How to Do a Daniel Fast: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

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1The Daniel Fast and Your Relationship to God

2The Daniel Fast, Part I

3The Daniel Fast, Part II

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Last Updated: May 11, 2023Fact Checked

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There are two references to fasting in the biblical book of Daniel from which the "Daniel Fast" is drawn. Daniel, chapter 1, describes how Daniel and his three friends ate only vegetables and drank only water. (Daniel 1)[1] At the end of a 10-day trial period, Daniel and his friends appeared healthier than their peers who ate the rich foods from the royal table. In Daniel, chapter 10, Daniel fasts again, abstaining from "pleasant food," meat, and wine. (Daniel 10)[2] You, too, can gain a healthier body and clearer mind by following this diet "fast" in moderation.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

The Daniel Fast and Your Relationship to God

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  1. 1

    Avoid distractions. This is a sacred time between you and God,[3] so avoid secular television and radio programs.

  2. 2

    Start the diet by focusing on your faith. Worship God through sacrifice and love Him more than His gifts.

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  3. 3

    Pray. Your days should be filled with unselfish prayer. During the fast, increase the frequency of your daily prayer time by a factor of three or more.

  4. 4

    Reserve time with God during the day by studying the Bible.

  5. 5

    Seek the Lord diligently for the answers to your prayers.

  6. 6

    Ask for God's guidance in your life.

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Part 2

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The Daniel Fast, Part I

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  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    In the first Book of Daniel, the Prophet ate only vegetables and fruit, and drank only water for 10 days. A short rundown of acceptable foods include:[4]

    • All fruits and vegetables
    • All legumes
    • Whole grains
    • Nuts and seeds
    • Tofu
    • Herbs and spices.
  3. 3

    Conversely, there is also an agreed upon list of foods to avoid. Keep in mind that no artificial or processed foods nor any chemicals are allowed in the Daniel Fast.[5]

    • All meats and animal products
    • All dairy products
    • All deep fried foods
    • All solid fats.
  4. 4

    Carefully read food labels. Foods often contain hidden ingredients. Make sure the foods you buy are compliant with the Daniel Fast.

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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

The Daniel Fast, Part II

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  1. 1

    Move to stage two. In Daniel, Book 10, the Prophet went on a second, 3-week fast. To quote the Bible, Daniel "ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine."[6] The second fast is basically the same as the first fast, but the text specifically names three things to avoid:[7]

    • Wine
    • All sweeteners (including honey)
    • All leavened bread.
  2. 2

    Assess how you feel after the two stages. If you feel more energetic and healthier, it is likely that you will want to keep up healthier eating habits. While reintroducing many of the items you've not had during the fast is inevitable, you may want to do so with greater consciousness for quality and portion size. And some things, like fried food and sugar are best kept to a new minimum.

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  • Question

    What should I read in the Bible when I'm fasting?

    How to Do a Daniel Fast: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (18)

    Alice B

    Community Answer

    Starting in Daniel was good for me. Adding Psalms or Proverbs for meditation is also good.

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  • Question

    Can I have hot chocolate on the Daniel fast?

    How to Do a Daniel Fast: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (19)

    Community Answer

    Assess your motive for each choice. The purpose of a fast is to deny your flesh and feed your spirit. Chocolate tends to be an indulgence to make us feel good (comfort, caffeine, warmth, etc.) and can feed an addiction in some cases (sugar, caffeine, endorphins). Thus, no is probably the best answer, bearing in mind the purpose of the fast.

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  • Question

    What is leaven bread?

    Leaven bread is bread whose ingredients include a rising agent such as yeast. Most bread you buy is leavened bread. Unleavened bread is usually flat and non-puffy. Pita bread, matzo and tortillas are all examples of unleavened bread.

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      Tips

      • Lots of prayer...we need God's strength and guidance.

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      • Keep your diet simple. Avoid highly processed foods in favor of simply prepared or raw foods.

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      • 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.

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      Tips from our Readers How to Do a Daniel Fast: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (21)

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

      • The Daniel Fast is a time to get closer to God and hear his voice. It's easy to get distracted by the desire to eat, but focus on deep prayer and you'll find yourself wanting to continue your fast.
      • After your fast, slowly introduce more foods to your body. Try light, easy-to-digest foods like fresh fruit, vegetable juice, broth-based soups, and steamed vegetables.
      • Try a little yoga or meditation with your fast to help focus on your goals and be more attuned with your body.

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      Warnings

      • During the time of fasting, you will face temptations, resist them in the name of Jesus Christ.

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      • When you have finished fasting, eat light meals and slowly build back up to your normal diet.

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      • The Daniel Fast promotes healthy eating. But if you have specific health concerns, consult with a trusted health care provider before committing to this 10-day (or 3-week) diet.

