This January at Liquid Church, we're kicking off the New Year with 21-Days of Prayer & Fasting! Over the last few years, we’ve started the year by fasting... and we’ve witnessed breakthroughs all across our church - from marriages healed, to babies born and chains of addiction broken! For many of you, the Daniel Fast may be the meaningful sacrifice you chose for this season. The Daniel Fast consists of no meats, sweets, bread, alcohol, or soda...and instead eating fruits, vegetables and drinking water!

To help you stay nourished on the Daniel Fast, Stephanie Kile, a Registered Dietician and attendee at our Liquid Church Middlesex County Campus, has compiled a variety of recipes for you below. Each of these recipes follows the guidelines for the Daniel Fast while also fueling your body with the important nutrients it needs. Enjoy and happy cooking!

OVERNIGHT OATS

Mix together 1/2 a cup unsweetened nut milk, 3/4 tablespoon chia seeds, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1/2 cup oats, and let sit for at least 6 hours or overnight. Add in any flavorings of choice or spices such as cinnamon and vanilla extract. When ready to eat, give it a stir, then top any combination you wish: chopped apple and walnuts, peanut butter and bananas, strawberries and almonds, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds.

SMOOTHIES

Below, I've listed a variety of ingredients to include in nutrient-packed smoothies. Try one or a variety for a tasty breakfast or snack!

• Spinach, strawberry, banana with hemp seeds (for a protein boost), use water or nut milk to blend.
• Mango, pineapple, and coconut milk with plain, unsweetened vegan protein powder.
• Avocado, banana, kale, plain unsweetened vegan protein powder, nut milk.
• Blueberry, strawberry, spinach, hempseed, nut milk.

BAKED OATS

Mix 2 cups of oats, 2 tablespoons flaxmeal, 2 cups of nut milk, and 1/4 cup of maple syrup. Add flavorings of choice such as pumpkin, blueberries, strawberries, apples, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla, banana, or walnuts.

Bake at 350 degrees in a greased 8x8 pan for 30 to 35 minutes. Top with any toppings you wish like peanut butter, a splash of nut milk of choice, or some homemade berry chia jam, and enjoy.

QUINOA & BROWN RICE BOWLS

Cooked quinoa or brown rice, top with roasted veggie of choice (broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, peppers, sweet potatoes, onions, etc.), and beans of choice (black beans, roasted chickpeas, lentils). Add a drizzle of tahini sauce or top with hummus.

MEATLESS CHILI

Three bean chili with peppers, onions, add some pumpkin to thicken and give it a boost of fiber and vitamin A. Add chili seasonings. Top with roasted pumpkin seeds, nutritional yeast, and even a dollop of hummus to mimic sour cream.

HUMMUS

This is going to be the best thing to have on hand. All you need is chickpeas but any bean can be turned into hummus, tahini (like peanut butter but made with sesame seeds), typical seasonings are salt, pepper, lemon juice, cumin, and olive oil, and keep the liquid from the beans to help make it super creamy. Blend everything in a food processor drizzle in the bean liquid small amounts at a time until it is creamy enough for you, you won’t need it all. Add some roasted red peppers to make red pepper hummus, roasted beets will give it a great red color, or jalapeno for a nice spice.

HOMEMADE CRACKERS

Use all the seeds you have on hand like flax, sunflower, pumpkin, hemp, and chia. Add water so the flax and chia gel up making a dough, add oil and seasoning of choice. Flatten it out on parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, flip the whole thing over, bake another 10 minutes but keep a close eye on it because seeds burn fast. Then, cut into squares once it's done. Eat with hummus, along with soups, or as a snack with fruit.

FALAFEL

Blend chickpeas with flaxmeal, seasonings of choice, and blend until it forms like a dough. Place scoops on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy with salads, as a snack with veggies, dipped in hummus or tahini sauce.

I hope all of these tips and suggestions are going to help you have a successful Daniel Fast. May you be prepared and well fed, so that you can focus your time and energy on finding God and not worrying about what you are going to eat. These new habits you learn during these 21 days are also great options to keep you fueled throughout the year to better your health and eating habits! God bless and enjoy this special, set-apart time of seeking God!

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

We want to help you experience a sense of renewal in your life as we kick-off the new year. At the end of the 21-Days of Prayer & Fasting, we believe we will hear amazing stories of the many ways that God has worked in us and through us in this season of faithfulness to Him! For additional resources, check out the links below:

• ARTICLE: How To Fuel Yourself When Fasting - Stephanie Kile shares meal prep ideas, grocery lists, and inspiration to keep you nourished throughout the 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting. Click here to read the article.
• DEVOTIONAL: For a 21-day devotional to help guide your prayers during the fast, click here.
• MODIFIED FAST: Not going for a strict Daniel Fast this January? There are options to help you modify your fast and chose a meaningful sacrifice that makes sense for you. Click here to learn more.