting away from white processed flour and into whole grains. Consequently, they’ve created lines of whole grain pasta in just about every shape and size.
With all that said, you still need to read the labels. Golden Grain’s Multi-Grain Spaghetti has what they call “crystallized cane juice.” Sounds an awful like sugar to me! But I also buy a store brand that is 100% Durum Wheat (Fred Meyer stores are a Pacific Northwest chain, but part of the Kroger line). That’s totally within the Daniel Fast Guidelines.
If you haven’t eaten whole wheat pasta before, you’ll find that the flavor is indeed different. Not bad . . . just different! I actually prefer the flavor because it . . . well . . . it has more flavor! One of my favorite ways to prepare pasta is to saute vegetables in a little olive oil or just braise them in water until tender. Mix them with cooked pasta and some olive oil. When not fasting I add Parmesan cheese, but I just leave that ingredient out during the fast.
You can also use prepared sauces (again, check the label for ingredients) along with sauteed or braised onions and garlic. Heat everything up and then just pour it over cooked pasta.
I think this is a really nice addition to the foods that are within the Daniel Fast Guidelines. These are not substitutes, but rather a different kind of food. Whole grain pasta is much better for you and offers 7 grams of protein per serving (3/4 cup of dried pasta).
So, enjoy this nice new product line! It’s not really an advancement, but rather choosing to go back to what is good, true and healthy!
White Beans and Sauteed Vegetables
This is a very fast and flavorful dish. Add a salad and some sliced fruit and you have a very nice Daniel Fast meal!
2 cans white beans, drained
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup celery, finely diced
½ cup carrot, finely diced
¼ cup virgin olive oil (to drizzle after beans are dished up)
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
1. Drain the white beans and set aside
2. Heat olive oil and then add all the prepared vegetables to the pan and sauté for until just done.
3. Add beans and heat thoroughly
4. Dish up on serving plates, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste.
Yield: 4 servings
Tip: It is best to cook with regular old pure olive oil - save the more costly extra virgin oil for salads, drizzling, and dipping. When cooked, extra virgin oil actually turns bitter and the great flavors are cooked away! So use the less expensive pure olive oil for sautéing and frying.
Savory Tofu Stew
This is an Asian inspired stew to serve over brown rice. The tofu is an excellent source of protein and a great addition to the Daniel Fast.
1/2 cup 100% peanut butter
2 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped carrots
2 pounds firm tofu, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon Five Spices
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6-8 cups cooked brown rice
1. WHISK together the peanut butter and vegetable broth in a medium bowl until well blended.
2. SEASON the tofu with soy sauce and Five Spices. Heat the oil in a large stew pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper and carrots. Sauté until the onions are translucent.
3. Add the tofu and continue to cook, stirring often, until browned on all sides.
4. Add the peanut butter mixture, tomatoes with liquid, thyme and bay leaf. Stir well. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 20 or until the vegetables are tender.
6. SEASON to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot over cooked rice.
Yield: 6-8 Servings
Smokey Stuffed Peppers
This is a great main dish for the Daniel Fast. It uses tofu for the protein source.
2 Tbs olive oil
2 stalks celery, minced (1/2 cup)
1 medium onion, minced
2 Tbs poultry seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, drained and minced
2 cups cooked brown rice or wild rice medley
1/2 cup yellow raisins
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tsp liquid smoke flavoring
5 oz tofu, mashed
3 red bell peppers, laved lengthwise
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
1. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add celery, onion, poultry seasoning, and garlic. Saute until soft (about 7 minutes).
2. Stir in chipotle pepper and saute 2 more minutes.
3. Add rice, raisins and broth; cook for about 5 minutes. This should be the consistency of stuffing.
4. Meanwhile, mash tofu and then mix with enough liquid smoke flavoring to your taste (a little goes a long way). Divide the tofu among the pepper halves then top with rice mixture.
5. Place peppers in 9″ x 12″ casserole dish. Add water until it comes 1/2″ up sides of peppers.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until peppers are soft and the stuffing is hot.
Yield: 6 servings
Vegetarian Chili
This is a very easy to prepare and hearty meal. I make this even when I’m not on the Daniel Fast! 2 medium-sized green peppers, chopped
1 medium-sized yellow onion, chopped
1 zucchini, sliced
1 yellow squash, sliced
2 tablespoons salad oil
2 tablespoons chili powder
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground red peppers
2 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
2 16 oz. cans tomatoes (juice and all)
2 16 oz. cans pinto beans (juice and all)
2 16 oz. cans black beans (juice and all)
1 4 oz. can mild green chilies
1 4 oz. can of tomato paste
[When I make this during non-fasting times, I also add 1 tablespoon of sugar with the other spices.]
Chop and sauté in oil the peppers and onions. Add the sliced squashes, chili powder, salt, ground red peppers, and corn. When all the vegetables are soft but still firm, add the tomatoes, all the beans, the green chilies, and the tomato paste. Stir until just blended.
Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat. Let simmer for 20 minutes stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Yield: 6 generous servings
I featured this recipe in my book titled Out of the Rat Race published in 1994 by Servant Publications.
A couple great tools for the Daniel Fast
There are two kitchen helps I find so very useful during the Daniel Fast.
• Rice Cooker - mine is small and makes a maximum of 6 cups of cooked rice, but that’s an okay amount for what I need to prepare. For every cup of dry rice, I add 2 cups of water. Toss in some sea salt, pop on the lid, and flip the switch. It turns off automatically when the rice is cooked and it takes about 40 minutes. It’s so easy!
• Salad Spinner - okay, here is my true confession: I hate making salads. I know I am not supposed to confess negative things over me (maybe I will try and declare that I love making salads during the fast [pic]) but for some reasons, making salads is not a thrilling experience for me. That’s why I like using the salad spinner. Easy to just wash, tear, spin and the lettuce is ready.
Just another word on salad making strategies. When I return home from grocery shopping, I cut up all the fresh ingredients for salads and store them in air-tight containers in the fridge. Then when it’s time to make a salad, I just add the amount of each ingredient I want to the bowl and it takes about 3 minutes to put together the medley. The good news is that for someone who has an aversion to making salads, this almost makes it a non-issue! Pray for me!
Southwestern Corn and Black Bean Salad
This bean, corn and nuts in this salad combine to create 19 grams of protein per serving. This is a very flavorful salad and easy to make ahead.
1 1/2 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 (14.5 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed
2 cups shredded red cabbage
1 large tomato, diced
1/2 cup minced red onion
Freshly ground pepper and salt to taste just before serving.
Place pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat and cook, stirring, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.
Whisk lime juice, oil, cilantro, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the corn, pine nuts, beans, cabbage, tomato and onion; toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Yield: 4 servings
Barley and Black Bean Salad
This is a very easy and quick recipe. Beans and barley make a complete protein, so this is an excellent meal when eating a meatless diet. Each serving has 12 grams of protein.
1 cup barley, cooked according to package directions
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed
1/2 cup corn (thawed if frozen)
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Combine cooked barley, beans, corn, cilantro, lime juice, oil, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Serve on bed of chopped or torn lettuce.
Yield: 4 servings
Get Ready for Christmas and the Daniel Fast!
One of the ways you can prepare for the Januay 2008 Daniel Fast is to start getting the food you will consume ready. One food item you can prepare is flavored vinegars! But why not “kill two birds with one stone” and make extra vinegar to give as Christmas gifts. Here is a great recipe for Rosemary Vinegar that’s easy and reasonably inexpensive to make!
For best results, use organic apple cider vinegar, aged in wood barrels, unpasteurized and naturally filtered.
INGREDIENTS:
2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
Full bottle of organic, apple cider vinegar
PREPARATION:
Place rosemary sprig inside vinegar bottle until submerged. Shake.
