What to eat after fasting for 16 hours?
Rachel Ellis
Published Jan 08, 2026
Foods like smoothies, soups, broths, and cooked vegetables and fruit are more easily digestible. After breaking your fast with these types of foods, it's OK to then move into other types of foods that might be a little bit tougher to digest, such as complex carbohydrates and protein sources and raw vegetables.
How do you break a 16 hour fast?
Van Buskirk's rules of thumb
- Break a fast with a liquid meal or a very bland and soft food like overnight oats.
- If you're breaking your fast post-run, make sure you have protein in your meal.
- Avoid processed foods.
- Take a probiotic with or before your meal.
- Consume your meal slowly and resist the urge to eat quickly.
What is the first thing to eat after fasting?
Some of the best foods to consume while breaking a fast include diluted apple cider vinegar, bone broth, spinach, kale, eggs, fish, nuts, chia seeds, dried fruits, cooked broccoli, cooked cauliflower, watermelon, bananas, and fermented foods like unsweetened yogurt.
Is a 16 hour fast enough?
According to some researchers, fasting for 10–16 hours can cause the body to turn its fat stores into energy, which releases ketones into the bloodstream. This should encourage weight loss. This type of intermittent fasting plan may be a good option for beginners.
Can I eat anything after intermittent fasting?
Eating anything with calories breaks your fast. Exceptions to this rule would be black coffee, unsweetened and milk-free tea, water, and diet soda (though research says diet soda could actually increase your appetite, which might make it hard to stick to your fast.)
42 related questions foundWhat not to eat after fasting?
Breaking your fast with foods that are especially high in fat, sugar, or even fiber can be difficult for your body to digest, leading to bloating and discomfort. Foods and drinks that can be even more shocking to your system after a fast include those like a greasy cheeseburger, slice of cake, or soda.
Can I eat banana during intermittent fasting?
Filling up on nutrient-rich foods helps round out your diet and supports a healthy weight. Try balancing each meal with a wide variety of whole foods, such as: Fruits: apples, bananas, berries, oranges, peaches, pears, tomatoes, etc. Veggies: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, leafy greens, etc.
Does sleeping count as fasting?
And yes, sleeping counts as fasting! If you are looking for significant weight loss, you might consider working up to 18-20 hours of daily fasting (OMAD or one-meal-a-day), alternate day fasting (fasting every other day, with up to 500 calories on fasting days) or a 5:2 schedule (fasting for two days per week).
What happens to your body when you fast for 16 hours?
During the 16-hour fast, your body undergoes a process known as autophagy, a process where the body destroys old or damaged cells in the body. Autophagy recycles the cells that help in the reduction of inflammation in the body and reduces diseases.
Does intermittent fasting help with belly fat?
Intermittent fasting is a convenient way to lose weight without counting calories. Many studies show that it can help you lose weight and belly fat.
Can I eat oatmeal After fasting?
The beauty of oats is that they're a great source of fibre and a small amount of protein. Like veggies, cooked oats may be easier to digest, if you have a sensitive stomach, after a fast. Steer clear of instant or quick oats, they contain a lot less fibre due to their processing.
Can I eat eggs after fasting?
Eggs are a great way to get lots of proteins with a small amount of food. It's great when breaking a fast because: The protein can help prevent muscle loss.
Can I eat bread after intermittent fasting?
Though a healthy diet minimizes processed foods, there can be a time and place for items like whole-grain bread, bagels, and crackers, as these foods are more quickly digested for fast and easy fuel.
What foods can I eat during intermittent fasting?
With time-restricted intermittent eating, you don't eat any food while fasting and only consume drinks with very few calories, such as water or black, unsweetened coffee and tea. During the periods when you do eat, try to follow a healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.
Can you have a cheat day on intermittent fasting?
You can enjoy a cheat day with intermittent fasting. Some fasting schedules, such as alternate day fasting, are considered alternating between cheat days and fasting days. Eat whatever you want (and a lot of it) when you're eating, and then follow your “cheat day” with a day off.
Is yogurt good to break a fast?
You'll probably want to avoid high-lactose dairy immediately following a fast. This includes milk, yogurt, and ice cream. Lactose is already difficult for a lot of people to digest, especially with aging, and may be more troublesome following a longer fast.
How soon will I see results from intermittent fasting?
How Long Does Intermittent Fasting Take To Show Results? You might begin to first notice a difference in your body about 10 days after you begin intermittent fasting. It could take between 2-10 weeks for you to lose significant weight. You might lose up to a pound each week.
Should you intermittent fast every day?
There is a gentler form and THIS is what I'm talking about as a registered dietitian when I chat with my patients about fasting. You should intermittent fast every day. While you're sleeping.
Does coffee break a fast?
Black coffee does not break intermittent fasting, as long as there are no additives. Studies have found that low-calorie or zero-calorie coffee beverages do not affect IF's health benefits. However, other types of coffee may have a detrimental effect on your fast.
How long do you need to fast to get benefits?
For many people, somewhere between 14 and 18 hours of fasting per day is the ideal range, providing more significant weight loss benefits than a 12-hour fast, while still being attainable, says functional practitioner B.J. Hardick, D.C.
What should be the gap between dinner and breakfast?
The ideal time gap between dinner and breakfast
Our digestive system takes 3 to 4 hours to digest the food completely. So, the ideal gap between your breakfast-lunch and lunch-dinner should not be more than 4 hours. Exceeding the time limit may cause acidity in the stomach.
What is the minimum time to fast?
The minimum amount of time it takes to make fasting efficacious hasn't been proven via study, but the prevailing notion is it's somewhere between 12 and 18 hours. But it can take a few days — sometimes weeks — of fasting regularly for your body to start burning fat for fuel.
Which fruit is good for fasting?
Fruits. The first foods that you consume upon breaking a fast are critical to nourish the body, and should not expend much energy to digest. Fruit juices and fruits contain water content and are easily digested. Try watermelons, grapes and apples!
Can I eat an apple while fasting?
Another plus: fruits and vegetables are low in calories. The government's 2015-20 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that for a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, most people should eat about 2 cups of fruit on a daily basis. Here are 10 healthy fruits to consume during intermittent fasting: — Apples.
Can you eat rice while intermittent fasting?
You can eat white rice on intermittent fasting because it has high satiety, so you will feel less hungry. It also improves digestion thanks to and is a good energy source. Apart from that, white rice is gluten-free, which is a great alternative for people that cannot eat gluten.