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.

Bartholomew is listed as one of the 12 disciples of Jesus, and that is the only time he is mentioned in the Bible. [Most Americans hear the name first in the Dr Seuss book The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins.] He was born in Cana [the place where the water-into-wine wedding was held], and, as a witness to Jesus’ life, Bartholomew traveled widely to spread the Gospel. He preached in Parthia and Mesopotamia. Tradition tells us that Bartholomew voyaged to India, leaving behind a copy of the Gospel of Matthew. At last he went to Armenia, where he met a horrible, gruesome martyrdom, 24 August 70 CE. There is another gory event that is associated with this saint: The Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1587. From the early 1500s, the protestant followers of Jehan Calvin, called Huguenots, were growing in numbers and influence. The Roman Catholic leadership and the Royal Family were growing annoyed and fearful. In an attempt to end the Wars of Religion that began in 1562, a marriage was arranged between the daughter of the Catholic Queen Mother [Catherine de Medici] and the Calvinist Queen’s son, the future Henri IV. So many protestants came to Paris for the celebration, that Catholics began to fear an insurrection. Early in the morning of 24 August, Catholic soldiers began to assassinate high-ranking Calvinists. All day long, gangs roamed the streets, slaying Huguenots left and right. The movement spread to the countryside, and more killing followed. A low estimate said that 5000 died in Paris alone, and tens of thousands more around the country in the following two weeks. August 24 was not a good day for Bartholomew or for religious tolerance. Be kind. Be tolerant.

Saint Bartholomew is the Patron Saint of Butchers. Ugh. At Smithfield Market in London, the Butchers’ Guild held a fair on August 24, from 1133 to 1855. Fresh meats of all kinds were featured, especially beef [this is England, after all] and pork. Apples were consumed as well — dipped in honey, or drank as cider or mead. Naturally, our meals today involve pork, and apples, and beef.

Apple-Pork ScrOmelette: 151 calories 8 g fat 1 g fiber 13 g protein 7.4 g carbs 46.4 mg Calcium  NB: Food values shown are for the eggs and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages.  PB GF  Pork and apples are such a fine combination that they should be part of a yummy breakfast.

1½ 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.   1½ oz apple 1 oz raw pork, ground or minced tenderloin 1 leaf fresh sage, sliced thinly crosswise dab of prepared mustard 1½ oz melon   Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories]    Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories]

Mince the apple, leaving the skin on it. Put apple and crumbled sage in a saute pan spritzed with cooking spray. Cook over medium for 45 seconds, then add the pork. Cook until pork is cooked and apple is soft. Whisk the eggs and pour over apple-pork-sage. Scramble until done to your liking. Plate with the fruit and plan to do something nice for someone today.

Pot Roast Plate: 269 calories 6.6 g fat 3 g fiber 28 g protein 18.5 g carbs 24.6 mg Calcium PB GF You might have enjoyed a pot roast with the family for Sunday dinner, and since that was a Slow Day, you ate a lot and enjoyed it. Would you believe that you could have the left-overs for dinner on a Fast Day? Yes, you can! Low in fat, high in protein, delicious: this meal checks all the boxes. [At Denny’s, this meal clocks in at 400 calories with 20 g fat; at Culver’s, it is 700 calories with 27 g fat] HINT: After preparing the full recipe, I portioned the meal and froze individual servings for quick future meal preparation.

4 oz braised beef bottom round 3 oz carrots, cooked with the beef 2 oz small red potatoes, cooked with the beef 2 oz small [boiling] onions, cooked with the beef 2 Tbsp beef gravy, from the braising liquid

IF USING LEFT-OVER POT ROAST: Slice the meat. Mass out the vegetables to the stated serving size. Either heat everything in the microwave or put into a pan with a tight lid and some water to warm on the stove-top. A steamer basket is another way to re-warm this meal. Serve with heated gravy and have a feast fit for Saint Bartholomew’s Day. IF STARTING FROM SCRATCH: get 4 oz of sliced rare roast beef from the deli section of the supermarket. Put vegetables in a pot with the gravy and 1/2 cup water. Top with a lid and simmer until almost tender. Lay the beef on top of the vegetables, cover, and cook until only a little liquid remains in the pan. Plate it all and pour the pan juices over everything.

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

30-calorie chicken breakfast sausage	1.5 two-oz eggs  + cooked spinach
10-grain Cereal ‘pan muffin’	garlic + Thai fish sauce
raspberries	scallions + melon
	Thai hot chili sauce
optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

two 110-calorie all beef hot dogs	cucumber + tomato + dill
poppy seed + tomato + dill pickle spears	romaine lettuce + smoked salmon
onion + celery salt + green hot dog relish	hard-boiled egg + olive oil + honey
yellow mustard + ‘sport peppers‘ or pepperoncini	red wine vinegar + optional: sourdough rye bread
Sparkling water	Sparkling water