10 Super Helpful Daniel Fast Tips

I pray that you had a wonderful Christmas! If you’re like me, you are experiencing a huge rush of relief. The planning is done. The gifts have been purchased, wrapped and unwrapped. Dinner has been cooked and served. All you want to do is relax and ring in the new year. Right now the last thing you want to be doing is planning something else (like prepping for the Daniel Fast).

There is a handy Daniel Fast & Prayer guide to help you navigate through your 21-day journey. It includes great info on how to prep for the Fast, daily prayer prompts and tips. But maybe the thought of having to comb through it is more than you can bear right now with your post-Christmas brain. Don’t sweat it. I gotchu. This right here is the CliffsNotes version of preparing for the Daniel Fast. The Daniel Fast for Dummies. Not that you’re a dummy…I just meant…never mind. I’ll just jump right in.

So why are we fasting again?

To start our new year focusing on God.

What’s exactly is a fast?

Choosing to refrain from certain food, drink and/or entertainment as a sacrifice to focus on God and receive His guidance and direction more clearly. The goal is to spend more time with God while you fast.

When does it start?

The 2023 Daniel Fast starts on January 2nd and ends on January 22nd.

What can I eat?

All fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables. All whole grains. All nuts. All legumes. Quality oils (olive, grape seed, coconut). Water. Herbal Tea.

What can’t I eat?

Animal products (meat, dairy). Processed foods. Sugar/Sweets. Pop (or soda to you non-midwesterners). Bread. White rice. White flour. Deep fried foods. Alcohol. Caffeine.

Girl, who can remember all that? I need an easily accessible list.

Yup, understood. Here it is.

What about snacks?

Here are my top go-to snacks (other than fruits and veggies):

• Lara Bars
• Wholly Guacamole cups
• Hummus
• Triscuits
• Boom Chicka Pop
• Way Better Snacks
• Brown rice cakes
• Natural peanut butter & Jelly
• Homemade trail mix (almonds, cashews, peanuts and raisins)
• Roasted chickpeas

I need meal ideas, help!

For the ultimate convenience, I’ve put together a 30-day plant based meal plan that includes recipes and grocery lists. The three weeks of the meal plan are Daniel Fast friendly. The last week includes recipes that are still plant based but a bit more indulgent. The goal being that you incorporate some of these recipes into your regular rotation! I also have a ton of Daniel Fast friendly recipes on the site. Here are some meal ideas and links to some great recipes!

Breakfast:

• Smoothies/Fresh juices (Bolthouse and Evolution are easy for grab and go)
• Oatmeal with date paste
• Tofu scramble

Lunch & Dinner:

• Red Beans & rice
• Collard greens, black-eyed peas & a baked sweet potato
• Curry chickpeas with spinach (recipe below!)
• Wellness soup
• Mediterranean soup
• Slow cooker minestrone
• Lentil soup
• 3 bean chili
• Black bean soup
• Vegan gumbo
• Coconut veggie curry
• Jerk black-eyed peas
• Roasted sweet potato & kale salad

You got any tips to help me make it through the fast?

1. Have snacks with you at all times! Keep them in your purse, car and at work.
2. What you’re eating is pure and fibrous. You’ll be using the bathroom…a lot. If you feel the urge to go. You need to make sure you take it seriously or you could have a mess on your hands (literally, lol).
3. Be intentional about your extra time spent with God. Make it a priority to carve out time to pray, meditate and read your word daily. If you don’t, it might not happen. And then this will just be a diet (*shoulder shrug*). Music always gets me in full on worship mode so I’ve created a Spotify playlist to you get your praise on. It’s a collaborative playlist so feel free to add any of your fav praise and worship tunes.
4. Have an accountability partner. This thing is a whole lot easier if you’ve got someone keeping you on the right path. If you can’t find one, I’ll be happy to be yours!
5. Try new things. Salad all day, every day gets boring really quick. Try veggies and fruit you’ve never had. Experiment…spice up your life! You may find something new that you love (message!).

I didn’t hit the grocery store, I wanna go out to eat or I need to find somewhere that has food I can eat now!

No problem. Here are some of my favorite fast-friendly establishments:

• Whole Foods hot bar (or salad bar)
• Chipotle (get the sofritas & fajita veggies!)
• PF Chang’s (or pretty much any Chinese restaurant)
• Indian restaurants
• Upbeet (for my Atlanta peeps), Kale Me Crazy, Chopt or any other salad spot. I know you’re thinking you’ll be tired of salad but these places have WAY more ingredient options than you’ll want to buy.
• Soup spots (Jason’s Deli, Panera, Fresh To Order).
• Smoothie and Juice Bars. (Atliens – I adore Juice Me Too)

This was cute but I’m still feeling unsure…

I hope this was helpful but I’m sure there may be other lingering questions. If you feel comfortable, leave a comment with your question. If not, email me at [email protected] and I’ll get you an answer. I’m also happy to do a Facebook or Instagram Live to chat about any fast-related topics you want to discuss. Let me know if you think that would be worthwhile.

I pray the very best for you on your 21-day journey and can’t wait to hear how it’s impacted your life!