If you're looking for a quick and easy Daniel Fast meal, look no further! This recipe is a Troy and Melody original but feel free to change it up and add your own twist to it. Sometimes we add different beans or throw in different spices but this is our template. It's super easy to make; chopping the vegetables is just time consuming. If you're making this for the Daniel Fast, make sure all the beans do not have any added sugar or corn syrup in. Sometimes you have to search for them but they are out there!
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 large red pepper, chopped
1 large orange pepper, chopped
1 large yellow pepper, chopped
1 large jalapeno pepper (seeded, de-veined and chopped)
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup vegetable stock
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (16 oz) can black beans
1 (16 oz) can dark red kidney beans
1 (16 oz) can hot chili beans
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
2 Tablespoons chili powder
1 Tablespoon hot sauce
1 can refried beans (vegetarian)
Directions:
In a large pot, add olive oil and warm over medium heat. Add peppers and garlic. Saute for five minutes or until softened. Add vegetable stock and stir well. Drain tomatoes, black beans, chili beans and kidney beans then add to pot, stirring well to combine. Add cumin, chili powder, and hot sauce. Stir in refried beans to thicken chili. Reduce heat to low and simmer for fifteen minutes before serving.
Enjoy by itself or on a baked potato.
My church, CityChurch of Olive Branch, is starting 2017 with 21 days of prayer and fasting. We are doing the Daniel Fast together this year starting Sunday, January 8th. Here are eight practical tips for thriving during the fast. I am not ignoring the spiritual side, just giving some practical tips.
1. Plan, plan, plan. Know specifically what you can and cannot have. After you have researched, plan out breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for each day for a week at a time. If you're feeling advantageous, plan for the entire three weeks in one sitting.
Here is a sample meal plan for us:
Breakfast: fruit smoothie (frozen berries, 100% apple juice and frozen banana)
Lunch: taco salad with guacamole and apple slices with peanut butter
Dinner: four bean chili with a side of green beans
Snacks: mixed fruit, clementines, mixed nuts
2. Tell yourself that you're not going to give up and quit. Tell yourself that you will complete the 21 days. If you say you're going to "try" then you are giving yourself room to fail. It's tough but it's supposed to be tough. If you slip up and eat a handful of M&Ms, repent, forgive yourself and keep going. Don't give yourself an out to quit.
3. Have readily available snacks when you get hangry. For me, I like easy fruits (bananas, clementines, apples) and mixed nuts. I also keep sugar free applesauce on deck.
4. Realize temptation is going to come and that you can overcome it. Whenever my husband or I have done fasts, it seems like we get invited to lots of parties with all you can eat pizza buffets with a five tiered chocolate cake. Either, don't go to those food filled outings or eat before you go and bring approved snacks along so you're not [as] tempted.
5. Check your labels carefully. While you're mostly eating whole, fresh foods, you will use some prepared foods like canned beans. Now, if you're like me, you would assume there would be no added sugar in a can of pinto beans you're using for a chili but most have at least corn syrup in. There are some jarred salsas without added sugar and pasta sauces without added sugar.
6. Invite friends or family over to have dinner with you. During our first Daniel Fast in 2012, we had another couple over for dinner that was also doing the fast with us. We had mixed fruit as an appetizer and a four bean chili for the main course. They brought the most delicious guacamole with baked corn chips. We had a great time sharing recipes, encouraging each other and praying with and for each other.
7. Know ahead of time that caffeine withdrawals will be tough. Realize the first few days will be very difficult if you're used to drinking soda or coffee on a regular basis. You will have headaches but most of the time, they will die down after day three so drink lots of water.
8. Experiment with new foods so you don't get bored or stale. Sometimes, we just have a baked potato for dinner because of our lack of creativity and because we're just hungry. We love to go to Whole Foods to get inspired with new foods. They also have a buffet with many DF approved foods. It's a nice treat not to prepare a meal.
Remember to drink lots water, eat as much as you want with DF approved foods, and get enough protein. Remind yourself that it's only 21 days and that you're stronger than you think.
Each year, many people tell us they aren't doing the Daniel Fast because they "already eat like that." Chances are, that's probably not true and more of an excuse than anything. If you find yourself pushing back hard, you may need it the most. But if you legitimately have a similar diet as the Daniel Fast then I still encourage you to do another type of food fast.
Click here for some Daniel Fast approved restaurants.
And click here for some Daniel Fast recipes.
And click here for more info on what exactly the Daniel Fast is.
You can do this.
