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. Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

By June of 1759, the ‘Seven-Year War’ [aka: the French and Indian War] between the English and the French was beginning to wear everybody out. The previous year, the English [aided by American colonists] had a decisive victory at Louisbourg in Nova Scotia. Now if only they could seize Quebec City, the capital of Canadian New France…. A plan was developed by Major General James Wolfe and Admiral Charles Sanders. The army sailed up the St Lawrence River to take possession of Ile d’Orleans, a move that surprised the French General Louis-Joseph Montcalm who did not expect an attack from down river. The ensuing bombardment and cutting off of supply lines laid the groundwork for the Battle of Quebec in September, 1759, 260 years ago. Spoiler alert: the English won the battle and the war.

Vieux Quebec has grown up a bit, but it is our favorite North American city: very European, very walkable, and with great food. The city is still surrounded by ramparts and a walk to the battlefield provides a wonderful view of the city and the river all the way to Ile d’Orleans. At breakfast, we will eat like a French-Canadian, the people who became known as “Cajuns” after they were expelled from Eastern Canada when the English won the war. At dinner, we will dine like an Englishman, enjoying a meal from the ‘old country,’

Cajun ScrOmelette: 142 calories 7.6 g fat 2.1 g fiber 10.5 g protein 10 g carbs [8.4 g Complex] 73 mg Calcium  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF  The hallmark of Cajun cooking is the sofrito of bell pepper, celery, and onion. Here they are along with the iconic Cajun Seasoning and Tabasco sauce. Cue the Zydeco music.

1 ½ two-oz eggs HINT: If you are serving one person, crack three 2-oz eggs into a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Whip up those eggs and pour half of their volume into a jar with a lid and put it in the ‘fridge for next week. 1 oz bell pepper + 3 Tbsp celery + 2 Tbsp onion Tabasco sauce, ad lib Cajun seasonings, ad lib 1.5 oz orange slices Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or lemon in hot water Optional: 5-6 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories]

Chop and combine the vegetables with the seasonings. Put in a hot saute pan spritzed with oil or non-stick spray. Cook until softened. Whisk the eggs with the Tabasco and Cajun seasonings, and scramble to prefection. Pour your choice of beverages, slice the oranges, and pass the Tabasco sauce.

Cottage Pie:  219 calories 7 g fat 1.8 g fiber 21.7 g protein 15 g carbs 35 mg Calcium  GF Cottage Pie is the beef version of Shepherd’s Pie. The addition of mashed cauliflower is a great trick to lessen the calorie and carb count of mashed potatoes. Some people like this with mashed cauliflower only, but I enjoy the combo for a more authentic taste. HINT: serves 2. Freeze leftovers for another dinner or invite a guest.

1 cup roast beef, ground or minced 1 two-oz egg, separated ½ cup mashed potatoes + ½ cup mashed cauliflower ½ cup beef gravy, as fat free as you can make it  per serving: 2 oz peas OR 1 cup lettuce + 1 oz tomatoes ½ tsp olive oil + ½ tsp lemon juice

Add the egg yolk and gravy to the beef, along with salt and pepper to taste. Whip the egg white until stiff and fold into the mashed vegetables with salt and pepper to taste. Put the beef mixture into an oil-spritzed oven-proof dish [2-3 cup capacity] and spread it out evenly. Smooth the mashed vegetables on top and ruffle it with a fork or spoon. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 minutes or until the top begins to brown a bit and the inside is hot. Cook the peas. OR To prepare the salad, whisk the oil and lemon juice in a wide bowl, add the lettuce and tomatoes, and toss gently.

Ingredients for next week: 

Breakfast, single portion for Monday ………………… single portion for Thursday:

1 two-oz egg + herb savory	1.5 two-oz eggs
strawberries + salt cod	kippered herring
dry potato flakes	dry mustard
Cheddar or ADL ‘Old Fort’	lemon juice + cherries
Whatever you need for your smoothie	Whatever you need for your smoothie
Whatever you need for your hot beverage	Whatever you need for your hot beverage

Dinner, single portion for Monday: …………………………. single portion for Thursday:

Arctic Char	6″ rice spring roll wrappers
green peas, fresh if possible	Haggis filling [Spicy II, 12-Sept-’18]
	lettuce + carrot + cherry tomatoes
	flavorful oil and quality vinegar
Sparkling water	Sparkling water