Place bottle in cool, dark place (refrigerate is okay but not required) for about 2 to 3 weeks.
Filter vinegar and rebottle in decorative bottle if you have one or plain glass bottle or jar. This would be a great gift to add to a basket or pair with a condement set.
You’ll end up with a lovely, rosemary-flavored apple cider vinegar that smells absolutely divine and lasts for many weeks.
Quick Tomato Sauce
This is an easy recipe for homemade tomato sauce that you can use as a base for vegetable casseroles, over 100% whole wheat pasta, or over brown rice.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion (chopped)
2 cans diced tomatoes (14.5 oz) - consider the tomatoes with herbs or roasted
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
Saute onions in heated oil over medium heat, cooking until soft. Add tomatoes (including juice), cinnamon, and salt and pepper. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Add cilantro and simmer for 5 or 10 more minutes. Serve over pasta, rice or cooked vegetables.
Yumm! Whole Wheat Tortillas for the Daniel Fast
You can buy 100% whole wheat tortillas, but these are so easy and fun to make. Use these tortillas for a veggie wrap or for chips with salsa.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup warm water
Preparation:
1. Mix flour and salt in bowl.
2. Add olive oil and stir until well combined.
3. Add warm water 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
4. Knead dough on floured board for about 3 minutes (20 folds).
5. Allow dough to rest for 15 minutes (this is called resting)
6. Roll dough into sausage-shape and then cut into 12 equal parts (cut in half, then in half again, then each part into thirds) and shape into little ball
7. With a rolling pin, roll each little ball into a tortilla (for best results, roll out from the center and outward).
8. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Fry the tortillas in a dry stick-free pan for about 30 seconds on each side for soft tortillas or longer for crisp tortillas.
9. Keep tortillas warm by placing in a tortilla holder or wrap in a kitchen towel
Yield: Makes 12 tortillas
Spicy Green Beans for the Daniel Fast
You will find that if you make your recipes more flavorful the servings will be more filling! This is not only a great strategy for the Daniel Fast, but also for anytime as it helps with portion control (a big issue in Super Size It America). I like this recipe for that very reason. A simple green bean and lots of flavor! Yumm!
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound green beans, trimmed
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 - 1/2 teaspooon red pepper flakes
Heat oil in frying pan or wok over medium high heat. Add trimmed green beans and salt. Cook, stirring frequently for 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 more minute.
Serve as side dish.
Peanut Sauce and Vegetables
This peanut sauce is so delicious that you will want to keep it as part of your non-fasting meals! You can serve the vegetables hot or room temperature. The dish can be served as a side dish, with stir fried vegetables and rice for a main course, or for a snack.
First, steam whatever vegetables you want to serve including broccoli, green beans, carrots, cauliflower or potatoes.
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup hot water
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
2 tablespoons soy or tamari sauce
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
pinch cayenne pepper
Salt for taste
Whisk peanut butter and hot water in bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Season with salt. Serve in bowl for dipping or use as sauce with vegetables and rice.
This recipe is actually better with a little sweetener like sugar or honey. Obviously, most of us don’t use either of these foods on the Daniel Fast. However, if you are one who uses honey during the fast, add about 2-3 tablespoons of honey when you whisk the peanut butter with the water.
Polenta “Biscuits” for the Daniel Fast
One of the foods that is often missed on the Daniel Fast is bread and crackers. This recipe for polenta “biscuits” is a nice addition to soups, stews or casseroles. Plus the tofu is rich in protein.
1/2 cup dry polenta
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper
2 12 ounce packages extra-firm tofu, drained.
1 tablespoon olive oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine polenta, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper on a plate. Slice the tofu into 2″ x 2″ squares (approximate). Brush tofu pieces with olive oil and dredge in polenta mixture. Transfer to baking pan lined with parchment paper or sprayed with 100 percent olive oil spray. Bake 30 minutes or until browned. Serve by laying polenta biscuits on top of stew or with soup or casserole.
Peanut Sauce and Vegetables
This peanut sauce is so delicious that you will want to keep it as part of your non-fasting meals! You can serve the vegetables hot or room temperature. The dish can be served as a side dish, with stir fried vegetables and rice for a main course, or for a snack.
First, steam whatever vegetables you want to serve including broccoli, green beans, carrots, cauliflower or potatoes.
1 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup hot water
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
2 tablespoons soy or tamari sauce
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
pinch cayenne pepper
Salt for taste
Whisk peanut butter and hot water in bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Season with salt. Serve in bowl for dipping or use as sauce with vegetables and rice.
This recipe is actually better with a little sweetener like sugar or honey. Obviously, most of us don’t use either of these foods on the Daniel Fast. However, if you are one who uses honey during the fast, add about 2-3 tablespoons of honey when you whisk the peanut butter with the water.
Polenta “Biscuits” for the Daniel Fast
One of the foods that is often missed on the Daniel Fast is bread and crackers. This recipe for polenta “biscuits” is a nice addition to soups, stews or casseroles. Plus the tofu is rich in protein.
1/2 cup dry polenta
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper
2 12 ounce packages extra-firm tofu, drained.
1 tablespoon olive oil
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Combine polenta, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper on a plate. Slice the tofu into 2″ x 2″ squares (approximate). Brush tofu pieces with olive oil and dredge in polenta mixture. Transfer to baking pan lined with parchment paper or sprayed with 100 percent olive oil spray. Bake 30 minutes or until browned. Serve by laying polenta biscuits on top of stew or with soup or casserole.
Celery and Peanut Butter Snacks
This may take you back to school days gone by! But eating celery stuffed with peanut butter is a great source of protein on the Daniel Fast. It’s a great snack, lunch addition or even a breakfast food for those who can draw out of the traditional lines a little bit!
Not a lot with this recipe except to use a knife to scoop peanut butter from the jar and into the indentation of celery stalks. You can sprinkle the peanut butter with extra nuts of just about any kind to add a little different flavor. But I like the on their own.
Savory Tofu Stew
This is an Asian inspired stew to serve over brown rice. The tofu is an excellent source of protein and a great addition to the Daniel Fast.
1/2 cup 100% peanut butter
2 cups vegetable broth
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup chopped carrots
2 pounds firm tofu, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon Five Spices
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6-8 cups cooked brown rice
1. WHISK together the peanut butter and vegetable broth in a medium bowl until well blended.
2. SEASON the tofu with soy sauce and Five Spices. Heat the oil in a large stew pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper and carrots. Sauté until the onions are translucent.
3. Add the tofu and continue to cook, stirring often, until browned on all sides.
4. Add the peanut butter mixture, tomatoes with liquid, thyme and bay leaf. Stir well. Bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 20 or until the vegetables are tender.
6. SEASON to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot over cooked rice.
Yield: 6-8 Servings
Daniel Fast Harira
The spices in this recipe give this chickpea and lentil soup its rich flavor even though it has no lamb as in the traditional dish. Harira is a great recipe for the Daniel Fast as it has nearly 15 grams of protein per serving.
2 Tbs canola oil
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 cups warm water
Pinch of saffron threads
1/2 tsp salt, divided
1/4 tsp peeled fresh ginger, minced
1/4 tsp ground red pepper
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 garlic clove, minced
2 cups organic mushroom broth
1 1/2 cups chopped and seeded plum tomatoes
1/2 cup dried small red lentils
2 15 oz. cans no-salt-added chickpeas, drained
3 Tbs chopped fresh cilantro
3 Tbs chopped fresh parsley
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan on medium heat. Add onion and celery and saute 4 minutes or until tender
2. Combine 2 cups warm water and saffron, let stand 2 minutes.
3. Add 1/4 tsp salt, ginger, red pepper, cinnamon, and garlic. Cook 1 minute.
4. Add saffron water mixture, broth, tomato, lentils, and chickpeas. Bring to boil then reduce heat. Simmer 20 minutes or until lentils are tender.
