Hello, howdy, hey there neighbor!
This Spring finds me in such a place, what a little seed I have been riotous beneath the ground and just waiting to warm up enough to burst through!
Yesterday was Day Zero of a 30-day Daniel Fast for me and two of my very closest friends, today is Day One. This will be the first inter-faith fasting I’ve participated in. Both of my friends have a firm belief in God as a Higher Power, whereas I believe in God as a system of Love energy within which we all operate and thrive. #COEXIST
This fasting period is an exercise in synchronization. There is a rumbling afoot, tasks and plans are reaching the proverbial tipping point. Mind/body/spirit tuned in together; fasting for me is a reset of the systems. Digestive, immune, nervous – detoxify and cleanse. Clear. Act.
I will share this journey, if you will have me.
“Journey more to know your power.” Cougar
Pre-fasting activities were a little different this time around, as I have two friends joining me whose fasting objectives include a dietary overhaul. I was trying to find a fasting ‘program’ with a gradual learning curve as opposed to water/juice fasts.
I decided on the Daniel Fast. Termed for Daniel of the Christian Bible, who fasted from rich foods under King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule.
I hold no religious persuasion, in other terms this is a pratical fast using vegan health/dietary guidelines as we know them today. Whole, unprocessed food. Fresh water. Fruits. Vegetables.
Day Zero Menu
Breakfast
The King’s Oats:
Unsweetened Almond Milk, Sesame Seeds, Cooked Brown Rice, Oats, Unsweetened Apple Juice, Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg – Combine ingredients and cook in a saucepan on medium heat until thick and bubbling (Topping: Cubed Green Apples, Sliced Bananas)
Lunch/Snack
Lemon Water (Served Hot or Cold)
Crunchy Kale Chips (you can change the seasoning mix to taste)
Dinner
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms (marinated in apple cider vinegar, sage, olive oil, rosemary, thyme, garlic and onion powder, paprika, salt & pepper)
Eggplant Bolognese over Whole Grain Rotini
Assorted Fresh Fruit (Pineapple, Cantaloupe, Frozen Grapes and Kiwi)
Little one loves grapes best after they’ve been in the freezer for an hour or so – mini fruit pops.
And lastly, a batch of my Fresh ‘n Spicy Pineapple Salsa. I added a Chipotle and Ancho Chile this time; one pepper too many for the kids but it’s perfect for the grown ups. You can opt out of a pepper or two if you need to tone the heat down.
In other news, I feel great! Eliminating sugar and drinking nothing but water has punched up my energy levels considerably.
Day Zero Mantra:
“How you do one thing, is how you do everything.”
~Bikram Yoga Instructor
