Well, I had to go back to the grocery store on Day 5 of our Fast this week. First of all, I thought our organic peanut butter was sugar free but upon closer inspection discovered that it contained molasses. So, I need natural peanut butter, which is delicious! I also added a few more fresh items to cook for the weekend.
Here is the list:
Mushrooms (large) 3.00
Red bell peppers (2) 2.50
Asparagus (1 bundle) 3.79
Yellow squash (3) 1.96
Red grapes 4.06
Fresh chopped peaches (2) 2.70
Natural peanut butter 3.79
Mixed nuts 3.49
Total: 25.29 pre-tax
Friday, January 6, 2012
Daniel Fast - Caffeine
Well, the lack of caffeine was really getting to me. So, I decided to really pray about this. At this time, I still have a baby who does NOT sleep though the night. I have very broken sleep. I depend on caffeine, from coffee, to get me though the day and night. I usually require two cups in the morning and another cup in the early evening. I add milk and sugar to my coffee which are also banned while on the Fast.
So....after an agonizing Day 2, when I got only 4 hours of sleep the night before (2 hours here and later another 2 hours there), I decided that at sundown on that day I would add caffeine back to my diet. I have however limited myself to black coffee only, which is more like drinking cold medicine to me.
While agonizing over this decision, God reminded me that when needed (during pregnancy, after my stomach surgery) I have given up coffee for long periods of time. I realized that coffee without my usual additives is not enjoyable at all and just something my body needs right now.
So....after an agonizing Day 2, when I got only 4 hours of sleep the night before (2 hours here and later another 2 hours there), I decided that at sundown on that day I would add caffeine back to my diet. I have however limited myself to black coffee only, which is more like drinking cold medicine to me.
While agonizing over this decision, God reminded me that when needed (during pregnancy, after my stomach surgery) I have given up coffee for long periods of time. I realized that coffee without my usual additives is not enjoyable at all and just something my body needs right now.
Daniel Fast - Menu week 1
Ok, so I make my menus a little differently than most people. I first look at how many meals I will need for the week (7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 suppers, 14 snacks). I then plan each category (suppers). Lunches are sometime leftovers and I try to factor that into my planning. I usually leave the idea of "what's for supper" until that day...in other words I don't assign a specific meal to a specific day unless necessary. I then make my grocery list based on what I need for my menu minus what I already have.
Here is my menu for week 1:
Breakfast
Oatmeal with soy milk (Cinnamon and honey optional)
Banana
Other meals (this includes lunches and suppers for the week)*
Salad with romaine, spinach, baby greens, mushrooms, banana peppers, sesame seeds, bell pepper, and olive oil and vinegar dressing, with a whole wheat tortilla (this is Scott's salad)
Salad with romaine, spinach, baby greens, mushrooms, olives, bell pepper, Roma tomatoes, and olive oil and vinegar dressing (this is my salad)
Stir fry with mushrooms, bell pepper and onions sauteed in olive oil and served over brown rice
Cream Potatoes made with soy milk, corn, and cornmeal cakes
Whole wheat pasta with homemade tomato sauce and corn on the cob
Roasted veggies (bell pepper, carrots, onion, mushrooms, squash, olive oil)
Green beans and sauteed squash and zucchini
Sauteed potatoes and onions in olive oil, blackeyed peas, and sauteed mushrooms
Veggie soup with crushed tomatoes, peas (purple hull and green), green beans, potatoes, onions, corn, & okra
Stuffed bell peppers with brown rice cooked in tomato juice, corn, sauteed onion and garlic, & black beans
Roasted red potatoes with Italian herbs, corn on the cob, roasted asparagus
Snacks:
Banana
Apple with natural peanut butter
Nuts salted
Watermelon
Peaches
Pineapple
Grapes
Raisins
Popcorn (stove popped in olive oil)
Drinks:
Water
Lemon-Lime water (pitcher of water with fresh lemon and lime)
*Note: some of these meals will be used twice or even three times. Example: Salad
Here is my menu for week 1:
Breakfast
Oatmeal with soy milk (Cinnamon and honey optional)
Banana
Other meals (this includes lunches and suppers for the week)*
Salad with romaine, spinach, baby greens, mushrooms, banana peppers, sesame seeds, bell pepper, and olive oil and vinegar dressing, with a whole wheat tortilla (this is Scott's salad)
Salad with romaine, spinach, baby greens, mushrooms, olives, bell pepper, Roma tomatoes, and olive oil and vinegar dressing (this is my salad)
Stir fry with mushrooms, bell pepper and onions sauteed in olive oil and served over brown rice
Cream Potatoes made with soy milk, corn, and cornmeal cakes
Whole wheat pasta with homemade tomato sauce and corn on the cob
Roasted veggies (bell pepper, carrots, onion, mushrooms, squash, olive oil)
Green beans and sauteed squash and zucchini
Sauteed potatoes and onions in olive oil, blackeyed peas, and sauteed mushrooms
Veggie soup with crushed tomatoes, peas (purple hull and green), green beans, potatoes, onions, corn, & okra
Stuffed bell peppers with brown rice cooked in tomato juice, corn, sauteed onion and garlic, & black beans
Roasted red potatoes with Italian herbs, corn on the cob, roasted asparagus
Snacks:
Banana
Apple with natural peanut butter
Nuts salted
Watermelon
Peaches
Pineapple
Grapes
Raisins
Popcorn (stove popped in olive oil)
Drinks:
Water
Lemon-Lime water (pitcher of water with fresh lemon and lime)
*Note: some of these meals will be used twice or even three times. Example: Salad
Daniel Fast - Grocery List week 1
We already had a few items that we could eat during the Fast. I pulled everything out onto the counter and took inventory of what we had. Then I cleared an area in our pantry to put just the stuff that was on the Fast and grouped everything together.
