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. Welcome to ColdPressed who is now Following.

The word ‘zodiac’ means a ‘circle of animals.’ Eurocentric cultures use the Greek Zodiac, with 12 signs: some of animals [Capricorn the Goat, Pisces the Fish], some of humans [Aquarius the Water-Bearer, Virgo the Virgin]. These are based on constellations that are found on the ecliptic. As the sun moves across the sky, its path looks like a Sine Curve rather than going straight across the sky at the same elevation. This apparent shift is due to the Earth’s axial tilt. As the sun moves through each constellation, that set of stars is said to control the life of someone born during that time span. The Chinese Zodiac is different. Yes, there are 12 animal signs but each controls the entire year, thus taking 12 years to complete the cycle. This zodiac is ancient and is derived from the Taoist religion which believes, among other things, that the stars dictated one’s future and one’s personality. Taoism also contributed the concept of yin and yang, so each animal has a yin side and a yang side. In addition, the calendar is affected by the 5 Elements, showing the unity of people and things on Earth. Tomorrow is the start of the Lunar New Year, and it is the first day of the Year of the Rabbit: the Water Rabbit, to be more exact. People born in a Rabbit Year are polite, responsible, and cautious. On the down-side, they are timid and often fool-hardy — especially with finances. They are good workers, as they are industrious, devoted, and stable. Countries that have been influenced by Chinese culture [through past colonization] also observe the same Zodiac, though the animals might not all be the same. In Japan, there is a wild boar instead of a pig. In Vietnam, there is a cat instead of a rabbit. Astrologers predict peace, harmony, and financial success for this year. We’ll all wait and see what happens.

In the Year of the Rabbit, when one should work on better health and well-being, eating well can be a good goal for this year. Meals like these can keep your weight down and promote good health. Xīnnián hǎo.

Foo Yung Bake: 130 calories 5 g fat 2.4 g fiber 10 g protein 12 g carbs 57 mg Calcium   NB: The food values shown are for the egg bake and the fruit, not for the optional beverages.  PB GF  Straight out of Guangdong, China, this is a no-fuss Chinese-American bake.

One 2-oz egg 2 Tbsp crab meat 1 tsp soy sauce ¼ cup sprouts [I used broccoli sprouts — suit yourself] ¼ oz mushrooms pinch ground ginger + pinch granulated garlic 1 Tbsp scallion, sliced cross-wise 1 clementine or 2 oz pear   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

Gently mix the crab meat with sprouts, scallion, and mushroom. Lightly oil or spritz an oven-proof dish. Whisk the egg with the soy sauce, ginger, and garlic powder, then stir in the crab mixture. Pour into prepared dish, adding salt and pepper if you wish. Bake at 350 F. for 12-15 minutes. Plate with the pear and pour the optional beverages.

Dim Sum: 302 calories 5.6 g fat 1 g fiber 32 g protein 30 g carbs 28.5 mg Calcium I like to think of Dim Sum as the Asian version of Tapas or Meze: tastes of several different delicious foods. With prepared parts in the freezer, this meal is easy to assemble.

2 chicken Momos  2 oz raw chicken 1 tsp prepared Satay Sauce ½ tsp creamy peanut butter 2 pork Wontons  2 tsp chicken stock 1 oz Chinese BBQ Pork for steamed buns [purchased: 46 calories/oz] 2 oz tomato

Thaw the chicken and cut in cubes. Cream the Satay Sauce with the peanut butter and mix with the chicken meat. Let sit several hours. Thaw the momos, the wontons, and the pork. Combine the stock with 2 tsp water and put the wontons in the broth. Cook at a simmer until wontons are heated through. Remove them and continue to heat the stock until reduced back to 2 tsp. [Using ceramic soup spoons, I put 1 tsp of stock in each spoon and topped it with a warm wonton.] Thread the chicken onto a skewer and broil or grill for 10-15 minutes, turning to cook the other side. Place the momos in a steamer for about 15 minutes, until they are cooked through and the wrappers are translucent. Heat the pork in the microwave for about 1 minute. Slice the tomato and plate the Dim Sum components in the manner of your choosing.