5. Stir in cilantro, parsley, and remaining 1/4 tsp salt.
Yield: 4 servings
Fast Food for the Daniel Fast!
Okay, there are going to be times on the Daniel Fast when you need a quick meal. Here is one of my favorites! In fact, when you prepare for the Daniel Fast, you’ll want to stock up on a few of these items so you have the on hand.
1 can organic tomato soup (check the label for ingredients)
1 can white beans
1 cup mixed vegetables (frozen)
Season to taste (thyme, mixed Italian, cilantro, parsley, whatever you like)
Okay, here the rough part: add everything to the pan at the same time. Heat until the vegetables are the consistency you like them (usually between 5 and 10 minutes). Serve!
That’s it! It is so easy. The beans make it filling, the vegetables add twist, and the organic soup is a perfect base and has a sweet flavor.
Serves 2-4 depending on size of serving!
Vegetable Stock
A good vegetable stock is useful in the Daniel Fast. Vegetable stock is an excellent substitute for chicken or beef stock. ** See notes for variations on this recipe.
Makes 4 cups of vegetable stock
Simmering the stock for a full hour will release the flavors of the vegetables in your stock. Because of the long simmering time, it is in the stock’s best interest that the vegetables be chopped into large chunks rather than a small dice.
2 large onions, cut into large chunks
2 medium carrots, scrubbed but not peeled, cut into large chunks
3 stalks of celery, remove and discard all leaves, cut into large chunks
1 whole bulb of garlic, peel each clove, but do not chop
10 peppercorns
1 bay leaf
Cut all the vegetables into large pieces. Place all ingredients into a large pot. Cover with cold water.
Turn the stove to a high temperature, and bring the stock to a quick simmer. Once the water comes to boil, turn heat to low. Allow the vegetables to simmer for an hour. Any longer than an hour and the vegetables will begin to turn mushy and begin to lose all their flavorful vibrancy, leaving a wilted taste to the stock.
Strain the stock. It should be light in color, sweet in flavor and translucent. Now you can use the stock in place of chicken or beef stock. You may need to increase seasoning when replacing one of these more flavorful stocks.
** Season the stock with other herbs such as parsley, thyme or rosemary. You can also use ginger if you plan to use the stock for an Asian recipe. You an also caramelize the onions and carrots before adding them to the stock for a richer and more flavorful stock. Roasting the vegetables before adding them to the stock also makes for a different flavor in the stock.
Lentil Soup
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 pound lentils (approximately 1 1/4 cups)
2/3 cup pearl barley
11 cups vegetable broth (can substitute water)
4 to 6 fresh thyme sprigs
1. Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper and sauté until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes with their juices. Simmer until the juices evaporate a little and the tomatoes break down, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
3. Add the lentils and pearl barley, mix to coat. Add the broth and stir. Add the thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil over high heat.
4. Cover and simmer over low heat until the lentils and barley are tender, about 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Ladle the soup into bowls, drizzle with olive oil and serve.
Six Servings
Greek Vegetable Stew
Recipes from: A Taste of Tradition, the Friends of St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church, Coaldale, PA
2 tablespoons oil
2 onions, chopped
1 pound green string beans, broken in half
1 package frozen or fresh spinach
4 cups water
6 zucchini, chunked
4 yellow squash, chunked
2 cups celery leaves
4 tomatoes, quartered
1 teaspoon salt
8 slices lemon
1 tablespoon dried oregano
3 tablespoons fresh basil
2 cloves chopped garlic
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Lightly brown onions in a hot dry skillet in 2 Tablespoons oil. Add oregano & garlic. Cook 1 minute. Add 4 cups water and tomatoes. Cook 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Cook covered for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with a lemon slice in each bowl.
Eight servings
"Honoring God Through The Daniel Fast" is an e-book by Terrance Day. If you enjoy this e-book please make any purchase at ! 100% of the proceeds will go to charity.
From Valentines Day to Easter Sunday (2008) my wife and I set out on a mission. This mission was to limit certain foods, pray, and let God heal our bodies from the inside out. As an incredible experience, I can testify to growing closer to God, learning from his word, looking and feeling healthier, and living better. As a guy not too concerned about losing weight,I lost 2 inches off my waist, and 10 lbs of body fat. This was with almost no exercise! I believe my wife lost more than me, but I didn't ask, I can see.
The Daniel Fast is for those who want to honor God by fasting from certain foods for a designated length of time. There are also big health benefits for those who choose to honor God in this way. However, this fast is primarily a spiritual experience for those who use this time to draw closer to the Lord.
The reason Daniel's diet is called a fast is because Daniel gave up certain foods to honor God. He was fasting from "Royal Food" that would defile his own body, and also defile God. In doing this Daniel honored God with his body, mind, and soul.
Genesis 1:29 (NIV)
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."
God gave us the wonderful gift of food. That food is fuel for our body. As a Christian, I have learned that our bodies are a temple of God. We are given our bodies to use, and care for as long as we are on this earth. Unfortunately, much of the food we eat is no longer of God, it man made.
When Adam and Eve roamed the Garden of Eden they were allowed to eat anything in the garden. The Garden had every sort of fruit and vegetable we could imagine. All of it fresh and delicious to provide fuel for God's new creation, Man and Woman. The food was not processed, there were no preservatives, or chemical sprays on that food. However, In the 21st century food is not so natural and organic. The Daniel Fast takes a commitment to not only eliminate certain foods, but to be sure that the foods that are eaten are natural and organic.
The average person in America has a heavy body. Not just heavy with excessive weight, but also heavy in toxins. These toxins cause many known and unknown health related issues. When those toxins are removed, health is often restored. God can offer restoration to those who eat as healthy as Adam and Eve once did.
Daniel 1:11-16 (NIV)
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see." 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
Daniel asked only for vegetables and water because he did not want to eat any "Royal Food". In some ways this sounded funny to me the first time I read it. I imagine him starting off that first day with a plate of vegetables, and a cup of water, determined to not eat any other foods. Doing this did not only restore Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azaria to better health, but they physically appeared healthier and better nourished. Within just 10 days, they looked better than the guards that watched them!
Daniel 1:8 (NIV)
8 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 was determined, as mentioned in the Bible. It was this determination that helped Daniel to accomplish this mission. Without that determination, Daniel may have given up before seeing the results. How often do we give up before seeing results?
Through his choice of food, Daniel sacrificed temporary satisfaction for long term benefits. How do we see advertisements about fast food, or un-natural food that is convenient, but not healthy? Perhaps overweight people or people with health problems should be in the commercials for unhealthy food. Instead we see commercials with healthy looking people eating unhealthy food. Is this not false advertising? Regardless of advertisements, or food packaging, we are responsible for our food choices.
Even food or drink labeled as "diet" is often very unhealthy. This is due to the artificial ingredients and dangerous chemicals and toxins added. During the Daniel Fast, it is important to read the label of any package. Usually, if the ingredient list is longer than a paragraph it is a good indication of artificial ingredients. This is especially true when you cannot even pronounce the names of the ingredients on the list.
Daniel 10:2-3 (NIV)
2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
Daniel fasted for 21 days. This does not mean that you should not commit to a longer, or shorter time to fast. While 21 days was ideal for Daniel, you do not need to commit to this exact length of time. However, I recommend a minimum of 7 days in order to see and feel the immediate health benefits.
Even lotions were avoided during the time Daniel set aside to fast. Since lotions are absorbed directly into the skin, they too can be a threat to any person's well being. This is especially true over time if unnatural lotions are used daily.
There are many different versions of what has become known as the "Daniel Fast". What is more important is your commitment to God during this time.