Here is what I purchased for week 1:
Bananas (10) 1.72
Watermelon prechopped 3.46
Limes (4) 1.00
Lemons (6) 2.34
Granny smith apples bag 4.99
Red apples bag 6.49
Red grapes 3.33
Green grapes 2.93
Fresh precut peaches (2) 2.70
Raisins (large bag) 3.99
Pineapple (canned) 1.55
Mixed spinach and baby greens 1.00
Bagged Leafy Romaine 8.67
Roma tomatoes (3) .90
Mushrooms (2 large containers) 6.00
Fresh green beans bag 2.99
Green bell peppers (8) 5.52
Yellow squash (3) 1.22
Zucchini (3) 1.40
Baby carrots (bag) 1.77
Russet potatoes (10 lb bag) 3.99
Red potatoes (5 lb bag) 2.99
Yellow onion (3 lb bag) 2.99
Cashews 3.49
Mixed nuts (2) 6.98
Olives (2 cans) 2.98
Vegetable stock (box) 2.99
V8 Tomato juice (6-5.5 ounce cans) 3.99
Sunflower seeds (no hull) 2.15
Popcorn (seeds only) 1.55
Blackeyed Peas (2 cans) 1.60
Frozen green peas 1.00
Cornmeal 1.69
Oil & Vinegar dressing 3.29
Soy Milk (unsweetened) 2.99
Olive Oil 8.79
Whole wheat spaghetti 2.39
Whole wheat tortillas 2.59
Canned Crushed tomatoes (2) 2.00
Canned Petite Diced tomatoes (2) 2.00
Total 123.45 pre tax
Here is what I purchased for week 1:
Bananas (10) 1.72
Watermelon prechopped 3.46
Limes (4) 1.00
Lemons (6) 2.34
Granny smith apples bag 4.99
Red apples bag 6.49
Red grapes 3.33
Green grapes 2.93
Fresh precut peaches (2) 2.70
Raisins (large bag) 3.99
Pineapple (canned) 1.55
Mixed spinach and baby greens 1.00
Bagged Leafy Romaine 8.67
Roma tomatoes (3) .90
Mushrooms (2 large containers) 6.00
Fresh green beans bag 2.99
Green bell peppers (8) 5.52
Yellow squash (3) 1.22
Zucchini (3) 1.40
Baby carrots (bag) 1.77
Russet potatoes (10 lb bag) 3.99
Red potatoes (5 lb bag) 2.99
Yellow onion (3 lb bag) 2.99
Cashews 3.49
Mixed nuts (2) 6.98
Olives (2 cans) 2.98
Vegetable stock (box) 2.99
V8 Tomato juice (6-5.5 ounce cans) 3.99
Sunflower seeds (no hull) 2.15
Popcorn (seeds only) 1.55
Blackeyed Peas (2 cans) 1.60
Frozen green peas 1.00
Cornmeal 1.69
Oil & Vinegar dressing 3.29
Soy Milk (unsweetened) 2.99
Olive Oil 8.79
Whole wheat spaghetti 2.39
Whole wheat tortillas 2.59
Canned Crushed tomatoes (2) 2.00
Canned Petite Diced tomatoes (2) 2.00
Total 123.45 pre tax
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Daniel Fast - Food
We did not do the suggested 24 hour liquid diet on day 1 of the Fast program. We have decided to follow the program for everything else.
