Introduction: A Different Way to the Diet of Daniel:Healthy Bible Food
I have designed a diet that resembles what Daniel ate during his time in Babylon. The recipes I have given list stuff that is not listed below but can be deleted if you want to. It is based on not the exact same. I am not perfect. I do not know exactly what Daniel really ate. I based my research on a list on the website listed below as well. Here is script from the Bible to let you know what happened and what he exactly ate and drank.
Daniel’s Training in Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
As stated above Daniel only ate vegetables and drank water. The vegetables below are the kinds of vegetables they had during Biblical time. They are from the "Cooking With the Bible" Book website.
VEGETABLES
Artichoke
Arugula
Asparagus
Bean, Fava
Bean, green
Bean, kidney
Bean, lima
Bean, navy or white
Bean Sprouts
Beet
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Chickpea
Cilantro
Cucumber
Dandelion
Eggplant
Endive
Fennel
Garbanzo Bean
Ginger Root
Grape Leaves
Horseradish
Leek
Lentil
Lettuce
Lotus Root
Mulukhiya
Mushroom
Okra
Onion
Pea
Pepper
Pickle
Pimento
Potato
Radicchio
Radish
Red Chili
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Scallion
Shallot
Spinach
Squash
Squash, Butternut
Squash, Zucchini
Tomato
Truffle
Turnip
Watercres
I have given you a complete breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with snacks and deserts of my own. Some recipes do have stuff not listed in the list above. If you want to be just like Daniel you just go for it. You may have to do some research to find what vegetables he really ate.
Daniel’s Training in Babylon
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia[a] and put in the treasure house of his god.
3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.[b] 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.
6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your[c] food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
As stated above Daniel only ate vegetables and drank water. The vegetables below are the kinds of vegetables they had during Biblical time. They are from the "Cooking With the Bible" Book website.
VEGETABLES
Artichoke
Arugula
Asparagus
Bean, Fava
Bean, green
Bean, kidney
Bean, lima
Bean, navy or white
Bean Sprouts
Beet
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Chickpea
Cilantro
Cucumber
Dandelion
Eggplant
Endive
Fennel
Garbanzo Bean
Ginger Root
Grape Leaves
Horseradish
Leek
Lentil
Lettuce
Lotus Root
Mulukhiya
Mushroom
Okra
Onion
Pea
Pepper
Pickle
Pimento
Potato
Radicchio
Radish
Red Chili
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Scallion
Shallot
Spinach
Squash
Squash, Butternut
Squash, Zucchini
Tomato
Truffle
Turnip
Watercres
I have given you a complete breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with snacks and deserts of my own. Some recipes do have stuff not listed in the list above. If you want to be just like Daniel you just go for it. You may have to do some research to find what vegetables he really ate.
Step 1: A Different Way to the Diet of Daniel:Breakfast
I attempted to find something that could be made for breakfast using vegetables but could not find something. I recommend vegetable juice. It can be drank fast and is a good source of vegetables for on the go. If you want something special try the recipe below. The picture shown above is drawn by me.
Vegetable Juice Smoothie
-vegetable juice
-ice(cubed)
Directions
Just add together in blender till smooth constancy. Great for something different. Kind of keeps your mind off that you are drinking vegetables.
Vegetable Juice Smoothie
-vegetable juice
-ice(cubed)
Directions
Just add together in blender till smooth constancy. Great for something different. Kind of keeps your mind off that you are drinking vegetables.
Step 2: A Different Way to the Diet of Daniel:Lunch
I made the perfect recipe for lunch. It is a spinach salad. Salads are perfect for lunch. They are refreshing. The recipe below has many things not in my list. The recipe is shown below...
Spinach Salad with Pears and a Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
-Spinach
-balsamic dressing(your choice)
-pears(your choice)
-fresh ground pepper
Directions
Spinach Salad with Pears and a Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
-Spinach
-balsamic dressing(your choice)
-pears(your choice)
-fresh ground pepper
Directions
Add all of the ingredients together and enjoy.
Step 3: A Different Way to the Diet of Daniel:Dinner
I know everybody is hungry during dinner. Have you ever had a steak that is not meat? Well I got the perfect dish that I made for that. It is a Lettuce steak.
Lettuce Steak
-1 Romaine Heart
-Pepper
-Ranch Dressing
-Parsley(garnish)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Clean the romaine heart and layer in pepper. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Then serve with ranch dressing. Top with parsley as a garnish.
Lettuce Steak
-1 Romaine Heart
-Pepper
-Ranch Dressing
-Parsley(garnish)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Clean the romaine heart and layer in pepper. Cook for 5-10 minutes. Then serve with ranch dressing. Top with parsley as a garnish.
Step 4: A Different Way to the Diet of Daniel:Desert/Snack
I know everybody needs sweets once in awhile, but deserts are usually bad for you. Also they are not a vegetable or are they? What about ginger. I feel ginger is great by itself or candied if you feel like splurging. It is also very good for you. Here is a recipe of my own that you could use. The picture shown above is by me. Another good snack would be a vegetable platter.
Ginger Tea/Snack
-Sliver of ginger(not the whole piece)
-1 cup of water
Boil your water in preference(tea kettle/pot). Pick your favorite mug. Drop the ginger in there and let it sit for a few minutes. Take it out or keep it in till you finish the tea. Then you can eat the ginger afterwards. There you have a snack and drink.
Ginger Tea/Snack
-Sliver of ginger(not the whole piece)
-1 cup of water
Boil your water in preference(tea kettle/pot). Pick your favorite mug. Drop the ginger in there and let it sit for a few minutes. Take it out or keep it in till you finish the tea. Then you can eat the ginger afterwards. There you have a snack and drink.
Step 5: A Different Way to the Diet of Daniel:Ending Statement
If you have any questions just ask. If you have any alternative recipes just post them in the comments below at the bottom of the page. I believe by following the diet God Almighty planned us to eat and drink is a great way to become healthy. Try it ten days and see how it makes you feel. It made Daniel healthy why not you. The picture shown above is by me.