A fast designed to focus on the Lord, His goodness, grace and attributes. It is a pursuit of God and an aggressive and intentional drawing closer to God involving intimacy. It is not based upon the absence of food. Instead it is feeding upon the goodness and unconditional love of God. It’s about building relationship and communion with God.

You may eat anything derived from ‘seed.’ This includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, lignums and whole wheat breads. It is taken from Daniel 1:12. The Daniel fast was a cultural accommodation – a test that was observed by the authorities. Daniel had been ordered to violate Jewish law and conscience, and he creatively offered a compromise. And God blessed him and the Hebrews who participated with him in the fast.

Food Guidelines for a Daniel Fast

Foods You May Eat:

• Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley
• Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas
• 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, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon
• Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, 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)
• Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural
• Vegetable Juices.  You may also drink protein drinks.
• Others: Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Foods to Avoid:

• Meat
• White Rice
• Fried Foods
• Caffeine
• Carbonated Beverages
• Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
• Refined Sugar
• Sugar Substitutes
• White flour and All Products Using It
• Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

One can drink fruit or vegetable smoothies, fruit juices, vegeta-ble juices, broths and light soups. Tea and coffee should be kept at a minimum be-cause of the toxins are harsh on the lining of your stomach. You should also be frugal on citrus drinks because of the acid in the oranges. Green tea or any other herbal teas are very refreshing and of course drink plenty of water. Warm water with a hint of honey is very refreshing and gives the sensation of being warm and content. A juicer is wonderful during a liquid fast.

Used by Elijah in I Kings 17. There, he fasted one meal a day for an extended time. You might choose a variation of this fast – instead of a meal a day, you might have specific meals you skip over the course of a week, or for some longer time period. Better fast some than none.