Congratulations on your commitment to fast
with Real Life Church!

We are excited about what will occur over these next 21 days and we are looking forward to see God move in our lives and in the life of this church. We know that He will work in ways we could never have imagined and the cool thing is we’re taking this journey together! Side by side, let’s go the distance to discover God’s plan. We wish you all of God’s best during this time!

Fasting Guidelines

Our Focus
The fast, as explained in the weekend service, is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God. As a church, we are fasting in order to deepen our relationship with God and to walk in step with His plan and purpose. The best way to do this is to redirect our food source. This is accomplished through substituting our regular food intake with Bible reading, praying and journaling. The overall goal is to experience a genuine hunger for spending time with God.

Our Fasting Timeline: Nov. 1-21.

Thursday, November 1: Begin the “Daniel Fast” by introducing meals with pure foods of fruits and vegetables. This plan will continue for the next 21 days.

Sunday, November 18: We will come together as a church to celebrate communion at Real Life Church.

Wednesday, November 21: The fast is complete. Start slowly introducing food previously denied if desired. (don’t rush too soon to a Big Mac and fries)

Thursday, November 22: Celebrate Thanksgiving with a renewed sense of God’s presence.

Our Menu
The Daniel Fast is a partial fast, which means that we will eliminate some common things from our daily diet, but will have generous options available. We will focus on eating fruits and vegetables that are pure and simple. We have included a list of foods to eat and foods to avoid.

Foods to Eat

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley

Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas,
Lentils, Black Eyed Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava,
Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger Root, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini

Other Foods: Seeds, Nuts and Sprouts

Liquids: Water (as much as safely possible), Unsweetened Soy Milk, Herbal (caffeine free) tea, Natural Fruit Juice (no sugar added)

Other: Extra-Virgin Oil (small quantities), Honey

Foods to Avoid

• Meat, Poultry, Fish
• White Rice
• Fried Foods
• Caffeine, Coffee, Tea (including decaf)
• Carbonated Beverages
• Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
• Refined Sugar or Sugar Substitutes
• White Flour
• Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products
• All Breads
• Dairy (milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, etc.)

Questions???

Do you have questions about specific foods?
The list of foods we’ve provided is merely a first step to get you thinking about making better food choices. Remember, this fast is about growing your relationship with God. He’s not as concerned about what is in your stomach as He is about what is in your heart.

Daniel’s decision not to eat the king’s food was an outward symbol of an inward commitment he had made to God. (see: Daniel 1) Let your choices over the next three weeks reflect the hunger your have for God’s presence in your life.

Since there is no definitive list of foods for the Daniel Diet, it is truly the spirit of Daniel’s decision that we are imitating over the next 21 days. If there is something that is not specifically listed that you think still qualifies as a ‘food of the king,’ then ask God to reveal to you whether it should be part of your diet over the next few weeks. The details of the fast are between you and God — use this time to focus on Him.

God is certain to bless your life in new and exciting ways during the fast. We encourage you to write down your prayers and the many ways God reveals Himself to you. We can’t wait to see what God is going to do in your life and in the life of our church!

What about children?
We have eliminated sugar, bread and most dairy from our children’s diet. They are having whole wheat pasta and soy milk. Mostly, they eat what we eat, but we have included chicken for them in some meals. We have found that they have been more open to new foods. It has been exciting to see them help plan meals and enjoy more fruits and vegetables, some of which they have never tried before. We remind them that when they are hungry, they will try something new. Remember, all of us can change our palates in 10 days!

Important…

If you have any known medical conditions or suspect such conditions, consult your doctor before beginning the fast. Also, be sure to drink as much water as possible throughout the fast. In fact, our goal is to drink a gallon of water a day!

If you have any condition which would prohibit you from being a part of the Daniel Fast, there are other options. Choose something from your daily routine (i.e. specific foods or beverages, television, other technology, etc.) and fast in that manner for the next 21 days.

Remember, the details are not as important
as the spirit in which you participate!