Recommended Meals for the Daniel Fast

The Daniel Fast is a partial fast that strictly reduces the types of food that you are permitted to eat. Modeled after the Bible, the Daniel Fast is used to help prepare men and women to enter the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting. The guidelines of this fast can be found in the Book of Daniel. During the fast you are allowed to eat only vegetables and fruits and drink only water and must refrain from any breads, sweeteners, processed, chemically enhanced or artificially flavored foods or drinks. If you have good recipes on hand, adhering to the Daniel Fast can be made easier. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Breakfast

Try making a high-protein tofu scramble by dicing up some firm tofu, zucchini, tomato, onion, red bell pepper, green pepper, fresh cilantro and garlic and sauteing it in a frying pan until the vegetables are soft. Salt and pepper to taste. Another good breakfast option is oatmeal and fruit. Add apples, raisins, cinnamon, strawberries or blueberries for a filling, high fiber meal. You can also substitute soy milk for cow's milk.

Lunch

Make a green balsamic salad by mixing a cup of spinach, or enough to fill your plate, with sliced cucumber, diced onion, clementine slices, slivered almonds and unsweetened craisins. Drizzle balsamic vinaigrette to taste. Spinach has about 5 grams of protein per cup and the almonds are also a good source of protein.

Dinner

A stir fry is easy to make and can be customized in many different ways. In a wok, add cooked brown rice, diced tofu, green onions, garlic, ginger and any combination of broccoli, green peas, green beans, carrots, green peppers and water chestnuts. If you want to add more protein, add nuts such as almonds, peanuts or cashews. Make sure that you don't overcook the vegetables and nuts; they should be steamed soft but still slightly crunchy. Finally, add soy sauce to taste. Add as many vegetables as you want; the more vegetables and nuts that you include, the more filling it will be. Store any leftovers in a sealed container and refrigerate.

Snacks

Some good snacks to eat while on the Daniel Fast are plain rice crackers and all-natural peanut butter, "bumps on a log" which are celery sticks with all-natural peanut butter and raisins, and nuts such as almonds, cashews, peanuts and walnuts. If you have a sweet tooth and are craving something sweet, strawberries, blueberries, apples, watermelon and other fruits can satisfy that craving. Mix dried fruit and nuts for a homemade trail mix. Another good snack option is cut-up vegetables such as carrot sticks and celery sticks that can be dipped in hummus. For dessert, try freezing fruit whole or blending a few types of fruit and pouring the mixture into molds for homemade freezer pops.