Fast Facts

Here are some more thoughts for those of you planning to participate in the Daniel Fast with Northway Church.

• Families: Obviously the complete Daniel Fast may not be appropriate for children depending on their age. For example, our 1 year old, who can’t even begin to comprehend the purpose of the fast, will not be participating at all. But as our family grows I hope to have my kids increase their participation as they age. For example, a young child could give up a few of their favorite foods, a kid in grade school could give up sugar and/or soda, and a teenager could follow the entire fast but perhaps just add in chicken for protein. Again, the attitude is what’s important.
  Overall, I see fasting as a family as a great opportunity to really pass the torch on to our kids. Maybe another part of the fast is turning off the TV between certain hours, having dinner as a family and refocusing on the purpose of the fast. The more I think about it, I’m really looking forward to doing this as our family grows.
• COFFEE: Giving up coffee is hands down the most challenging part of the fast for me! I’ve actually considered brewing it in the morning just to wake up to that sweet smell. But I think that would actually be slightly torturous. If you’re like me and just really want something hot to drink in the morning, herbal tea with honey is your best bet. Not black tea, not decaf tea, but herbal tea.
• Water: Cutting meat, dairy, sugar, artifical additives, caffiene and preservatives from your diet will pretty much put your body in a mild detox. Ok, a moderate detox! Water is key. First of all, it’s pretty much the only thing you will be drinking. Second, it will help flush toxins out of your system as they’re naturally released by your body. And for those of you who start your day with coffee every day…and maybe require a pickup in the afternoon too…I have no idea what the science is behind this but drinking water throughout the day will keep that massive caffeine headache at bay. Oh don’t get me wrong, you’ll probably still get it on day one, but it won’t be as bad if you’re well hydrated.
• Breakfast: You can make a very quick and easy breakfast on the Daniel Fast. Just buy Old Fashioned Oats (you don’t even have to get the quick cooking ones) and put them in a big bowl (otherwise it will boil over) with about 2x as much water and microwave 2-3 minutes. I used to even do this at work. Add in a banana, some cinnamon and honey and you’re good. You could add apple too, but I would actually cook that in the microwave with the oatmeal so it softens more and gives off some of its flavor.
  Don’t forget that especially while fasting it is very important to keep eating protein, so add a handful of nuts to your breakfast, or try a couple of spoonfuls of natural peanut butter with your oatmeal (hmmm, and maybe some all fruit jelly…)
• Fast Food: No, you obviously can’t eat fast food, but I would keep some prepared foods handy in case you’re running out the door to work and don’t have leftovers handy. One option is a grocery store with a salad bar, or Salad Creations, where you can choose your ingredients and dressings. As far as prepared foods you can buy, there aren’t many out there, but Amy’s Organics makes a few great canned soups that are completely vegan. For example, Amy’s Black Bean Vegetable soup is a great option (in fact there are several soups on that page that would work, check the ingredients though, as some include dairy or pasta). These canned goods are also great if you want to take a night off of cooking.
• Snacks: The following will be in my house in abundance for the next 3 weeks:
  - Unsalted Nuts
  - Rice cakes with natural peanut butter and all fruit jelly (At my grocery store, the store brand of rice cakes, if you check the label, is made with whole grain brown rice). If you think rice cakes taste like cardboard, trust me, keep some of these handy. By Wednesday mid morning, they will taste like little drops of heaven
  - Popcorn. Popcorn? Yes, Popcorn! About a tbsp of oil, about a half cup of kernels depending on the size of your pot, shake it up so the kernels are coated, turn the burner on high, and let them pop away. Add a little sea salt. Mmmmm. Delicious and way cheaper than the bags.
  - Hummus and veggies. This is a great snack with protein to keep you going, and the best part is you can add some variety by changing up the veggies and the flavor of hummus. You can make your own hummus too but, well, I’ll be doing enough cooking next week, I’ll take the store bought hummus!
• Weighing the results: OK now an obvious result of cutting all the garbage out of your diet for three whole weeks is that your pants will probably fit a little – ok, a LOT better. And let’s be honest, who’s not excited about that?! But having thought a lot about the upcoming fast and what I personally want to gain from it, I’ve decided my scale is going into storage for the duration of the fast. I know that I’m inclined to lose focus, and I want to keep my eyes on the spiritual gain, not the physical losses, so I challenge you to do it with me! The physical health is a natural byproduct, but the spiritual health is the true purpose, so don’t let a focus on the former trump the latter!

Advertisement