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.

There is something very odd about October — especially if you are heavily invested in the stock market. In 1929, October 24th was called Black Thursday — the day of the biggest sell-off of investment shares in the history of the then 137-year-old Wall Street. Optimism fueled by economic prosperity created interest in investments. Trading houses and banks permitted buying stock with as little as 10% of the cost as downpay-ment, and the loan secured by the value of the stock. It doesn’t take an economist to see the flaws in that scheme. The US Federal Reserve then raised interest rates and tried to cut down on rampant investment. This began to make global economies wobble, since they were all linked. Large companies, fearing lower sales, cut production and laid off workers. People got worried and tried to sell their stocks to get cash. As Stock Market values dropped, fear rippled through the economy — especially when banks ran out of money — causing the Great Depression. Eventually, things returned to normal and in 1954, the Market’s value was again equal to that in 1929. In 1987, a more precipitous drop in market value occurred on October 19, this one known as Black Monday. The Dow Jones lost $500 billion dollars in value in one day! The cause of the plunge was three-pronged: inflated stock value, computerized trading, and a safe-guard system that automatically sold stocks when the market started to fall. Most recently, in 2008, the Market had another disastrous tumble. A roaring US housing market lead to banks to offer mortgages with insufficient financial backing [shades of 1929??]. Then investment firms created securities packages backed by the buying and selling of sub-prime mortgages. When the building of new homes slowed, the cost of real estate dropped quickly, devaluing the stock value. This lead to world-wide worries and stock markets globally wobbled during most of October. On October 24, fears of recession dropped market values around the world, and the unrest lasted into 2009. The moral of these tales? Investing incurs the risk of loss. Investing is not for getting-rich-quick — it is for long-term growth over time. If you are impatient and risk-averse, do not meddle in the market. And watch out for October surprises!

On October 24, a Wall Street fat-cat might find himself breakfasting on avocados and eggs at a trendy coffee bar … and by dinner, he might be able to afford only a simple supper of bean soup. Sic transit gloria mundi.

Avocado-Egg Toast: ..176 calories… 10 g fat… 4.5 g fiber… 10 g protein… 15.6 g carbs… 28 mg Calcium… 3.4 g sugar… NB: The food values shown are for the toast, egg, avocado, and the fruit, not for the optional beverages. —PG GF if using GF bread– Avocado Toast has been all the rage in celebrity diets, so we decided to try it. Very nice with the egg on top and a hearty whole-grain bread underneath.

++ 1 two-oz egg ++++ 0.8 oz avocado ++++ 1 slice 60-calorie whole-grain bread [Dave’s Killer Thin-Sliced Bread is great] ++++  Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] ++++ Optional: 3 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [44 calories]

Lightly toast the bread while you fry or poach the egg. Spread the avocado over the bread and top with the egg. Pour the beverages and you are all set for a healthy day.

Three-Bean Soup: 241 calories… 3 g fat… 29 g fiber… 16 g protein… 38.5 g carbs… 134 mg Calcium…  PB GF  A cold evening and a bowl of bean soup – so satisfying and delicious. And economical. HINT: This recipe produces 11 cups of soup. One serving = one cup

1 cup dry navy beans** ++++ 1 cup dry kidney beans** ++++ 1 cup dry soldier beans** ++++ 2 Tbsp salt ++++ 4 oz ham bone or ham hock, with some meat ++++ 1 cup onion, chopped ++++ 28 oz crushed tomatoes ++++ 1 tsp chili powder ++++ 1 tsp dried basil ++++ 3 Tbsp lemon juice ++++ salt and pepper to taste ++++  per serving: ½ cup baby spinach leaves cut as chiffonade  **Any combination of beans will do, as will other varieties. Add other types of beans or pulses, such as lentils, to create a 5-10 bean soup.

Rinse the beans in a collander under running water. Put them into a large bowl or cook pot and cover with 3-4” of water. The beans will double or triple in size as they absorb the water.Add 2 Tablespoons of salt and let the beans sit overnight. Next day, drain the water and discard. Put the beans in a large cook pot along with 1½ quarts water and the meaty bone. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and cover. Let cook slowly for 2 hours. Add the onion, tomatoes, and flavorings. Fish out the ham bone and cut the meat from it. Dice the meat and add back to the pot. Simmer slowly for one hour. Serve with ½ cup fresh baby spinach leaves stirred into the hot soup in the serving bowl at the last minute.