What we will eat:
All fruits (fresh, dried, frozen, juiced, or canned without sugar)
All vegetables (fresh, dried, frozen, juiced, or canned)
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Whole (Old-Fashioned) Oatmeal
Grits
Beans and Peas - Pinto, Lentils, Black Eyed, Purple Hull, Green Beans, Green Peas
Olives
Sunflower Seeds
Soy Milk or Almond Milk (unsweetened)
Nuts
Herbs and Spices
Olive, Coconut, Veggie, or Peanut oil
Natural (unsweetened) peanut butter
Honey
Popcorn (old-fashioned made on the stove)
Foods to Avoid:
All Meats
All Fish
White Rice
White Pasta
White Flour
Sugar
Sugar substitutes
All breads
All dairy
All carbonated beverages
All fried foods
All margarine, shortening, added fat products
Foods containing preservatives and additives
What to Drink
Water
Decaffeinated green tea
Unsweetened fruit juices
Unsweetened Soy milk or Almond milk
Things to watch for:
Things with added sugar(molasses, corn syrup, etc)
Things with a high salt content (canned veggies)
Things with caffeine (decaf coffee still has caffeine)
Things that say whole grain but have added sugar
What we will eat:
All fruits (fresh, dried, frozen, juiced, or canned without sugar)
All vegetables (fresh, dried, frozen, juiced, or canned)
Brown Rice
Whole Wheat Pasta
Whole Wheat Tortillas
Whole (Old-Fashioned) Oatmeal
Grits
Beans and Peas - Pinto, Lentils, Black Eyed, Purple Hull, Green Beans, Green Peas
Olives
Sunflower Seeds
Soy Milk or Almond Milk (unsweetened)
Nuts
Herbs and Spices
Olive, Coconut, Veggie, or Peanut oil
Natural (unsweetened) peanut butter
Honey
Popcorn (old-fashioned made on the stove)
Foods to Avoid:
All Meats
All Fish
White Rice
White Pasta
White Flour
Sugar
Sugar substitutes
All breads
All dairy
All carbonated beverages
All fried foods
All margarine, shortening, added fat products
Foods containing preservatives and additives
What to Drink
Water
Decaffeinated green tea
Unsweetened fruit juices
Unsweetened Soy milk or Almond milk
Things to watch for:
Things with added sugar(molasses, corn syrup, etc)
Things with a high salt content (canned veggies)
Things with caffeine (decaf coffee still has caffeine)
Things that say whole grain but have added sugar
The Daniel Fast - Our Plan
We've decided to do a few additional things with this fast other than deny ourselves certain foods. We've decided to have specific things that we are praying for each day during the fast as well as reading through the book of John. John has 21 chapters, so that's a chapter a day.
Here is our prayer list for the fast:
Our church
Day 1 - The vision of our church
Day 2 - The mission of our church
Day 3 - The ministries of our church
Day 4 - The finances of our church
Day 5 - Our small group
Day 6 - The Philipine Mission trip
Day 7 - The worship program of our church
Our family
Day 8- Our marriage
Day 9- Our child Lyra Kate
Day 10 - Our child Lila Grace
Day 11 - Our child Tucker
Day 12 - Our parenting choices
Day 13 - Family Finances
Day 14 - The makeup of our family
Day 15 - Our health
Day 16 - Our personal discipline in certain areas
Day 17 - Our extended families
Day 18 - Our close friends
Day 19 - Our personal challenges
Day 20 - Our passion for our church
Day 21 - Our passion for the lost
Some of these are very general and are meant to be. For example, since we both struggle to discipline ourselves in different areas, then on Day 16 we will be praying specifically for different things. Also, this list is an addition to our normal daily prayer life. There are specific times each day when we will focus our prayer on these things.
Here is our prayer list for the fast:
Our church
Day 1 - The vision of our church
Day 2 - The mission of our church
Day 3 - The ministries of our church
Day 4 - The finances of our church
Day 5 - Our small group
Day 6 - The Philipine Mission trip
Day 7 - The worship program of our church
Our family
Day 8- Our marriage
Day 9- Our child Lyra Kate
Day 10 - Our child Lila Grace
Day 11 - Our child Tucker
Day 12 - Our parenting choices
Day 13 - Family Finances
Day 14 - The makeup of our family
Day 15 - Our health
Day 16 - Our personal discipline in certain areas
Day 17 - Our extended families
Day 18 - Our close friends
Day 19 - Our personal challenges
Day 20 - Our passion for our church
Day 21 - Our passion for the lost
Some of these are very general and are meant to be. For example, since we both struggle to discipline ourselves in different areas, then on Day 16 we will be praying specifically for different things. Also, this list is an addition to our normal daily prayer life. There are specific times each day when we will focus our prayer on these things.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Daniel Fast - What and Why
We have been challenged by our pastor to participate in the Daniel Fast for the first 21 days of 2012. Being that Scott is on staff, we thought it might be a good idea if we participated!
Anyway, the Daniel Fast is based on the diet that Daniel followed in the Bible. He ate only fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and drank water. No meat, dairy, sugar, preservatives, caffeine. To say this is challenging is an understatement! We've done a lot of research on this and came up with a meal plan and strategy for these three weeks. I hope to be able to share our meals, our experience, and our failures/successes here over the next 3 weeks.
Anyway, the Daniel Fast is based on the diet that Daniel followed in the Bible. He ate only fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and drank water. No meat, dairy, sugar, preservatives, caffeine. To say this is challenging is an understatement! We've done a lot of research on this and came up with a meal plan and strategy for these three weeks. I hope to be able to share our meals, our experience, and our failures/successes here over the next 3 weeks.
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