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.

A Big Stick…a Teddy Bear…The Great White Fleet…Yes! they are all connected. Theodore Roosevelt was born on October 27, 1858, to a wealthy family in New York City. His was one of the Old Money Families who were described in the novels of Henry James and Edith Wharton. Asthma was his nemesis as a child but in his teen years, Theodore threw himself into vigorous activity to try to cure himself. Following the disastrous day that his beloved mother and darling wife both died, Roosevelt fled to his ranch in the wildness of the Dakota Territory for two years of riding, roping, ranching, hunting, camping, and dealing with grief. Upon his return to the New York, he threw himself with equal vigor into public service: leading his Rough Riders brigade during the Spanish-American War; reforming the police as commissioner of New York City; serving as Governor of New York; being tapped as Vice-President to William McKinley. When McKinley was assassinated, Roosevelt served out his term as president and then was elected in his own right. Roosevelt worked tirelessly for the common good, establishing national parks and national forest service; breaking up trusts and monopolies; creating irrigation projects for farmland. On the international stage he ‘walked softly and carried a big stick.’ Completing the Panama Canal did a lot for world trade. Settling the Russo-Japanese War did a lot for world peace. Sending a huge navy flotilla, all painted white for greater visibility and dubbed the Great White Fleet, around the world did a lot for America’s status. After his presidential term was over, Roosevelt went on a safari [many victims ended up at the Smithsonian Museum], then ran for president again. Unsuccessfully. He found time to write more than 35 books and to be the engaged father of six children. In 1917, he volunteered to raise and lead a militia unit to fight in France. He was turned down and in 1919, he died. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “No man has had a happier life than I have led; a happier life in every way.”

As a Progressive Republican, Teddy promoted projects that would benefit the common people rather than the fat-cats. This leads us to a breakfast named after Robin Hood, who had sort of the same idea. Since Roosevelt loved hunting [sometimes not wisely but too well], venison should be on the dinner menu. Once on a hunting trip, there was no game to be found. A bear was caught and tied to a tree for him to shoot. Roosevelt, saying it would be unsportsmanlike, would not kill it. A New York toymaker who heard that story, marketed a stuffed bear and called it “Teddy.” As Roosevelt himself would have said, “Bully!”

Robin Hood Egg: 150 calories 6 g fat 1 g fiber 15 g protein 26 g carbs [7 g Complex] 111 mg Calcium  PB NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages. What this breakfast has to do with the legendary outlaw, I don’t know. At least no robbery is involved – you can keep your wallet and your waistline.

½ Arnold multi-grain Sandwich Thin or similar 2 oz sliced tomato one 2-oz egg 1 slice Jones-brand “Canadian bacon” [1 round= 1 oz = 20 calories]   Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] or lemon in hot water 

Lightly toast the sandwich thin and plate it. Broil the tomato slice and lightly cook the Canadian bacon while you fry the egg in a pan lightly-spritzed with non-cook spray. Assemble the layers in your order of preference and pour the optional beverages. Tuck [not Friar Tuck] in with knife and fork.

Venison Stew: 250 calories 4.5 g fat 5.5 g fiber 25.6 g protein 26.4 g carbs 52.5 mg Calcium   GF  What a wonderful meal for an Autumn evening. Rich flavors and low calories – my kind of dinner.  TIP: Double the recipe and freeze half for another fine meal later or invite a friend to share it with you.

½ cup chicken stock 2 Tbsp fresh cranberries [NOT dried] 2 oz mushrooms ½ tsp dried thyme ½ oz dried apples 2½ oz venison, cooked or raw 1 Tbsp half&half [blend cream] 1½ oz cauliflower florets 1 oz carrots cut as coins

If venison is raw, pan sear it for 2-3 minutes per side to undercook it. Slice into larger-than-bite-size pieces and set aside. Spritz a small cast iron pan with non-stick spray and add the cauliflower and carrots. Spray the vegetables, sprinkle with salt and rosemary and roast at 400 F. for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Put stock, berries, mushrooms, and thyme in a sauce pan and simmer until berries start to pop. Add the apples, venison and blend cream. Simmer until all is warm and apples are soft. Taste for seasonings and plate with the roasted vegetables.

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

1 two-oz egg, hard-boiled	1.5 two-oz eggs
beef, ham, or turkey from a roast	2″ diameter slice pepperoni
pineapple or mixed berries	mozzarella cheese + bell pepper
	crushed tomato + apple/applesauce
Optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

6 oz cooked fish + mashed potatoes	cabbage + carrot + ginger + oil
green/white onion + 2-oz egg	3.5 oz roast beef + soy sauce
dry mustard + butter + beets	7″ spring roll wrappers + scallion
lettuce + oil + vinegar	oyster sauce + Sriracha or other hot sauce
Sparkling water	Sparkling water