Ideally, one should do without the following:
No animal products
No Sugar
No Caffeine
No Alcohol
To get a bit more specific this means absolutely No Meat, Milk, Fish, Fried Foods, Butter and Margarine, Shortening, White Flour, Preservatives and Additives, Refined Sugar (high fructose corn syrup, etc.) Sugar Substitutes (Nutrasweet, etc) , Caffeine (coffee, black tea, green tea, white tea) and Alcohol (Beer, wine, etc.)
Note: Decafe coffee is also off limits since it still contains a small amount of caffeine.
Organic Foods to eat during the Daniel fast::
WHOLE GRAINS: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley
LEGUMES: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas
NUTS: Peanuts, Cashews, Walnuts, Almonds, Sunflower seeds, etc.
FRUITS: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins,
Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangerines, Watermelon, Oranges, Coconuts, etc..
VEGETABLES: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn,
Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Green Peppers, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Red Peppers, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini, etc..
Drinks: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% Fruit Juices, 100% Vegetable Juices, naturally decaffeinated teas (Peppermint tea, Chamomile, etc.)
Find good vegetarian restaurants in your area. During this fast you may discover just how good some vegetarian restaurants can be. During our Daniel fast, my wife and I were amazed at how good some vegetarian food can taste. In addition to this, Arabic and Lebanese restaurants are perfect for anyone on the Daniel fast. You will find various salads, vegetable plates, and even soup that fits within the guidelines.
Making frequent trips to the grocery store is also beneficial during the Daniel Fast. Stock up on a wide variety of Whole Grains, Legumes, Fruits, Vegetables, Nuts, water and juice. Having a variety of foods to eat can be an enjoyable experience throughout each day.
There are several foods that I consider treats even though they fit within the Daniel Fast guidelines.
-Dry popped corn made with an air popper
-Peanuts and pistacios (I prefer them in the shell)
-Pinapple chucks (Canned in water, not syrup)
-Baked Corn Chips (made from 100% Ground corn) and salsa (fresh with no preservatives or sugar)
In order to buy food that is appropriate for the Daniel Fast you will need to buy Organic Food. This means you will be buying food without chemicals, preservatives, or other similar additives. Organic food is simply better. It is the way God intended food to be, in it's natural state unaffected by unhealthy man made processes.
Often I hear people complain about the price of Organic food. My advice is to shop at an Organic food store. When you buy organic food at a regular grocery store, you can pay too much. Fortunately, organic food stores buy organic food in greater quantities for less money. They pass that savings onto their customers. In fact, the more people who shop Organic, the cheaper Organic food will be.
The Daniel Fast does not have to be more expensive than your normal grocery bill. For the average person, the amount spent on caffeine (coffee), alcohol, snacks (chips, pop, cookies, ice cream, etc.) is much more. You might be surprised at how much you spend on these "Royal Foods" when they are eliminated from your grocery list temporarily.
During the first 3 days of this fast, your body will begin to flush out toxins. You may find yourself making trips to the bathroom slightly more often. As your body starts to eliminate excess toxins, be prepared to feel great. You will feel lighter and healthier than you might remember. Your stomach will also begin to shrink so you will not feel as hungry. This is a great bonus for those trying to lose weight, and help flatten their stomach or slim down.
If you are a heavy coffee drinker or sugar addict you won't be able to depend on those things for energy. You may need much more sleep than usual, but this is a natural reaction. Give yourself permission to sleep more. Eventually, your body won't need to rely on the caffeine and/or sugar just to get through the day. Once you eliminate these addictions from your diet you will also release your body and mind from this dependency. Last but not least, you will save money and time by eliminating trips to the local coffee shop, or dessert isle at your grocery store.
After the first week, you will not feel the same hunger like you might be used to. You will no longer crave the many unhealthy ingredients in the foods you are used to. This is due to the body's natural reaction to eating healthy. Instead of filling your body addictive sugar, excessive salt (sodium), and other toxins, your body can now rely on " healthy fuel". Your body will not have to work as hard to break down the natural foods eaten during the Daniel Fast. That leaves more energy for you once your body starts to adjust.
In our daily routines, we are often so accustomed to eating without thinking. The Daniel Fast requires that you think about the food you consume. By planning meals in advance, you save time and money when shopping at the grocery store. Don't buy what you won't eat, and don't waste what you buy! This fast is a commitment that takes the same determination that Daniel had. Don't worry, you can build this determination as you go. It is important to take those first steps before convincing yourself that you might not be able to stay on track. Of course it will be difficult to break the daily food habits that have been formed over many years. With each healthy meal you will become stronger not only physically, but mentally and spiritually.
Eating many times a day is best for maintaining higher energy. By constantly giving your body fuel, you will have more energy. Doing this also increases one's metabolism, and more calories are burned daily. This can mean eating more small meals, and snacks. Even a piece of fruit such as an apple will serve the purpose.
Losing weight while doing the Daniel Fast is a given. By eating healthier with these natural and organic foods, your body can lose excessive weight. This can be done without exercise, however a combination of exercise and a good diet will certainly help lose weight faster. The best remedy to losing weight and keeping it off is to make long term dietary changes. I recommend life long changes to keep unwanted, and unnatural weight from ever coming back!
As you reap the benefits of doing the Daniel fast, you can gain insight and knowledge about the fuel you put inside your body. Hopefully you will find many things you can change with your normal diet. Unfortunately, a "normal diet" to most people still contains foods that are unhealthy. This can contribute to illness and even disease over time. For example there is refined sugar (and fructose) in more items than most people realize. This can cause contribute to weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. I challenge you to look for items without high fructose in your average grocery store. You will find this ingredient in basic everyday items. This includes cereals, pasta sauce, juice drinks, bread, and other items that you might normally consider healthy. Another ingredient to watch for is MSG which an addictive ingredient used as a preservative in many foods. It is no wonder why so many children (and adults) in America are hyperactive, obese, and ill.
Genesis 9:3
3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
While you are also fasting from meat you may also start to feel relief from minor health issues like greasy skin. For some there will be relief from other more serious health issues. You may also discover relief from the effects of hormones, another major problem with with today's meat. The meat you buy may be from animals that have been injected with hormones (bst). This is also true of the milk, and eggs found in typical grocery stores.
After the Daniel Fast, you can continue to avoid eating unhealthy foods. One way to be sure that you are not eating this "defiled" food is to buy meat, eggs, and milk without added hormones. You can often find a statement on the packaging such as "This milk is derived from cows that have not been treated with BST". Some people have reasonably suggested that the reason so many of today's children and young adults are taller and bigger is because of this hormone epidemic. Take time to pray about this and all food you have put in your body in the past, and how you can honor your body, your children, and God in the future.
One of the biggest things I learned came to me at the end of the fast just before Easter Sunday. This was simply that I often spend my time craving something more than I need. It used to be hard to sit still and just enjoy a bowl of Oatmeal with Soymilk without turning on the T.V., or finding another distraction. It's distractions that rob us of our very lives each day. On any given afternoon, I would have to make a run to Starbucks for a coffee, and at night often had a beer or two. Then there's the snacks. Even though I usually had eaten healthy, I was still snacking too much, having too much caffeine and sugar, and sometimes too much alcohol. I was always trying to fill a void, even if in a small way. Over time it adds up and can cost us our health, joy, freedom, time, and money. Remember, only God can fill the void.
Daniel's fast was a time that Daniel set aside to honor God. Regardless of the amount of time spent fasting, the Daniel Fast is a time to spend with God. During this fast remember to read the bible often. Continually Pray and ask God for guidance, and for grace with each food choice you make. While fasting ask God for forgiveness, forgive others, and use that time to renew your body, mind, and soul. Constantly seek the light and truth through our Savior Jesus Christ during your fast. He will be your strength.
