The Daniel Fast Preparations
Daniel Fast Food List
Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast”
- All fruits (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned)
- All vegetables (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned)
- 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.
Sample Menus
Preparing for Success
Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready
The Daniel Fast strengthens your relationship with God and promotes healthy eating. But if you have specific health concerns, consult with your health care provider before committing the fast. Follow these tips to help in your success:
- Start the diet by focusing on your faith. The Daniel fast is a physical as well as a spiritual experience. Through prayer, you should ask for God’s guidance and strength as they prepare to deny self and battle physical cravings.
- Make your meals somewhat lighter for a few days leading up to your fast. It’s an especially good idea to reduce your intake of caffeine if you drink coffee or caffinated sodas daily. Avoid the “last supper” mentality by eating large meals in the days leading up to the fast. This will create significant challenges in the fist days of the fast.
- Be prepared for withdrawal symptoms. Removing processed food filled with chemical may cause withdrawal systems like fatigue, headaches, or muscle cramps. To avoid or limit these symptoms, drink at least 8 glasses of water each day. Often, we do not understand just how much our body needs water, especially when fasting.
- Keep your energy level high. To help keep your energy level high, be sure to eat enough protein rich foods like beans and nuts (Adult men need about 56 grams of protein and Adult women need about 46 grams of protein). Vitamin C and lemons can also helps with detoxification process. You should also consider taking a multivitamin during the fast (be sure to take it with food to avoid an upset stomach).
- Stock Your Kitchen: The Daniel Diet is a fast that limits many foods. Before you get started, stock your kitchen with fresh fruits and vegetables. The fast is difficult enough without running out of the foods you need to eat.
- Plan, Plan, Plan. Write out your daily menu, including all meals and snacks several days in advance. By being prepared, you can avoid the temptations of breaking the fast.
- Don’t give up. If for any reason you eat something you shouldn’t have during the fast, it is better to ask for forgiveness and continue, than it is to stop the fast.
Giving up the caffeine in coffee and sodas
Going “cold turkey” can be difficult so in the days leading up to the fast begin to cut back on the amount of caffeine intake. One way may be to switch to half cafe and half decaf coffee. Once the fast begins try the following:
- Replace your morning coffee with something else soothing. Try a cup of warm water with fresh lemon or a fresh fruit smoothie
- Be sure to get at least 7–8 hours of sleep
- Be prepared for the withdrawal symptoms (headaches and irritability). Prayer and meditation is key to surviving the withdrawal symptoms. For severe headaches, keep headache medicine like Tylenol or Motrin handy.
- Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will help reduce withdrawal symptoms and help balance the chemical changes in your body.


