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.

Alexis [Charles Henri Clérel] de Tocqueville was born in 1805, during the heady days of the post-French Revolution/Neo-Napoleonic euphoria. Despite the fact that his was a noble family and the ‘enemy’ of the revolutionaries, de Tocqueville was a pro-government man. In 1830, his family ran afoul of the regime and was exiled. But Alexis was still in favor and received a commission to visit America to study the prison system. de Tocqueville and a friend traveled extensively during 1831: from the Gulf Coast to the Great Lakes; along the East Coast, along the Mississippi; and up to Canada. He returned to France and published Democracy in America in two volumes, 1835 and 1840, to great acclaim. Sociologists, historians, and political scientists still read that work today, marveling at the acuteness of his observations and the prescience of his interpretations of American life. After publishing another work, The Old Regime and the Revolution, tuberculosis caught up with him. Alexis retired to Cannes and died in 1859. de Tocqueville said that America was and would be successful if liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism, and laissez-faire were in balance. Let’s keep working on that.

If ever anyone came “to look for America” it was de Tocqueville. He knew more about the far corners of America than anyone. But since he never went to New Mexico, I’m guessing he never ate roasted green chilis with eggs — but we will! Our dinner is more French: asparagus and chicken in béchamel wrapped in a galette. Alexis would feel right at home.

Green Chili Scramble: 137 calories 7 g fat 1 g fiber 11 g protein 10 g carbs 59 mg Calcium  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages.  PB GF  Ever since his grad school days in New Mexico, Son v.2.0 urges us to put roasted green chilis in everything. The taste with eggs is classic.

Three 2-oz eggs of which you will use 1½ eggs per person 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.   1½ Tbsp roasted green chilis from New Mexico 1½ oz navel orange OR 1.5 oz apple   Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] or lemon in hot water Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie  [88 calories]

Whisk the eggs with the chilies along with salt & pepper to taste. Scramble to your taste in a non-stick-pan spritzed with cooking spray. Plate with the fruit and dream of the New Mexico landscape [Georgia O’Keefe, not Walter White]

Asparagus & Chicken Galettes: 263 calories 8.4 g fat 3 g fiber 20 g protein 29 g carbs 61 mg Calcium  PB  This is a delightful meal for Springtime or anytime you can get good asparagus. It is made even better by being so simple to prepare. AND it tastes good — what more could you want? HINT: Serves 2 [two] persons.

3 oz asparagus, woody ends snapped off 3½ oz chicken breast, cooked or raw 5 buckwheat galettes   5 Tbsp Bechamel sauce with cheese cherry tomatoes and carrot sticks

Cut asparagus in 1” pieces. If the meat is cooked, shred it into the size pieces you want. If the meat is raw, slice into bite-sized strips. Put the asparagus in water that is strongly simmering for 2 minutes, uncovered, then add the raw chicken. Continue to simmer until both are cooked. Drain off the water and save it [for soup; for baking]. If the meat was previously cooked, add it now along with the Bechamel. Warm thoroughly, adding the cooking water if too thick. Season to taste and spoon onto warmed galettes. Serve immediately with raw vegetables.

Ingredients for next week: Breakfast, single portion for Monday …………………………… single portion for Thursday:

1 two-oz egg	1.5 two-oz eggs
3 Tbsp red beans & rice	Gruyere or Cheddar cheese
garlic powder	apple or strawberry
pear
Optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

langostino/shrimp/prawns + fish stock	roasted red peppers without oil + whole green beans
olive oil + garlic + hot pepper flakes	mozzarella cheese + black olives + chickpeas
broccoli or asparagus + white beans	chicken breast meat + pepperoni + flavored oil
Cabbage + dry white wine + tomatoes	tomato slices + marinated mushrooms
Sparkling water	Sparkling water