Daniel’s Diet is God’s Endorsement of Veganism

In Daniel 1:1–21, King Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. He took Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as captives to learn the Babylonian language and literature. While they studied, the king gave them a daily ration of wine and food. Out of defilement concerns, Daniel requested that he and his three compatriots be given vegetables and water instead. After ten days, the four pupils who ate this vegetable-only diet were better nourished and looked healthier than those who ate the king’s food! The four students continued this diet for three years. After this time, these four countrymen’s aptitude impressed the king the most, and he consulted them for matters requiring judgment and wisdom because he found them ten times more adept than any enchanter or magician in his kingdom. Later, during the reign of King Cyrus, Daniel abstained from consuming meat, wine, and rich food for three weeks (10:1–3). The Bible praises Daniel’s righteousness (Ezek 14:14) and the four pupils’ health, aptitude, judgment, and wisdom gained while eating only vegetables– which is God’s endorsement of veganism. This support makes sense because the Lord designed humans to eat only plants and called this diet ‘very good’ (Gen 1:26–31). A study on this diet (the Daniel Fast) concluded that it is well-tolerated and improves risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disease. In conclusion, Daniel’s Diet is God’s endorsement of veganism.