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.

“Kamikaze” means “divine wind”. To those of the Greatest Generation, the word is associated with Japanese suicide pilots during engage-ments in the Pacific Theater. But the word is more ancient than that, with great historical significance. By the 12th century, the Mongols had taken over China and Korea, and Kublai Khan set his sights on Japan. He sent messages to the emperor, telling him to surrender to avoid invasion, but the powerful shogun intercepted the messages. Infuriated by being ignored, the Mongol leader sent a large fleet of ships to attack Japan in August of 1274. Landing on the shore of Hakata Bay, the Mongols were winning before they went back to their ships to regroup. A typhoon struck that night, and wiped out the fleet. Fearing another incursion, the Japanese built a wall along the landing beach at the bay. Meanwhile, the Mongols were amassing an even larger fleet. In 1281, the armada approached Hakata Bay, but could not land due to the wall. For months, the Japanese scouted the coast for a good landing spot. On August 15, another typhoon wiped our 4000 boats and most of the 70,000 soldiers. The Japanese credited the Shinto deity Rajiin, ruler of thunder and storms — although some say it was Fujin, ruler of the winds, who created a “Divine Wind”, a “Kamikaze”, to save Japan from the Mongols. It worked, for the Mongols never attempted another invasion.

Our breakfast is from Japan, and the dinner is from China. They were combatants, but everyone wins with these meals.

Tamagoyaki with Sumomo: 131 calories… 7.3 g fat… 0 g fiber… 10 g protein… 7 g carbs… 47 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF  “Tamago” means “egg” in Japanese. Not surprisingly, this recipe is very similar to Jian Bing from China. Who got it from whom? As eternal rivals, they would probably argue the point. The preferred beverage would be a Japanese tea. HINT: This serves two [2], or save the remainder to eat at room temperature for a later lunch.

3 two-oz eggs ++++ 1.5 tsp sugar ++++ 1 tsp light-colored soy sauce or regular soy sauce ++++ 1 Tbsp water ++++ 2 Tbsp chives, chopped ++++  per serving: ¼ cup sumomo** ++++  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]

Prepare Sumomo and let it sit. Whisk together eggs, sugar, soy sauce, water, and chives. Pour equal amounts into 4 small bowls. Heat a non-stick pan and spray with cooking oil. Pour one portion of egg mixture into pan, and tip pan so that mixture covers evenly. Cook until top is almost set. Gently nudge one edge of the layer of egg to form a roll. Roll the eggs up completely and move to the side of the pan nearest you. After another quick spritz of oil, add another portion of egg to the pan. Cook until egg is almost set, then roll the eggs up around the first roll that you formed. Continue with remaining egg portions, as the roll gets larger and larger. When finished cooking, slice the roll into 1” pieces. Divide the slices between the plates, and serve with the cucumber salad.

**Sumomo: makes ½ cup  = 35 calories… 0 g fat… 0.1 g fiber… 0.2 g protein… 3 g carbs… 5 mg Calcium PB GF Cut a 3” long section of cucumber and use a vegetable peeler to create ½ cup of ribbons of cucumber flesh. Do not cut down to the seeds at the core. Put in a small bowl and add 2 tsp rice vinegar +++ ¼ tsp sugar +++ pinch of salt +++ ½ tsp furikake  Stir the ingredients together.

Dumplings Steamed with Bok Choy: 215 calories… 8.5 g fat… 2.5 g fiber… 12.5 g protein… 28 g carbs… 190 mg Calcium…  PB Our older son suggested this ‘starter recipe’ to encourage us to prepare Asian meals.  NB: the dumplings were purchased at an Asian market and were very low in calories. You will need to have or to improvise a steamer to cook this.

++ 5 Chinese dumplings, pork or chicken ++++ 3-4 oz bok choy ++++ 1 Tbsp hoisin sauce, warmed to liquify it ++++ dipping sauce: 2 oz black vinegar** ++++ 2 oz soy sauce ++++ ** in lieu of black vinegar, combine equal amounts of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and water. 

Set up the steamer [mine is a bamboo version which is used with a wok]. Trim the bok choy to remove the largest parts of the center vein, and arrange the leaves on the platforms of the steamer. Put the frozen dumplings on the leaves. Close up the steamer and position it in a dry wok. Add water to the wok so that it rises over the bottom edge of the steamer but not so much that the water level comes up to the bottom tray of the steamer. Bring the water to a simmer. Let it cook for 10 minutes. Mix the hoisin sauce with some water to thin it. Combine the ingredients for the dipping sauce. Remove the bok choy to the plate and drizzle the hoisin sauce over it. Place the dumplings on the plate and serve with the dipping sauce. Despite the low calorie count, this meal is very satisfying. Other vegetables could be added, as long as their steaming time is the same as the other ingredients.

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

1 two-oz egg = US large	1 two-oz egg  + curry powder
mushrooms + galette/savory crepe	1 galette + tomato
chives + thyme	artichoke hearts
strawberry or apple	apple or applesauce
optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

1.5 reduced fat beef hot dogs	Chicken breast
sauerkraut + canned white beans	Basquaise sauce
pickled beets + onions	Dijon mustard + polenta
prepared horseradish	green beans + snow peas
Sparkling water	Sparkling water