Fasting for religious reasons, what should I eat the day before and after?

Hi all, I'm Jewish and this wednesday at Sundown begins Yom Kippur - the day of atonement. Traditionally jews fast from sundown to sundown and I will be participating in this. My last meal is wednesday night from 5-6 and I'll eat again on thursday at 6. I was just wondering what is best to eat all day tomorrow. If I should up my calories a lot or load up on anything (carbs, protein, etc) to help my body and help me feel better. I'm allowed to drink water and believe me I'll be drinking all day. Also, what should I eat the day after? I'll be having a breakfast with my family so I'll be eating traditional Jewish foods (I'll probably stick mostly to smoked salmon since I don't eat meat besides fish) and I'm going to allow myself whatever I want. However, the next day I bet my body will be thrown off, what should I do?

Thanks for the advice!

ahh, lol, me too, my strategy-eat as much as i can, before and after.

wait, what? i cant eat or drink, anything, and i think its til after 6, like 1-2 hrs after sunset i thought or so

I don't think you should eat heaps the day before.. I think many small meals would work. Maybe smaller and more frequent than normal. If you eat heaps your stomach will just expand and it will be worse when you fast! I'm not sure about the carb/protein/fat thing though.

I was raised mormon and once a month we fasted for 24 hours, it was the same thing no food and you could only drink water.

 The day before I would just eat normal, maybe have a little bit more for dinner than usual. :-) But the next day when I could eat I would only allow myself to eat a little bit. If you eat to much after not eating you can make your self sick, which I did plenty of times. Trust me it's not fun! You could probably eat anything that you want just eat it in moderation, and don't eat to fast.

I hope that helped.

well Im not jewish, and Ive never ever fasted before...but I have read around of safe ways to go into a fast so that your body doesnt go into stress on your no-food day.

Most people preparing for a fast rely mostly on natural foods, such as...vegetables, fruits and some whole grains like flaxseed and oatmeal. Veggies that have lots of water content seem good for this, specialy for those who fast without drinking water, supplying the body with sufficient nutrition to hold for that day. Fruits too are a great source...its like mostly cleansing your body, supposely. I dont believe in cleanses, because the body has a very well built organism that detoxifies you everyday...but since yours is for religious reasons, why not approach it the same way? Get your regular meals and make sure you're eating at your target the day before, but eat plenty of veggies and fruits, and whole grains as well, and water of course....then the day after that, eat what feels comfortable to eat..dont go and eat a whole lot of heavy foods on your stomach cos like elisa said its gonna make you sick...I would stick to wholesome foods, like the day before the fast, and slowly incorporate the rest of your meals slowly.

I think that might be right :) so good luck!

-xo

I once did a fast for 30hrs to raise money and afterwards we had a big party, all my friends and everyone i was there with ate a whole bunch of pizza and stuff like that and then all threw up, I stuck with rice and felt great, I only had a small bowl around luch time and then just ate normally at dinner. 

I don't have any suggestions for before though.  Maybe speak with someone you know who has lots of experience with doing these fasts.

it is best to transition into a fast, have a normal breakfast the day before, and lighten the meals, if you are really afraid of being hungry, maybe 2 days before, your lightest meals shoul be before the fast, so your stomach is smallest then. Then you FAST.

When it is time to break the fast, start with clear soup/watery fruits if you can, and maybe 30 minutes later have another something, then when you are comfortable eat more.

DONT BREAK A FAST WITH NUTS. The first time I had a fast, I broke it with like roasted cashews or something, and I had the MOST SHOCKING stomach ache.

It is REALLY good to clear your mind, and make you spiritually blah blah blah, but it is also good to reset your body, so if you find you had been over eating, a fast, makes your stomach back to its intended size, and you will want less for as long as you don't have like a huge belly stretching meal!

Khag Sameahk!!!