Karen's great breakfast and brown rice dinner
Great breakfast dish
chunks of apples, with walnuts and raisins
Brown Rice Dinner
Brown rice with a dash of pimentoes topped with sundried tomatoes and steamed mixed veggies (yummie!)
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Barbara's Rice, Black beans and corn
Became my favorite now..
Ingredients
1 can Organic Black beans drained
1 can of Organic corn drained
organic long grain rice
organic corn tortilla
salsa
avocado
Instructions
Combine 1 can Organic Black beans drained and 1 can of Organic corn drained
Heat and place on top of organic long grain rice (cooked)
Top with homemade salsa (which is 2 tomatoes diced, 1 onions diced, cilantro, squirt of lime, clove of garlic minced, tad bit of salt, 1 Jalapeno minced, 1/2 of an avacado diced.)
Serve with organic corn tortilla (you can heat them and make them crunchy. I just cut them into triangles and make them like chips.. organic ones are made with just corn and lime) really good! serve with sliced avacado's on the side OR finger peppers (they aren't real hot)
Became everyones favorite round here.. When your off your fast you can top with cheese.. Hope Ya'll enjoy! God bless!
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Karen's Tabouleh
Ingredients
1 bunch parsley
1 small onion
1 small tomato
3 tbs Bulgur (cracked wheat)
juice of 1 lemon
olive oil
Instructions
Soak bulgur for 1 hour in warm water
chop parsley very fine
chop onion and tomato
combine all ingredients
drizzle olive oil and squeeze lemon into mixture
salt to taste
mixture should look red white and green like the Lebanese Flag...enjoy!
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Nakia's Tasty Veggie Wraps
Ingredients
1 package of Broccoli/Carrot Slaw Mix (shredded broccoli, carrots, and purple cabbage)
1 TBSP of olive oil
1 tsp of soy sauce
1/4 tsp ea. of Thyme, Rosemary, and Garlic Powder
4 Whole Grain Wheat wraps
Instructions
1) Place oil in warm skillet
2) Add shredded mixture and sauté
3) Add seasonings
4) Add soy sauce to coat
5) Cook vegetables until they are your desired texture
6) Remove vegetables and place on a reserved plate.
7) Add more oil to skillet if necessary to brown both sides of your whole wheat wraps if desired
8) Place vegetables in each warmed wrap. Eat and Enjoy!!
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Grace's Golden Carrot Soup
Used with permission from The Daniel's Fast Cookbook
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped with vidalia fine insert, about 2 cups
3 stalks celery chopped with vidalia fine insert, about 1 cup
1 package 16 oz. bag of fresh sliced carrots, about 4 cups
1 quart vegetable broth, 32 oz carton
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon dried basil
2 teaspoons chopped garlic, jar ok
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
In a large pot put olive oil and sauté onion, celery, carrots, garlic and all the seasonings for about 10 minutes. Then add the vegetable broth. Cover and simmer for about 25 min or until carrots are tender. With a hand held blender, cream the soup. If you do not have an hand held blender, spoon into a regular blender. Blend half at a time. Be careful this is hot stuff. Serves 6.
Send us your Daniel Fast recipes, questions, comments and prayer requests.
Top of Daniel Fast Diet Recipes
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Susan's Black Bean & Brown Rice Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients:
1 qt 100% Vegetable or Tomato Juice
2 cups cooked black beans
1 cup cooked brown rice
2 med green onions (chopped)
¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp lime juice
1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
2-3 large bell peppers (cut in half lengthwise and deseeded)
Combine all ingredients except juice and bell peppers in bowl and mix well. Place peppers in glass dish and stuff with mixture. Pour juice over peppers and plenty of excess in the dish. Cover and bake in oven on 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Enjoy!
Send us your Daniel Fast recipes, questions, comments and prayer requests.
Top of Daniel Fast Diet Recipes
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Maria's Curry brown rice
Ingredients:
Minute maid brown rice
1-2 tspn curry powder
1/2 c frozen sweet peas
1/2 c corn
1/4 c onions
1/4 c tomato
1/2 tspn dried thyme leaves
1 tbsp virgin olive oil
Procedure:
1. Make the desired amount of brown rice.
2. Dice the onion and tomato.
3. Heat pan with olive oil. Mix in tomato, onions, thyme, corn, sweet peas and
curry.
4. Stir until onion and tomato is cooked. Add water sparingly to keep it from
sticking to the pan.
5. Add already cooked brown rice.
6. If desireable, add hot peppers such as jalapenos or scotch bonnet or leave
the flamable spices out.
7. Enjoy!
Send us your Daniel Fast recipes, questions, comments and prayer requests.
Top of Daniel Fast Diet Recipes
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Angela's veggie soup
1 28oz. can diced or crushed tomatos
1 6oz. can tomato paste
1 can of tomato sauce
1 can (drained)of corn, green beans, potatoes, english peas, carrots. salt and pepper to taste
2 medium onions diced, 1 tsp garlic, 4-5 bay leaves
Add water to cover items cook in slow cooker for 3-4 hrs or on stove top. Could also add mushrooms or other veggies you enjoy just be creative.
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Cathy's Leek and Potato soup
Sat, 12 Jan 2008
Hey - our church started the Daniel fast on the 7th January. This is a great recipe for Leek and Potato soup.
1 tsp crushed fennel seeds
1 tsp ground pepper
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
4 pints vegetable stock (you can use just water as long as everything is seasoned well)
2 lbs leeks (trimmed, cleaned, sliced)
2 lbs potatoes (cleaned, cut into cubes)
Heat olive oil on a medium heat in a large pan. Add garlic - heat for a few mins until golden. Add fennel seeds and pepper and stir in with garlic. Add leeks and potatoes and mix well with other ingredients. Cover and cook for 5 mins. Stir quickly. Cover and cook for further 5 mins. Add stock. Bring to boil, then cover, turn heat down and simmer for 40 mins.
Ki's Stir Fry Brown Rice w/Vegetables
Sat, 12 Jan 2008
1 box of instant brown rice (or bag brown rice)
Vegetables to stir fry (either fresh or frozen)
Olive Oil
Soy Sauce
Peanuts
Cook your rice according to package (I season my rice as well when I cook).
Heat Wok on Med. High heat add 1/4 cup of Olive Oil (more or less) Give a minute for oil to get hot.
Place raw onions in now if you are adding to recipe, also garlic for taste. Pour the cooked rice into Wok and stir for 4 mins add Soy Sauce to taste.
Pour rice back into container it was cooked in and set aside.
Now add 1/4 cup Olive Oil to hot Wok again. Then add the vegetables and lots of whatever seasonings you like. Stir until done add peanuts right before serving.
This recipe is very good reheated for lunch the next day.
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George's Homemade Cilantro Soup
Wed, 02 Jan 2008
Chop 2 bunches fresh Cilantro
10 carrots chopped and the juice of 1/2 squeezed lemon
15 brussel spouts quartered
1 large sweet onion chopped
8 chicken or vegetable bullion cubes with 8 cups water
4 tsp garlic salt
1 large can tomato sauce
10 chopped habanero garlics or a chopped jalpeno
Bring almost to a boil and simmer for 1 hour
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Lola's Black bean soup
Tue, 01 Jan 2008
I make this with canned black beans. Basically just black beans, vegetable broth, crushed garlic, large chopped onion, 1 jar of all natural salsa, chopped jalpeno, chopped Cilantro. Combine all ingredients and enjoy. I even eat this when I'm not on the Daniel fast because it is absolutely delicious! For a large batch I usually use about 5 cans of beans. Amount of broth depends on how chunky you like your soup.
