What to Eat on a Daniel Fast — Daniel Fast Journey

Where Did the Daniel Fast Originate?

The modern Daniel Fast is based off some passages from the book of Daniel in the Bible. Chapter 1 describes how Daniel and his friends had been taken captive and brought from Jerusalem to Babylon to serve King Nebuchadnezzar. They were being trained in the literature and customs of the Chaldeans and given the king’s choice food and wine, but Daniel made a very specific request:

Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink.

- Daniel 1:12

After this ten day test, Daniel and his friends had a better appearance than any of the other youths, so they were allowed to continue their requested diet. In addition, when they were presented to King Nebuchadnezzar at the end of their training they were found “ten times better than all the magicians and conjurers who were in all his realm.” (Daniel 1:20)

You can more here about the biblical basis for fasting and other types of fasts in the Bible.

Our modern diet looks vastly different than what was eaten in Daniel’s time and culture. We have MANY more choices of what to eat which is both a blessing and a challenge.

Although there are benefits to having a rich and plentiful food supply, we also have an overwhelming number of packaged and processed foods of low nutritional value we have to sort through and resist eating if we want to eat a truly healthy and nutritious diet. In addition, the vast majority of these foods should be avoided when you’re on a Daniel Fast.

What to Abstain From on the Daniel Fast

On the Daniel Fast, you’ll abstain from all animal products, alcohol, processed foods, and baked goods. You’ll also avoid all drinks other than herbal tea and water. This includes coffee, sports drinks, energy drinks, and beverages with sugar.

Eliminating animal-based foods includes avoiding all seafood, eggs, and dairy products such as milk, butter, and yogurt.

When you’re abstaining from sugar and animal-based products like dairy and eggs, that means you eliminate practically all baked goods and packaged, processed foods. Even seemingly healthy foods like granola or energy bars typically have added sugar and preservatives and many contain egg or milk-based ingredients. This is why it’s so important to check ingredient labels when you’re on a Daniel Fast.

You may have questions about certain foods in the grey area such as peanut butter or almond milk. These foods are plant-based, but they are also processed, so are they ok to eat on a Daniel Fast?

The answer is: it depends on how you’re defining your Daniel Fast. Are you focused mainly on what you are cutting out from your diet, and the foods you will abstain from? Or are you concentrating primarily on what you WILL eat, limiting yourself to only foods in the most whole, natural form possible?

We talk about these abstaining and limiting filters in more detail in the Daniel Fast Journey book. There is also a section in the back of the book with all the frequently asked “Can I eat this?” questions for the Daniel Fast and a full list of ingredients to avoid. If you’re interested in learning more, check out the book here.

Food list: What to Eat on a Daniel Fast

It may seem like you’re eliminating practically everything on a Daniel Fast. And if you’re consuming standard American diet, the Daniel Fast is a drastic shift – but one you will be very glad you made! You will feel so much healthier as you increase your intake of fiber, vitamins, and minerals found naturally in plant-based foods. At the same time, you’re eliminating all the processed junk that is so prevalent in our food supply.

Although there’s a lot to cut out, consider the rich variety of foods available to you. You can take the time to enjoy a variety of foods you may never have considered before.

Check out the following list of foods to eat on a Daniel Fast:

Fruits and Vegetables*

Apples

Avocado

Bananas

Berries

Dates

Figs

Kiwi

Grapes

Lemons and Limes

Mango

Melons

Oranges and Grapefruit

Pears

Peaches, Plums, Nectarines

Pineapples

Pomegranates

Artichoke

Asparagus

Beets

Bell Peppers

Bok Choy

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Carrot

Cauliflower

Celery

Corn

Cucumber

Edamame

Eggplant

Ginger

Green Beans

Kale

Lettuce and Greens (arugula, endive, swiss chard, etc.)

Mushrooms

Okra

Onions and Garlic

Peas, Snap Peas

Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes

Spinach

Squash and Zucchini

Tomatoes

Turnips

*All fruits and vegetables are included on the Daniel Fast in addition to what is listed here. Fruits and vegetables can be in the form of: fresh, frozen, canned, or dried (check ingredient labels).

Whole Grains

Amaranth

Barley

Bulgur

Brown Rice

Farro

Grits/Polenta

Millet

Oats

Quinoa

Beans & Legumes

Beans, all types including black, kidney, pinto, white

Black eyed peas

Chickpeas/garbanzo beans

Lentils

Peas

Soybeans & Edamame

Nuts and Seeds

Almonds

Brazil Nuts

Cashews

Hazelnuts

Peanuts

Pecans

Pistachios

Walnuts

Pumpkin Seeds

Sesame Seeds

Sunflower Seeds

Other

Fresh or dried herbs and spices

Olives

Pure plant-based oils (olive, grapeseed, sesame)

Sea salt or Himalayan salt