How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow. On another day this week, eat the meals from another post.  Eat sensibly the other days of the week.  That’s it.  Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

OK, let’s have some fun with food for Hallowe’en.  Since it is a Fast Day, we won’t eat the candy [you may have some tomorrow], but here are some meals in holiday colors and in keeping with the calories and protein of our Fasting Lifestyle.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Hash:  284 calories  5.6 g fat   7.6 g fiber    18.1 g protein   43.3 g carbs  278.3 mg Calcium   GF  PB   Old friend and fellow bell-ringer Jane Winslow proposed this breakfast and she was right: it is really good.½ c. diced sweet potatoes                                                                                                                                     2 Tbsp yellow onion, diced                                                                                                                                 ¼ red pepper, sliced                                                                                                                                             salt & pepper  +  ¾ tsp paprika  +  ¼ tsp cumin                                                                                                     ½ cup spinach roughly chopped                                                                                                                           ½ c. [3 oz] black beans, rinsed and drained if canned                                                                              one 2-oz egg

Spritz olive oil on medium heat in a large pan. Add sweet potatoes, onion, red pepper, seasonings, and a little water. Cook for 10 minutes, occasionally stirring. Add spinach and cook for an additional five minutes. Lastly, add the black beans and stir until all ingredients are well-blended. HINT: prep this far the night before. Heat before topping with a poached or fried egg. 

Sausage-Stuffed Squash: 286 calories   6 g fat   7.4 g fiber   19 g protein   35.5 g carbs   274 mg Calcium PB GF I always liked the idea of eating Hallowe’en dinner out of a pumpkin, ‘tho I never tried it. Here the vessel is a small winter squash, filled with soy-based sausage stuffing.

½ of a 4” diameter winter squash, halved, seeds removed, and baked                                                  2 Boca brand breakfast sausage                                                                                                                         ¼ cup sauce for pasta puttenesca [tomato sauce with black olives and anchovies]                           2 Tbsp low-fat ricotta                                                                                                                                               ½ oz mozzerella cheese, grated  or non-dairy cheese, if you prefer

Clean the seeds out of your squash half and bake cut-side down in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or until flesh is soft. HINT: this can be done the day before or hours before. Chop the sausages and combine with the sauce and ricotta. Spoon into the squash bowl and top with the grated cheese. Heat at 350 for about 25 minutes to warm it all.