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.

Spain is known for sunny beaches and for passionate Flamenco dancers. In other words, HOT stuff! Is the summer hot where you are? Does it make you not want to cook or eat? Here is a remedy: for a summer day, let’s enjoy two Spanish-inspired meals. Even though winters can be cold there, the Spaniards know about eating during warm weather — after all, they shut things down in the heat of the day to rest! Your busy life may not lend itself to a siesta, but let’s prepare some fine meals to enjoy before and after the heat of the day.

Baked Eggs Flamenco    269 calories…    8.8 g fat…     3.2 g fiber…    9 g protein…     13.3 g carb…     42.6 mg Calcium…           PB GF – if using GF bread       From Everyday Tapas, this recipe shows how a meal can go from being a dinner to being a breakfast. Similarly, any breakfast could also be a dinner. Recently, I enjoyed a very similar dish as an appetizer at a restaurant.

++ 1 Tbsp tomato puree or 1/2 oz tomato, chopped ++++  1 ½ tsp parsley, chopped     ++++ ++ 1 1/2 Tbsp onion, chopped [1 oz]      +++++ 1 ½ Tbsp bell pepper, chopped [1 oz]   ++++ salt & pinch cayenne ++ ++   1 two-oz egg ++   ½ slice 70 calorie bread  ++++  2 oz melon or 2 oz grapes or 3 oz apple +++ optional:   blackish coffee or tea ++++  optional:   5-6 oz fruit smoothie or unpasturized apple cider +++                                                                                                                                                                      Spritz a small ramekin with cooking spray or olive oil. Put the tomato, parsley, onion in the ramekin. Microwave for 4-5 minutes to cook the onion. Add the pepper and seasonings, and microwave for another 4 minutes. [Alternatively, saute the above ingredients as described, instead of microwaving]. HINT: you can do this the night before. Remove from microwave and make a ‘nest’ in the cooked vegetables. Crack the egg into the nest. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes. Toast the bread, brew your hot beverage, prep the fruit. Prepare the smoothie, or take the previously-prepared jar of smoothie from the fridge and shake it well before serving.

Tuna-Egg-Tomato Salad   248 calories…    15.8 g. fat…     23.4 g. protein …    13.5 g. carbs…  GF — if using GF bread, or omit it    PB     This  Spanish-inspired meal is also from Everyday Tapas.   I took out the potatoes and substituted garbanzo beans. The recipe is very simple and delicious as well – perfect to dress up with pansy blossoms [they are edible] to honor a day in spring or summer. HINT: This makes enough for two meals. Invite a friend or enjoy it as a lovely lunch the next day. Today’s lettuce will wilt by tomorrow, so plan around that.  

                                       5 oz canned white-meat tuna in water   +++   2 eggs, hardboiled and cut into 1/2” dice                                                         +++4 oz tomato, cut into 1/2” dice   ++++ ½ cup garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed +++                                                          1 cup baby salad greens    ++++ 1 ½ tsp olive oil  ++++ 1 tsp white wine vinegar ++                                                                  ++ fresh parsley, salt, pepper  ++++ pansy or violet flowers for garnish ++                                                                                                                                       

Drain the tuna and flake the meat into 1” pieces. Whisk the oil and vinegar together and toss with the lettuce. Add everything else, except the flowers, and gently toss to combine with the salad dressing. Garnish with as many flowers as you wish. Serve at room temperature.