21 Days . . . The Daniel Fast
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s
meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs
that he might not defile himself.” Daniel 1:8
“
2In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. 3I ate no pleasant bread, neither came
Please note: If you have any type of medical condition, or if you suspect you have a medical
condition of any kind, please consult your doctor before beginning the fast.
Suggested Food List for The Daniel Fast
Foods to Eat
All
All
All
cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes,
nectarines, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries,
tangelos, tangerines, and watermelon
All
cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, gingerroot, kale, leeks, lettuce,
mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach,
sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, and zucchini
Whole Grains, including brown rice, oats, and barleyLegumes, including dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, and black-eyed peasFruits, including apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe,Vegetables, including artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots,
Seeds
Nuts
Liquids:
fruit juice (no sugar added), natural vegetable juice (no sugar added)
water (as much as possible), unsweetened soy milk, caffeine-free all-herbal tea, natural
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
(small quantities)
Honey
Foods to Avoid
Meat
(including poultry and fish)
White Rice
Breads
White Flour
(and products using it)
Fried Foods
Caffeine & Caffienated Beverages
Coffee & Tea
(including decaf)
Carbonated Beverages
Foods Containing Additives or Preservatives
Refined Sugar or Sugar Substitutes
Margarine, Shortening, High-Fat Products
flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were
fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2-3
In the first chapter of Daniel, we find King Nebuchadnezzar commissioning Ashpenaz to select
some young men to be brought to the palace and trained, prior to being given positions in the
king’s court. Among those brought in were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The order
was given by the king that they should eat from the king’s table–be served the same as he was.
However, Daniel, purposing in his heart that he would not defile himself, followed a different
diet. Later, in chapter 10, Daniel embarks on a three-week fast while in mourning in which he
follows a similar diet.
The purpose of fasting is to grow your relationship with God. Daniel’s decision not to eat the
king’s food was an outward symbol of an inward commitment he made to God. Let your choices
over the 21 days of our POA fast reflect your hunger for God’s presence in your life.
The fast is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. As a church we are
fasting to deepen our relationship with God, to discover as never before His plan and purpose for
our lives, and to experience a spiritual breakthrough that will revolutionize our church family
and our community.
In addition to the foods of the fast, The Daniel Fast also requires prayer and faith. These three
work together to form a foundation for the fast Together, these three form a prescription of
healing.
There is no definitive list of foods for Daniel’s fast. The scriptures tell us he ate no flesh (meat)
and drank no wine. The designation of “pleasant bread” has often been interpreted to mean
breads, or sweets, or the delicacies–”choice foods.” In our fast, it is the spirit of Daniel’s decision
that we are attempting to capture. In general, the foods that are a part of The Daniel Fast are
ones that promote health–foods that renew and cleanse the body. Rich foods, decadent foods,
and “party” foods would be avoided on the Daniel fast. If there is something not specifically
listed that you feel should qualify as “food of the king,” then ask God to reveal to you whether it
should be part of your fast. The details of your fast are between you and God.
Whether you will be following The Daniel Fast or another type of fast, we ask everyone to join us
in this united effort by participating in our corporate 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting Monday,
February 25, through Palm Sunday, March 16.