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Herb-Roasted Idaho Potato Fries
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 pound small baking potatoes
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Coat a heavy baking sheet with cooking spray.
Cut each potato in half crosswise. Place the halves cut side down on the cutting board and cut each into 4 wedges. Place the potatoes in a mound on the prepared baking sheet.
In a cup, mix the oil, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Pour over the potato wedges and toss to mix well. Spread the potatoes out on the sheet.
Bake, stirring 2 or 3 times, until tender and lightly browned, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.
Per serving: 110 calories, 2.5g fat, 21g carbohydrates, 2g protein, 2g fiber, 150mg sodium
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Scarlott potatoes
Anonymous Sat, 24 Feb 2007
White potatoes boiled with onions cut up in them, pepper, garlic, seasoning salt.
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Hot water cornbread
White or yellow corn meal, hot water, raw sugar
stir it up very well. Put in skillet with olive oil.
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Student mix
Nuts, seeds and raisins mixed together
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Rice, Green Beans and Lentils
• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup lentils rinsed
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 TBSP tomato paste
• 1 can green beans not drained
• 1 cup of water
Rice cooked in rice cooker. The rest of the ingredients go in crock pot for five hours on medium to high.
Rice and Lentils
• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup of lentils
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups water
Rice cooked in rice cooker. The rest of the ingredients go in crock pot for five hours on high.
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Vegtable soup and navy beans
• 1 cup puree spinach
• 1 cup puree green beans
• 1 can navy beans rinsed and drained
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup water
Put all ingredient in crock pot for four hours on medium
Mashed pinto beans on whole grain taco shells
• 1 can pinto beans rinsed and drained
• 1 TBSP of raisins
• 1 tsp salt
Cook pinto beans and raisins in crock pot for four hours blend in blender serve with whole grain soft taco shells.
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Rice and Chick Peas
• 1 cup rice
• 1 can chick peas drained and rinsed
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 TBSP raisins
Cook rice in a rice cooker. Put rest of ingredients in crock pot and cook four hours at medium
Popcorn
Tue, 08 Jan 2008 from Donna
Thought your readers might enjoy a very easy, very healthy (totally non-fat) way to make popcorn (I liked the one suggestion using olive oil.)
1/4 cup unpopped popping corn
1 brown lunch bag
Place corn kernels in lunch bag. Fold at end 2-3 times. Place in microwave on High for 2-3 minutes, until kernels stop popping. Enjoy! More of the kernels will pop with repeated refills as the bag gets hotter. Just leave the unpopped kernels in the bag for the next serving.
Sat, 20 Jan 2007 from Sheri
I have found popcorn to be a very good and enjoyable snack during the Daniel Diet. I have a new whirly-pop popcorn cooker that cooks popcorn with only 1 teaspoon of oil. I use olive oil. The popcorn is fantastic! It's much better than corn cooked in an air popper. I've also tried some packaged cooked popcorn called 'Organic Popcorn' that is lightly salted. You can buy this at Tom Thumb grocery stores, and it's delicious. I've read a lot about popcorn being one of the most toxic items people eat, due to the pesticides and sprays put on the corn before harvesting. Go organic for your health!
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Cantaloupe Tonight Melon Smoothie
I came across this recipe from the Vegan Planet Cookbook called Cantaloupe Tonight Melon Smoothie. I was looking for something to have as a fruit snack, or eat for breakfast. My teenage son loves smoothies, and when you restrict dairy, it's hard to find something that will satisfy you, unless you use soy milk. Here's what's in the recipe:
• 1/2 medium-size cantaloupe, seeded and cut from the rind.
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• Juice of 2 limes (taste before you add all the juice at once)
• 1 medium-size, banana, peeled and cut into chunks
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
• our addition: 2 cups of ice cubes - makes it like a frozen ice drink.
Mix all in a blender, and serve. Serves 2
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Mrs. Jones' Brown Rice Dinner
Tue, 16 Jan 2007 from Mrs. Jones
This recipe follows the Daniel Fast guidelines and is filling and delicious! This is my original creation... if someone else has already "cooked" it up it is merely a coincidence.
• 1 cup of Brown Rice
• 2.5 cups water
Bring to rolling boil, reduce heat and simmer/steam for 45 minutes.
Half way through the cooking time, add:
• 1/2 cup of fresh salsa
• 1 cup of frozen corn
• 1/2 of a chopped red bell pepper
• 3/4 cup of cooked black beans
• a pinch of pepper to taste
Stir and replace cover for remainder of cooking time. Serve with fresh sliced avocado.
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Drink tea
Thu, 11 Jan 2007 Anonymous
The Lipton Teas that are natural, that are great for the daniels fast. If you are coffee drinker the teas will replaced it in the mornings while you are doing the fast. You can use herbs when you are cooking with beans.
Salads and Salad dressing
Salad
• 3 cups bite-size pieces fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup cubed cantaloupe
• Optional 1/2 cup sliced oranges
• 2 medium green onions, sliced(2 tablespoons)
In a tightly covered container, shake all dressing ingredients. In large bowl, toss all salad ingredients with dressing.
Strawberry-Melon Spinach Salad Dressing:
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 tablespoon honey (if you are allowing honey)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
Seven tips for observing
a Daniel Fast or Daniel's Diet in 2008
1. Be specific
Daniel was very clear in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined his objection immediately. Daniel 1:8
a. The king’s food was likely not kosher, against Jewish dietary laws.
b. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.
c. The king’s food could have been offered up to idols or demons.
Write out and sign a commitment that outlines
1. Why you are fasting.
2. How long you are fasting.
3. 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:
a. Your food choices.
b. The level of your spiritual commitment, as reflected in constant prayer during the diet of Daniel and his friends.
c. 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.
d. 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
James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Observations:
• Our actions and attitudes are vital. James said, "are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms." James 5:13
• The sick person must call for the elders. James 5:14
• Sin is something related to the cause of sickness. James 5:15
• Lack of health or healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion. James 5:15
• Lack of health or healing may be due to sin of wrong consumption, i.e. poor diet, drugs, pornography. James 5:15
• Repentance is linked to health. James 5:16
• Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith in God is the major factor. James 5:15, 17-20
John Piper says in A Hunger for God, "Fasting is God’s testing ground-and healing ground."
5. Daniel Fasted as a statement of faith to others
Daniel made a statement of faith when he asked to eat only vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then Daniel asked the overseer to compare the appearance of the 4 sons of Israel with the other people who ate the king’s food.
6. Learn the effects of the food you eat
What makes some food good for us? What makes other food bad for our bodies? What are the negative effects of foods do to our bodies? If we answer these questions, there would certainly be some foods we would never want to eat again.
7. Yield all results to God
Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants.” Daniel 1:13 We don't know if Daniel or his friends ever again ate the king’s food.
As Elmer Towns says,
"Fasting for an answer is similar to prayer. Sometimes you can pray once in an act of faith, and God hears and answers. On other occasions you must continuously ask in faith before an answer will come. We need to pray often and fast continually to build up our faith and our spiritual character."
This is a year 2008
application of Daniel's Fast or Diet
• This Daniel Fast is not exactly the same as Daniel's original Fast or Diet.
• This Daniel Fast will lead to spiritual insight. “As for these four boys, God gave them knowledge and skill.” (Daniel 1:17)
• This Daniel Fast is longer than one day. These young men fasted for at least ten days. (Daniel 1:12, 15)
• This Daniel Fast is a partial fast. Daniel and his friends ate only vegetables and drank only water. (Daniel 1:12) We will allow more to eat than they did for various reasons.
• This application of a Daniel Fast requires abstinence from party or junk foods.
• Have a great Daniel Fast! Be careful as you break your fast. You don't want to shock your system with too much fat or sweets after going without! You might get a stomachache or headache.
