How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow, for a calorie total of less than 600. On another day this week, eat the meals from a different post, another day of eating 600 calories or less. Eat sensibly the other days of the week. That’s it: a simple way to lose weight and be healthier. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

“After Easter come sunny days that will melt all the snow.” So says an Austrian walking song that I used to yodel to my students. After Easter also come left-overs and regrets for having eaten so much. Today we have a breakfast to use some of the left-overs and a dinner that is simple comfort food. And the calories are low, so the course of the Fast lifestyle will be re-corrected.  As for melting the snow….. we’ll see. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the day following Easter is called “Bright Monday”, a continuation of Easter celebrations, blended with ancient cultural traditions. I hope you will have a bright monday and a good week.

After Easter Breakfast   296 calories…  9 g. fat…    16 g. protein…     18.6 g carbs… PB  It occurred to me that hard boiled eggs and ham [from Easter meals] have the makings of a quick breakfast. Throw in some mini-popovers, and it kicks it up to yummy.

++ 1 hardboiled 2-oz egg  ++++ 3/4 oz roasted ham   ++++ 1/4 cup Yorkshire pudding batter ++++  one pinch Herbes de Province or thyme/basil  ++++ 1/4 cup mixed berries  — I used blueberries and cut-up strawberries from the freezer    ++++ 1 mint leaf, optional  ++++ optional: 5-6 oz  fruit smoothie  ++++ optional: blackish coffee or tea ++

Heat the toaster oven to 400º.  Whisk the thawed pudding batter with the herbs. Spray 2 holes of a mini-muffin pan with oil. Pour the batter into the pan and bake when oven is hot. Bake for around 12 minutes. Meanwhile, warm the ham in a non-stick skillet. Chop the mint leaves and mix with the berries.  Prepare the smoothie, brew the beverage. Use the nice china and enjoy your Easter repeat.

Tuna Melt:    274 calories…  11 g. fat… 24.7 g. protein…       22 g. carbs…   PB   Nothing like a little comfort food after a busy weekend.

++1 slice 70-cal. bread ++++ 1/2 of a 5-0z can of white-meat tuna, drained ++++ 1 Tbsp onion, finely chopped ++++ 1 Tbsp celery, finely chopped  ++++ 1 pinch celery seed, salt, pepper  ++++ 1 and 1/2 tsp low fat mayonnaise ++++ 1 slice Swiss cheese, the deli kind ++++ 1/2 cup romaine lettuce, shredded  ++++ 1/2 tsp lemon juice & 1/2 tsp olive oil ++

Combine the tuna, onion, celery, celery seed, and mayo as you would for tuna salad. Toast the bread. Spread the tuna mixture over the bread and top it with the cheese. Toast or broil until cheese is melting.  In a wide bowl, whisk the oil and lemon. Toss the lettuce with the dressing and relax while you dine.