Different fast options
For thousands of devout Christians around the world, every January to start the New Year is a time of corporate fasting among churches so they can start the year right. Fasting will also take place in other months throughout the year; but the main fasting is in the beginning of the year.
There are generally three types of fasts done by Christians, a full fast where the person will eat nothing, but drink water and in some extreme cases they will not consume water. Another fast is a partial fast where the person deprives themselves of food from sun up to sun down or from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Then there is the Daniel Fast, the Daniel Fast allows you to eat but with restriction such as no meat, seafood, sweets, carbonated soft drinks, diary and alcohol. The most popular of the three fast is the Daniel Fast. The juice fast is another option juicing vegetable or fruits.
Purpose of the fast
Christians view this time of fasting as a deep walk with God. They believe through prayer and sacrifice hence the fast that they will receive a fresh revelation from God. Things that once kept them in bondage will be broken off their lives.
Fasting should not be taken lightly, and in some cases you may need to consult your physician. You should prepare your body for this cleansing process by weaning off heavy foods, a few days to a week prior to starting the fast with incorporating more fruits and vegetable to your diet. This helps your body not to go into deprivation which can cause you to break your fast before time.
Challenges on the fast
Many have cooking challenges on the Daniel Fast because what they are used to eating they can no longer eat, and they usually don’t want to spend twenty one days just eating salad. The challenge of what to buy at the supermarket and cooking what they buy such as brown rice, whole grain pasta, kashi and quinoa weigh heavy on their minds.
Another challenge is how to make the food flavorful without compromise the answer is fresh herbs such as cilantro, parsley, thyme, basil, fresh lemon or lime, onions, garlic, shallot, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and other spices.
The Daniel Fast can be anywhere from seven to twenty one days, so cooking is a key factor. When you cook you know exactly what is in your food. Don't let someone else put the unknown in your food that may not be part of your food restriction.
Food options on Daniel Fast
For breakfast you can have a 100% whole grain rolled oats, with fresh fruit, nutmeg and cinnamon or you can have a fruit salad.
For lunch you can have a salad with tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, avocado and red beans and baked sweet potato or you can have a quinoa salad.
For dinner you can have extra firm tofu sautéed in cold press olive oil or unprocessed coconut oil with bell peppers and brown rice or quinoa. You even have pasta primavera made without the cream just made with whole grain pasta and little oil olive and tomatoes, spinach, mushroom, carrots, corn and small diced tri-color bell peppers. The picture is included below.
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Recipe
Brown Rice
• 4 cups of water
• 2 cups of brown rice (natural organic brown rice or 100% whole grain basmati brown rice)
• 2 Tbs. of cold press olive oil
• ¼ cup of onions
• 1/3 cup of silvered almonds (optional)
• Salt to taste
Steps
1. Rinse the rice thoroughly. *Note Add 4 cups of water to 2 cups of rice.
2. Sauté onions and silver almonds in olive oil.
3. Add water and rice.
4. Bring to a boil quickly, than cover.
5. Turn down heat and simmer for 35-45 minutes. *Note do not stir while cooking. Rice is ready when all water is absorbed.
6. Let stand for a few minutes and then fluff with fork.
Tofu
• 1 package of extra firm tofu in water
• 1 Tbs. of cold press olive oil
• 1 ½ cup of tri-color bell peppers
• 3 Tbs. chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste
Steps
1. Open package and drain water from tofu. Cut tofu in cubes.
2. In skillet put oil, bell peppers and tofu and sauté.
3. Sprinkle salt, pepper to taste and parsley.
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