Many of you are preparing to begin various types of diets, cleanses, or fasts as we begin the New Year. The (so called) Daniel "Fast" (Diet) is one form of "Biblical" diet that you may be considering. It’s what I’m sharing about today, and I hope over the next several days to share about others.
The Daniel "fast" is not a true fast at all, but simply a simple diet, or lifestyle of eating, that eliminates certain types of foods, namely "rich" prepared dishes, (in our day, including our "refined" and convenience, prepackaged foods,) as well as all meat and animal products. Daniel purposed to eat only sown plants and drink water, rather than partake of the king’s delicacies. (See also Proverbs 23.) He interceeded to not be forced to eat the way of the King’s lifestyle, which was considered "better" by the Chaldeans of course, since it was the food of the rich.
Daniel basically was calling for a pure diet to not defile himself, most likely in the kosher sense. He asked to prove that his lifestyle of eating simple foods would NOT make them "inferior" in any way. And as we know it proved them superior in mind and body.
The diet of Daniel and his friends, in this foreign land with foreign, unkosher foods and foods prepared in unkosher ways, stuck to foods as they came from God – just plain water and foods that are sown – vegetables, grains, legumes, (and possibly fruits, though I don’t see this in Biblical studies of this, just modern articles/books on "Daniel Diets"). These were fresh (raw) or simply prepared by just cooking plain, rather than prepared in "rich" "dishes".
The "deceptive foods" of their time were no where near what our deceptive, processed (non-)foods of our day are, but they WERE rich foods, no doubt not kosher – and those that ate them tended to gluttony/ overindulging. As in our time, the "rich" felt they deserved to eat whatever they wanted. Isn’t that America today? We feel we’re deprived if we "have to" drink water instead of pop/soda or rich coffee drinks, or feel sorry for those that "have to" eat beans and rice, or don’t get sugary "treats", etc. Perhaps we even feel sorry for those that make things from "scratch" rather than "get to" buy pre-prepared foods.
Daniel’s Diet is a Good for You – Naturally™ diet that can be followed by all, all the time for health. We too would be wise to refuse the deceitful "dainties" placed before us – all the time.
Although we can’t know exactly which plant foods Daniel ate, the Daniel diet most likely is basically the same as the Gen. 1:29 diet God originally gave to man. The Hebrew word zeroa, that comes from zara, means something sown, i.e. plant foods. In KJV it is translated "pulse" which is a bit more restrictive definition. IOW, it generally can mean the foods grown from the sown seeds (vegetables), or more restrictive and literal, the seeds themselves that can be sown and grown to eat (legumes and possibly grains). Pulse meaning, "beat out" as in our "heart beat" is our "pulse", and in plant foods, those that we "beat out" the seeds (beans and peas).
So whether you choose to eat vegetables only, or legumes (beans and peas) and possibly grains, or include all of these and perhaps even fruits too, a diet similar to what Daniel and his friends ate is a Good for You choice for beginning a New Year with a New way of eating.
After beginning with this very simple Daniel Diet, you may choose to add in some unrefined plant oils (extra virgin olive oil, raw coconut oil, etc.), some herbs and spices, and perhaps even some honey and/or eggs, to continue on a not-as-simple, but still Good for You – Naturally!™ lifestyle of eating.
Good morning! Mmm – to wake to fresh cinnamon rolls. Well, I’m not today. Off to a homeschool museum day, so quickly to the point today. [Post updated 3/30/09]
