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.

Maria [ pronounced ma-RYE-uh] Mitchell was born on Nantucket Island on August 1, 1818. By the time she died in 1889, she was famous around the world. And you are asking, “How come I don’t know who she is???” Raised in a Quaker community, she was as educated as any boy in town — if not better. She had such a grasp of mathematics and astronomy that when she was 14, whaling captains came to her for navigational advice. In 1847, using her father’s telescope, she discovered a new comet. [To this day it is called “Miss Mitchell’s Comet“.] She received international renown and a gold medal from the King of Denmark. Maria went on to be the librarian of the stately Nantucket Atheneum and was lured off the island to be one of the first professors at Vassar College. There, Maria was the beloved and innovative teacher of many future scientists

Astronomers cut their teeth on the observation of equinoxes and solstices. In honor of Miss Mitchell’s birthday, our meals revolve around those celestial events.

Vernal Equinox ScrOmelette: 156 calories 7.8 g fat 1.9 g fiber 12 g protein 10.7 g carbs [10 g Complex] 247 mg Calcium  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF The cured meat and asparagus are emblematic of the changing seasons: the meat is for Winter and the aparagus is for Spring. Together, they are a heavenly flavor combination 

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 to store in the ‘fridge for next week.  1 oz cooked asparagus, chopped ¼ oz uncured capicola or proscuitto 1 clementine  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]

Thinly slice and coarsely chop the meat. Combine it with the chopped asparagus. Spritz a non-stick pan with non-stick spray. Put the meat-asparagus into the pan and stir until warmed. Whisk the eggs and pour into the pan. Scramble or cook as an omelette. Plate with the clementine and ponder the changing seasons as you enjoy the beverages of your choosing.

Winter Solstice Pizza: 283 calories 10 g fat 2.8 g fiber 16 g protein 16 g carbs [7.8 g Complex] 224 mg Calcium  PB On the Winter solstice, we like to prepare a pizza with elements of the season past [mushrooms represent Fall] and of the season to come [cured meats stand in for Winter].

1 whole wheat tortilla [Herdez 8” Fajita-style Tortilla is what I use], must be 170 calories or less 1.5 Tbsp crushed tomatoes + pinch granulated garlic 1 oz mozzerella cheese, grated 1 oz mushrooms [2 Tbsp] 1/3 oz prosciutto 1 Tbsp onion, chopped ½ Kalamata olive, quartered

Heat the oven to 400 F. Spread the tortilla with the crushed tomato sauce and garlic. Chop the prosciutto roughly and combine it with the mushrooms, onion, and cheese. Distribute over the pizza shell. Sprinkle with herbs, crushed red pepper, or other seasonings to taste. Dot with olive bits. Bake for 5-10 minutes. Think about how the Earth and Sun move through the heavens in their stately yearly dance.

Ingredients for next week: 

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

Bob’s 10-grain cereal	1.5 two-oz eggs
applesauce + nutmeg	ground bison meat
cottage cheese + cinnamon	spaghetti sauce
maple syrup	scallion + melon
Optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

smoked haddock/finnen haddie	ground venison + chili powder
onion + potato	canned red beans + green pepper
milk + parsley + bay leaf	canned tomatoes + garlic
asparagus or peas	red onion + ground cumin + melon
Sparkling water	Sparkling water