Food guidelines for observing
this 2008 Daniel Fast or Diet
1. 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!
2. 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."
3. 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."
Foods to eat
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.
• 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 peanutbutter).
• 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, mulberry, 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, etc.
• Liquids: spring water, distilled water, filtered water, 100% all natural fruit or vegetable juices
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
• caffeine
• carbonated beverages, including diet sodas
• Wine 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
This is ayear 2008 application of Daniel's Fast or Diet.
• This Daniel Fast is not exactly the same as Daniel's original Fast or Diet.
• This Daniel Fast will lead to spiritual insight. “As for these four boys, God gave them knowledge and skill.” (Daniel 1:17)
• This application of a Daniel Fast is longer than one day. These young men fasted for at least ten days. (Daniel 1:12, 15)
• This Daniel Fast is a partial fast. Daniel and his friends ate only vegetables and drank only water. (Daniel 1:12) We will allow more to eat than they did for various reasons.
• This application of a Daniel Fast requires abstinence from party or junk foods.
• 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."
Seven tips for observing
a Daniel Fast or Daniel's Diet in 2008
1. Be specific
Daniel was not vague in his objection to the Babylonian diet. He defined the problem immediately. Daniel 1:8
a. The king’s food was likely not kosher, against Jewish dietary laws.
b. Daniel and his friends had vowed against wine.
c. The king’s food could have been offered up to idols or demons.
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
3. Reflect inner desire by external discipline
Many people have an inner desire for better health, but they can’t discipline themselves to avoid junk food, and other foods that are not healthy. Physical health you seek from God may be more than an answer to prayer. Your physical health may be linked to any of the following factors:
a. Your food choices.
b. The level of your spiritual commitment, as reflected in constant prayer during the diet of Daniel and his friends.
c. 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.
d. 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 sin's role in your health or sickness
Read James 5:13-20 KJV
James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Observations:
• Actions and attitude are important. James said, “are there any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” James 5:13
• The sick person must call for the elders. James 5:14
• Sin is something related to the cause of sickness. James 5:15
• Lack of health or healing may be the result of spiritual rebellion. James 5:15
• Lack of health or healing may be due to sin of wrong consumption, i.e. poor diet, drugs, pornography. James 5:15
• Repentance is linked to health. James 5:16
• Prayer alone may not gain healing, faith in God is the major factor. James 5:15, 17-20
5. Fast as a statement of faith to others
Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king’s food.
6. Learn the effects of the food you eat
Why are some foods good for us? Why are other foods bad for us? What do certain foods do to your body? If we really knew, there would likely be some things we would never eat again.
7. Yield all results to God
Daniel said, “as you see fit, deal with your servants.” Daniel 1:13 There is no indication that Daniel or his friends ever began to eat the king’s food.
Context of Daniel's Fast/Diet
Daniel Chapter One MKJV
When we do the Daniel Fast or Diet, it is good to know the Biblical context in which Daniel and his friends were living. Where was Daniel living during his fast? How long did Daniel Fast, ten days, 21 days or longer? Did Daniel continue his fast after the prescribed number of days? Why did Daniel decide to fast, diet, or abstain from the King's food? What was the result of Daniel's Diet or Fast? You can find the answers to these questions and more in the text of Daniel chapter one.
• Daniel 1:1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.
• Daniel 1:2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god. And he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
• Daniel 1:3 And the king spoke to Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs that he should bring some of the sons of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the rulers;
• Daniel 1:4 sons in whom was no blemish, but who were handsome and skillful in all wisdom; and who had knowledge and understanding, even those who were able to stand in the king's palace, and to whom they might teach the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.
• Daniel 1:5 And the king gave them the portion of a day in its day from the king's food, and the wine which he drank, even to rear them three years, so that at their end they might stand before the king.
• Daniel 1:6 And among them were four of the sons of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
• Daniel 1:7 to whom the ruler of the eunuchs gave names. For he called Daniel, Belteshazzar; and Hananiah, Shadrach; and Mishael, Meshach; and Azariah, Abednego.
• Daniel 1:8 But Daniel laid on his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's food, nor with the wine which he drank. So he asked permission of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
• Daniel 1:9 And God had given Daniel kindness and compassion before the chief of the eunuchs.
• Daniel 1:10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who has chosen your food and your drink. For why should he see your faces worse looking than the boys who are of your kind? Then you would forfeit my head to the king.
• Daniel 1:11 And Daniel said to Melzar, whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
• Daniel 1:12 I beg you, try your servants ten days. And let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink.
• Daniel 1:13 Then let our appearance be seen before you, and the appearance of the boys who eat of the king's food. And as you see, deal with your servants.
• Daniel 1:14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tried them for ten days.
• Daniel 1:15 And at the end of ten days their faces looked fairer and fatter in flesh than all the boys who had eaten the king's food.
• Daniel 1:16 So Melzar took away their part of the food, and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
• Daniel 1:17 As for these four boys, God gave them knowledge and skill in all writing and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
• Daniel 1:18 And at the end of the days that the king had said he would bring them in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
• Daniel 1:19 And the king talked with them. And among them all were found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they stood before the king.
• Daniel 1:20 And in any matters of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the horoscopists and conjurers who were in all his kingdom.
• Daniel 1:21 And Daniel continued to the first year of King Cyrus.
Q. What about whole wheat pasta?
A. You should avoid white rice, white bread, hominy and pasta. If you can find pasta that is true whole grain, then it is acceptable. You could make your own pasta with whole grains with a pasta machine.
Q. My friend and I are joining a corporate 21 day fast and we have chosen to the Daniel fast. We are both addicted to cigarettes which is one of the reason we are fasting. We are being realistic that we will probably smoke during the fast. I believe God honors all sacrafices but do you think we will still be rewarded with the spiritual and supernatural blessing of a fast or will the smoking block blessing due to the sinful nature of it? I ask this question for all people who have addiction (alcohol, drugs, cigs.) who want to fast but don't feel worthy. Michelle
A. Thanks for your honesty Michelle. Your question is, Will sinful smoking block blessing? Since God has convinced you that smoking is a sin, then the answer is yes. All sinful activity blocks blessing. You are also correct that God will honor your sacrifice and fast.
I know from experience how hard it is to stop smoking. I smoked for 8 years before I quit for good. How did I do it? I wasn't a Christian at the time. I asked my mother what I could give her for Christmas. She said to quit smoking cigarettes. I told her that would be a gift for me, not for her. I had tried many times to quit. She insisted that to quit smoking would be the best gift I could give her. She also pointed out that it would not be possible to take my Christmas gift back from her! So on Dec. 24, 1974, I gave the rest of my pack of Kools to a friend, telling him I wouldn't ever need them again.
Q. Is it possible to do the 21 day fast while breast feeding our baby or would it be better to embark on a different fast?
A. How exciting to have a baby! It's been a few years for us. Joshua is 9 now. John is almost 22.
It is best to ask your pediatrician about doing a Daniel Fast/Diet while breast feeding. You should present it to your doctor as a 21 day vegetarian diet. If your doctor advises you that you should still eat some meat like chicken, then modify your Daniel Diet/Fast to include chicken. Just make sure you cook it in an appropriate Daniel Diet/Fast method, i.e. low quantity of healthy fat. When not doing the Daniel Fast/Diet, we cook our chicken in either colza or olive oil, but not so hot as to burn the oil.
Q. I will be starting my 40 day fast during Lent. Since the 40 days does not include Sundays, does this mean I can eat what I want on Sundays and resume back to the fasting foods Monday - Saturday?
A. Good question! The best thing for you to do is to pray about it and make your decision before the Lord. Then stick with your decision. On the other hand, if you are fasting with your church, it is best to do whatever your leaders have decided.
