<P> The Daniel Fast is a spiritually motivated diet based on the Biblical Book of Daniel, and commonly refers to a 10 - or 21 - day abstinence from foods declared unclean by God in the Laws of Moses . The passage in Chapter 10: 2 - 3 may refer to a classical three week fast during a period of mourning; therefore, the modern Daniel Fast is most often followed for 21 days . </P> <P> According to those who encourage this form of fasting, the aim is to refrain from eating what are described in Daniel as "royal foods" including meats, leavened and sweet bread, and wine . Instead, the diet consists only of "pulses" and water . "Pulses" in this context is often taken as "food grown from seed", including fruit, vegetables or lentils . "Vegetables" is used instead of "pulses" in some translations . However, it is not explicitly stated that the refraining from these foods by Daniel was a fast . </P>

Why do they call it the daniel fast