Festival · a fasting observance
Ekadashi (twice monthly)
Ekadashi (twice monthly) runs from 2026-09-07 to 2027-12-23, observed mainly in all of India. It's a fasting observance — Ekadashi (grain- and pulse-free day, twice a month). Users who keep Ekadashi lose ~2 training-quality days a month. Rule: schedule Ekadashi as the mobility/walk day of the week; if it lands on a lifting day, swap with the nearest rest day rather than lifting on fruit and milk. Protein floor on the day: 3 servings of dairy (curd/paneer/milk) + peanuts/makhana. No grains or pulses; sabudana, kuttu, singhara, potato, fruit, dairy, nuts are allowed.
One or two light meals; set calories at maintenance minus 10 % and skip the deficit rather than under-eat protein. Break the fast next morning (Dwadashi) with a normal breakfast, not a feast. On protein: Three dairy servings (paneer 100 g, curd 200 g, milk 300 ml) + 40 g peanuts = ~55 g. Vaishnava/ISKCON followers also skip certain vegetables and some skip dairy on Nirjala Ekadashi: treat those days as rest days at maintenance calories.
A one-day protocol-compliant menu built from the allowed list lands at about 1039 kcal and 61.5 g protein, clearing the 60 g protein floor.
Festival facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Dates | 2026-09-07 to 2027-12-23 |
| Type | a fasting observance |
| Regions | all of India |
| Protocol | Ekadashi (grain- and pulse-free day, twice a month) |
A one-day menu that fits the protocol
| Food | Servings | kcal | Protein g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaas / buttermilk (salted, thin) | 1 | 47 | 3.4 |
| Masala chaas (spiced buttermilk) | 1 | 47 | 3.4 |
| Curd / dahi (toned milk) | 1 | 98 | 6.9 |
| Paneer (plain, raw) | 1 | 323 | 20 |
| Paneer bhurji | 1 | 385 | 20.6 |
| Toned milk (3% fat) | 1 | 139 | 7.2 |
| Total | 1039 | 61.5 |
All allowed foods
- Sabudana khichdi (peanut, ghee) · 346 kcal
- Kuttu paratha / roti (ghee) · 164 kcal
- Singhara atta paratha · 168 kcal
- Samak (barnyard millet) rice, cooked · 154 kcal
- Samak khichdi (vrat, with peanuts) · 236 kcal
- Vrat wale aloo (jeera aloo in ghee, sendha namak) · 135 kcal
- Potato, boiled · 81 kcal
- Sweet potato, boiled · 159 kcal
- Kaddu (pumpkin) sabzi · 70 kcal
- Fruit chaat (mixed fruit, chaat masala) · 113 kcal
- Fruit + curd bowl (vrat) · 236 kcal
- Banana · 102 kcal
- Apple · 89 kcal
- Papaya · 33 kcal
- Guava · 53 kcal
- Orange / santra · 46 kcal
- Pomegranate arils · 53 kcal
- Makhana (fox nut), roasted in 1 tsp ghee · 131 kcal
- Peanuts, roasted (unsalted) · 156 kcal
- Almonds · 73 kcal
- Tender coconut water · 40 kcal
- Paneer bhurji · 385 kcal
- Paneer (plain, raw) · 323 kcal
- Paneer + makhana stir-fry (vrat) · 299 kcal
- Curd / dahi (toned milk) · 98 kcal
- Chaas / buttermilk (salted, thin) · 47 kcal
- Masala chaas (spiced buttermilk) · 47 kcal
- Toned milk (3% fat) · 139 kcal
- Makhana kheer · 165 kcal
Questions people ask
- What can I eat during Ekadashi (twice monthly)?
- Ekadashi (grain- and pulse-free day, twice a month).
- How do I hit enough protein during Ekadashi (twice monthly)?
- Three dairy servings (paneer 100 g, curd 200 g, milk 300 ml) + 40 g peanuts = ~55 g. Vaishnava/ISKCON followers also skip certain vegetables and some skip dairy on Nirjala Ekadashi: treat those days as rest days at maintenance calories.
- Should I train during Ekadashi (twice monthly)?
- Users who keep Ekadashi lose ~2 training-quality days a month. Rule: schedule Ekadashi as the mobility/walk day of the week; if it lands on a lifting day, swap with the nearest rest day rather than lifting on fruit and milk. Protein floor on the day: 3 servings of dairy (curd/paneer/milk) + peanuts/makhana. No grains or pulses; sabudana, kuttu, singhara, potato, fruit, dairy, nuts are allowed.