I have also done the Daniel Fast during Lent. My practice has been to fast the whole duration without a break. However, it is a wonderful old tradition not to fast on Sundays, because that is our day of celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. So you would have a great reason not to fast on Sundays.
Dairy products
Q. What about dairy products?
A. Most of us should not allow them. Pray about it and decide with the Lord's direction before you start your fast. Non-fat yogurt and non-fat milk might be acceptable.
Q. Am I allowed to have Feta Cheese?
A. You should also avoid all cheese if you decide to avoid all dairy products.
Q. Can I eat yogurt or frozen yogurt??
A. If you decide to allow dairy products, but look for the non-fat, non-sugar natural yogurt!
Sweeteners
Q. Are you allowed to use splenda? if not, is brown sugar ok?
A. The avoid list warns against refined sugar and chemical sugar substitutes. You should avoid Splenda, aspartame, saccharin and all other artificial sweeteners. Molasses, raw honey, Stevia, and Maple syrup are possible allowed sweeteners. has more information about stevia, a natural herb. Stevia might be cheaper at . My advice is to pray if you should sweeten your foods at all. Our family quits using all sweeteners, including honey.
Q. Are you supposed to eat 3 times a day?
A. There is no mention about how often to eat in the Daniel Fast. Health experts advise six or so small healthy snacks a day. I've been doing that for a number of years. It really kills any appetite before it starts. I make sure to include protein in my snacks. Check out our Fitness Blog for more on this issue.
My favorite snack is my natural peanut butter mix on bananas. I usually only eat a half a banana with a teaspoon of my mix for each snack. I mix together a large jar of natural peanut butter with a half cup each of chopped peanuts, chopped almonds, sunflower seed kernels, pumpkin seed kernels, bran cereal, ground flax, and rolled oats to put on my bananas or apple slices. If I'm not doing the Daniel Fast, I also include cocoa powder.
Fish and poultry
Q. I would like to know if fish is acceptable for the Daniel fast; that is baked, boiled, grilled or steamed?
A. It's best to avoid all meats. However, if God is telling you to eat fish during one of your Daniel Fasts, then obey God and call it a modified Daniel Fast!
Q. What about fish or poultry, i.e. tuna, chicken, turkey, etc.?
A. Meat is normally avoided. Pray first and ask the Lord if you should allow fish and poultry products. Definitely avoid fried foods.
Q. Are eggs permissible on this fast?
A. Most of us avoid eggs. Unless you personally decide to allow them, I would think eggs are to be avoided.
Whole Grain Products
Q. How can I identify whole grain products?
A. How to identify Whole Grain Products
Whole grain products can be identified by the ingredient list. Typically if the ingredient lists "whole wheat", "rolled oats", or "whole corn" as the first ingredient, the product is a whole grain food item. Another way to identify whole grains in the foods you eat is to look in the nutritional facts information and check if the food item contains dietary fiber. If it contains a significant amount, it most likely contains whole grains. "Wheat flour" is not a whole grain and therefore does not indicate a whole grain product. Many breads are colored brown (often with molasses) and made to look like whole grain, but are not. Additionally, some food manufacturers make foods with whole grain ingredients, but because whole grain ingredients are not the dominant ingredient, they are not whole grain products.
Whole grains are often more expensive than refined grains, because their higher oil content is susceptible to rancidification, complicating processing, storage, and transport.
From AACC (American Association of Cereal Chemist) definition: "Whole grains shall consist of the intact, ground, cracked or flaked caryopsis, whose principal anatomical components - the starchy endosperm, germ and bran - are present in the same relative proportions as they exist in the intact caryopsis.” Source
We are sure our foods are made with whole grain, because we grind our grain ourselves.
You can make your own pasta or noodles out of whole grains with a pasta machine.
Supplements and Multi-Vitamins
Q. Is it okay to take multi-vitamins and/or drink supplements? The multi-vitamins are natural and the drink supplement is a natural whole food supplement powder that can be mixed with water or juice (Goji, Noni, Acai, Mangosteen, and Bluberry fruit extracts, Morenga Oleifera, Rycenol (Rice Bran), GARN complex). Thanks.
A. Those sound like good supplements to take during your Daniel Fast. You may want to take protein supplements as well. Avoid the chocolate flavors since they have caffeine. If you've decided not to eat dairy products, then don't take supplements with milk by-products like whey.
Q. Can I eat a salad with salad dressing? from Peggy
A. You should look for light or low-fat products. Olive oil and lemon are a healthy and tasty option. My wife just uses a little salt.
Q. Is popcorn okay to eat on the fast?
A. Popcorn is a very healthy food. Corn is listed in the vegetables to eat list. We don't have an air popper here in Abidjan, so we pop our popcorn in olive oil or colza, which are safer oils for your health. Friends tell us that the best way to make popcorn is to use a Whirley-Pop Stovetop Popcorn Popper.
Q. Are there any types of bread you can eat? What about wheat free or pita bread or naan bread?
A. Since the Jewish dietary laws allow bread, you may decide to allow bread in your Daniel Fast. But try to avoid white breads. Look for breads made from Whole Grains
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Q. What about curry powders, potatoes and basmati rice?
A. Spices are not mentioned. Decide for yourself if you want to avoid some spices. Potatoes are in the vegetables to eat list. Basmati rice should be avoided, if it isn't brown rice.
Q. What about mayonnaise?
A. Do your best to avoid high fat products. You might find a low fat mayonnaise.
Q. Neither food list mentions spices, salt, zero calorie butter spray, peanut butter, dairy (skim milk, cheese, yogurt) or decaf coffee. Are they all okay to have?
A. I would think all those items are OK. They follow the advice to avoid high fat items and to eat nuts, i.e. peanut butter. You need to decide before you start if you should avoid all or some dairy products.
Q. What is significant about a 21 day fast? I noticed a lot of people do 21 days. Why not 22 or 23? What is the meaning behind 21 days?
A. It seems to be an emphasis that some churches are making this year. It is three weeks. They begin on Sunday and therefore have four Sundays of messages that probably go along with the fast. Daniel also had a 21 day fast in Daniel 10:2-3.
Daniel 10:2-3
2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
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.
Personally, I have used the Daniel fast for 40 days, during Lent. Since Lebanese Muslims are used to the Lebanese Catholics fasting during this period, they expect us Evangelicals to fast then too. I understand that the Daniel Fast has been practiced by Middle East Christians for centuries, on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Caffeine; coffee, tea, etc.
Q. Currently, I drink about 6 cups of coffee a day. Do I transition into the diet or dive right in, cutting caffeine cold turkey (my head is already hurting thinking about it :-)) ?
A. I did have about two weeks of fatigue and headaches from the lack of caffeine. I didn't think that was going to happen, because I had already started cutting back on my Caffeine by mixing my decaf 50% into my regular coffee for over a month in advance.
On the other hand, in June of 2005, my wife started making my coffee for me. When she ran out of regular coffee, she just used 100% decaf, without telling me. I never had a headache. I did have some fatigue for a couple of weeks, but blamed it on the extreme heat in Dakar, Senegal. So after a month without Caffeine, I decided to continue avoiding Caffeine.
So you need to decide how you are going to diet/fast. The Daniel Diet is not a weight loss diet. It is a lifestyle, though it may help you to lose weight. It is a spiritual discipline. So if you want to drop 20% or 25% off your Caffeine intake each week, you might have a smoother transition to no Caffeine.
Q. Are different teas allowed even with caffeine?
A. Many teas are very good for you. You should avoid teas with caffeine.
Q. Am I allowed to have Green Tea with Honey?
A. Decaf Green Tea with natural raw honey or Stevia sound healthy to me! Green tea does have some caffeine, so if you decide to avoid caffeine, you might want to avoid it or get some decaf green tea.
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