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      Things You'll Need

      • Bible
      • A place and time(s) to pray.
      • Good variety of fruits and veggies

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      Reader Success Stories

      • How to Do a Daniel Fast: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (35)

        Deborah Richardson

        Dec 12, 2016

        "This fast will help me, before I read about it, I had prayed that God would give me a fast I could follow. I had..." more

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      How to Do a Daniel Fast: 12 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      How to do the Daniel fast correctly? ›

      The Daniel Fast diet consists of non-energy-restricted choices of foods from plant sources, minimally processed and prepared in a healthy and simple way. The diet eliminates animal products, caffeine, and alcohol; and includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

      What should I do on the first day of the Daniel Fast? ›

      The best way to begin is to ask the Holy Spirit how to pray during your fast! Seriously, sit still, get in a quiet space and ask God to direct you in prayer. Another great way to pray during a fast is praying the “Disciples Prayer” in Matthew 6:9-15. According to Matthew 6:9 Jesus gave us a pattern for prayer!

      How many meals a day do you eat on a Daniel Fast? ›

      Restricting yourself to one meal per day yields a smaller hunger. Types of food included in the Daniel fast: 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.

      What not to do during Daniel fasting? ›

      Foods to Avoid While Fasting

      All meat and animal products: beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fish, etc. All dairy products: milk, cheese, cream, butter, eggs, etc. All sweeteners: sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice, etc.

      What is Daniel Fast's menu? ›

      Foods Allowed During the Daniel Fast

      Most individuals and churches I've encountered participating in the Daniel Fast enjoy various fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. Water and unsweetened herbal teas are allowed to drink. Salt and spices are also allowed to season food.

      What do you drink during Daniel fasting? ›

      Water: Distilled, filtered, sparkling, spring, and mineral waters allowed. 100-percent fruit juice: Natural, 100-percent fruit juice is allowed but should be had sparingly.

      How many times do you pray during the Daniel Fast? ›

      Prays as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God.

      What happens to your body during a Daniel Fast? ›

      Sometimes, though, people do experience unpleasant symptoms on the Daniel Fast, such as body aches, fatigue, nausea, headaches, and digestive distress. Such side effects usually occur within the first few days of the fast as the body adjusts to a different way of eating.

      What did Daniel eat while fasting? ›

      Practice. The Daniel Fast is derived from the Bible, which states in Daniel 10:3 that "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." The Daniel Fast limits food choices to vegetables and water as stated in the Book of Daniel ...

      What does fasting from 6am to 6pm mean? ›

      Scripture praying; the use of Bible verses to help us pray. Fasting will be from 6am to<br /> 6pm. that means that we shall only take one meal per day.<br /> <strong>FOCUS</strong><br />

      How much weight can you lose on Daniel's fast? ›

      He says most followers lose five to six pounds over the three weeks and report other benefits like clearer skin, more energy and better focus.

      Can I eat peanut butter during Daniel Fast? ›

      Nuts and seeds are all permitted on the Daniel Fast, including peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds and nut butter. Soy products with no preservatives or additives (like edamame) are also allowed.

      Can I eat banana during Daniel Fast? ›

      Fruits: Including apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, watermelon, etc. (All forms of fruits are allowed, including fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned.) Vegetables: Including broccoli, carrots, green beans, mushrooms, onions, spinach, tomatoes, etc.

      What if you mess up on Daniel Fast? ›

      First, if you break the fast by giving into temptation you don't need to start fasting all over again. I'll cover more of that later. But just like when we sin, we don't have to “get saved again,” the same goes with fasting. Continue on the journey and recognize that you detoured from the path.

      Is rice allowed on Daniel Fast? ›

      Amaranth, barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, freekeh, millet, oats, plain popcorn, quinoa, rye, sorghum, spelt, teff, whole grain pasta, whole wheat, and wild rice are approved. Unleavened bread. Whole grain breads and flatbreads made without yeast, sugars, or preservatives are permitted.

      How long does it take your body to adjust to the Daniel Fast? ›

      2) It may take a few days for your body to adjust as it goes through a detoxification. If you feel weak, have a headache, or just plain lethargic, you will feel better! Usually after 3-4 days, people get a surge of energy and the side effects are minimal.

      Can I brush my teeth during Daniel Fast? ›

      Here's what Jesus said: “When you fast, don't make a production out of it like the hypocrites do. Shampoo and comb your hair; brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices.

      How does the 21 day Daniel Fast work? ›

      Instead, they eat essentially a plant-based diet and other foods that Daniel ate during his lifetime. Foods like meat, wine and bread are avoided, while nutrient-dense and minimally processed foods are enjoyed for 21 days.

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