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For example, in early monastic life, a single meal was eaten after sunset, eventually moving that meal to 3pm.  The medieval period brought more structured rules for fasting, asking Catholics to abstain from all animal products throughout Lent, with Ash Wednesday and Good Friday being a ‘black fast’ where no food was consumed at all.1  Fasting in the Church today calls us on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday to consume only one main meal, with two smaller meals (that together don’t equal a full meal) with no eating between meals, while we are called to abstain from meat on all Fridays of Lent. 

Another type of fast that has been gaining popularity recently is the Daniel fast.  The Daniel fast is a partial fast, in that some foods are restricted, but others are allowed in unlimited quantities.  In this case, whole plant-foods may be consumed in unlimited quantities, but animal products and meat are completely avoided.  The Daniel Fast mimics what the prophet did in the Old Testament, when he chose to abstain from the rich foods of the Babylonian king’s table, which was fruitful for both his spiritual growth and his bodily health.  The goal of a Daniel Fast is to develop habits of prayer, meditation, and study during the fast, focusing attention on the Lord while eating simple nourishing meals, since our real nourishment is from God.  

To see what the Daniel fast is all about, we turn to Scripture, but first, let me provide some context.  During the 6th century BC, thousands of Hebrews were taken into captivity in Babylon, which is now modern-day Iraq.  Because the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, had a territory that was growing so quickly, he needed to expand his manpower, so he chose from the elite of the captive peoples to train them at the king’s court.  Daniel and three of his companions were selected because they were already well-educated in Judah.  

These trainees were given all the comforts of the king’s court, including the elaborate foods and wine of the king’s table.  But Daniel did not want to defile himself by eating these foods, which likely included foods forbidden in Jewish law or foods sacrificed to Babylonian gods.  Daniel was committed to God, and he preferred to keep the ways of his people.  Daniel asked to be given only foods from ‘pulses’ or food grown from seed, with only water to drink, rather than wine (Daniel 1:12).  In other words, Daniel ate only plants.

It was agreed that Daniel and his companions would be allowed a trial of this for 10 days, where they would eat only plant foods and drink only water.  At the end of this time, Daniel and his companions were tested and found to be better in appearance and possessing greater wisdom and understanding than their peers who ate from the king’s table.  You can imagine in our modern times, if one group ate a healthy plant-based diet and another ate rich, calorie-dense foods while drinking lots of alcohol, there would, indeed, be a big difference in the outcomes.  Daniel’s understanding and ability to interpret visions and dreams brought him favor in the eyes of the Babylonian king, and God favored Daniel by rescuing him from the fiery furnace and the lion’s den.  In another part of the book of Daniel, during a time of mourning, he again eats only plants and drinks only water for 21 days (Daniel 10:3).  These two instances have formed a practice called the ‘Daniel fast,’ usually where only plant foods are eaten for either 10 or 21 days.

Daniels’s way of eating contrasts with the standard American diet, which could be seen as a parallel to the rich foods of the king’s table.  These days, we wrestle with our relationship with food:  poor eating impacts our well-being, our mental health, our work, our relationships with others, our relationship with God, and our ability to fulfill our vocation, due to poor health from eating unhealthy foods.  Daniel provides an example of how we can go against the norm, against the typical eating pattern of the culture around us.  Like Daniel, we can shift our focus toward spiritual development; we can learn to shift our mindset away from food as an idol or coping mechanism, remembering that true nourishment comes from God.  

With a Daniel fast, you may not only grow closer to God, but also see positive benefits to your health, making you more able to fulfill your vocation.  Unlike the standard American diet, which is aptly abbreviated SAD, the Daniel fast includes foods to help your body function as it was designed to by God.  By eating fewer processed foods, you reduce the preservatives and chemicals found in processed foods.  You decrease consumption of saturated fats found in animal foods, which means you may decrease your risk of heart disease.  In fact, some people find that their lipid values improve after the Daniel fast.  Foods in the Daniel fast are nourishing, healthy foods, with more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, likely making you feel better and have more energy.  So, like Daniel, you might have a more favorable appearance and gain wisdom, while keeping God at the center of your life.  

*Note: Completing a Daniel fast takes preparation if you’re not used to eating mostly plants.  To learn more about completing a Daniel fast, schedule a free meet & greet appointment for lifestyle medicine coaching to discuss how guidance can help you reach your goals for physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. https://mycatholicdoctor.com/make-appointment/michele-suhie-phd-nbc-hwc-dipaclm/ 

On the horizon: A group program to help you prepare for and complete a Daniel Fast, guided by a Trinitarian Model of Health utilizing Catholic spirituality, lifestyle medicine, and positive psychology.  Contact Michele Suhie PhD or schedule a meet & greet for more information.

References:

1 Plese, M. Preparing for Lent: How to fast like the Saints (Part 3) February 9, 2024. https://essentialistpress.com/preparing-for-lent-how-to-fast-like-the-saints-part-3/  Accessed March 5, 2026.

Written by:

Michele Suhie, PhD, NBC-HWC, DipACLM