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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle. 

Whenever my sister would complain about her first name [to me, her name was beautiful compared to my plain old ‘Mary’], our mother would retort, “Be glad your name isn’t ‘Ima Hogg’!” That would stop the griping! James S. and Sallie Stinson Hogg lived in Mineola, Texas when their only daughter was born on July 10, 1882. [Contrary to the popular notion, she did NOT have a sister named ‘Ura’.] Her father got into politics, becoming governor while always sticking up for ‘the little guy’ in his constituency. When the death of his wife left him with four children to support, Big Jim became a lawyer in Austin [the capital city] to be with his family more. Thirteen year old Ima was the apple of her father’s eye. Ima — named after a character in a poem written by her uncle Thomas Hogg — went to University of Texas and studied music in New York City. Her father’s business interests lead to his being on the ground floor of the Texas oil boom in 1901. Ima never married, and after her father died and oil was found on one of the family properties, Ima and her brothers became wealthy and philanthropic. Miss Ima served on the Houston School Board, established a mental health foundation, and founded the Houston Symphony Orchestra. An interest in Texas history lead her to acquire and restore several houses, including her father’s country home. The Varner-Hogg Historic Site and her own house which is the site of the Bayou Bend Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, are open to visitors. For her contributions and her association with the movers and shakers of the state, Miss Ima was known as “The First Lady of Texas” until her death in 1975.

Our meals today are Tex-Mex menus from Miss Ima’s beloved home state.

Salsa Chicken Bake: 136 calories… 5.5 g fat… 1.4 g fiber… 13 g protein… 6.5 g carbs… 47 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages. PB GF Salsa for breakfast? Porque no?

++1 two-oz egg ++++1 Tbsp 2%-fat cottage cheese++++ 2 Tbsp tomato salsa, drained if too liquid ++++ dash of salsa verde ++++ ½ oz chicken breast meat [from a roast, perhaps], minced ++++ oregano [Mexican if you have it]++++ 2 oz strawberries ++++Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or  mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] ++++ Optional: 5-6 oz fruit smoothie or  berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] ++

Stir the cheese, salsas, and chicken together in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk the egg and seasonings. Spritz a ramekin with oil or non-stick spray. Pour in the egg mixture and bake in the toaster oven at 350 degrees F. for 12-15 minutes, depending on how you like your eggs. Brew your warm beverage, portion those delicious strawberries, and start to your day in a zesty way.

Quesadillas with Chicken : 295 cal… 9 g fat… 3 g fiber… 19 g protein… 31.4 g carb… 211.5 mg Calcium…  GF These are great. We return to this often for a quick, enjoyable meal. And you can prepare and cook them ahead, wrap in foil, and reheat them later. Thanks to Suzy M. for that tip.

++2 six-inch corn tortillas  HINT: Read the package! Make sure that each tortillas is 65 calories each or less. ++++  ¾ oz Monterey jack cheese, grated ++++ 2 Tbsp 2%-fat cottage cheese, drained ++++ 2 Tbsp tomato salsa or Salsa Verde – drain it if it is very liquid ++++ large pinch Mexican oregano ++++ 1 oz [¼ cup] cooked shredded/ground chicken breast OR cooked pork tenderloin ++++   on the side: 2 oz broccoli, steamed OR 1 cup salad tossed with the drained liquid from the salsa and cottage cheese ++

Heat a cast iron skillet and warm the tortillas on both sides until they are warm, pliant, and beginning to brown in spots. Remove and keep warm in a tea towel. Combine the cheeses, salsa, and oregano. Spoon half of the cheese mixture on each tortilla, then top with shredded cheese. Cook the broccoli. Fold over the tortillas and cook on both sides in the hot skillet until hot and toasty and melty.  TIP: I sometimes need to put something on top of the folded tortillas to keep them folded as they begin to cook. No problem after they are flipped.

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

1 two-oz egg = US large + cayenne pepper	1 two-oz egg  + canned chickpeas
American streaky bacon + whole milk	cucumber + tomato + olive oil
Gruyere or Emmenthaler cheese	za’atar spice + reduced-fat feta cheese
nutmeg + strawberries	5″ whole-grain pita @ 60 calories
optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

thin filets of white fish, 4 oz per serving	olive oil + zucchini + pepperoni + carrot
lime juice + ginger root	celery + short pasta + onion
green table grapes	crushed tomatoes + mushrooms + garlic
red potatoes or Camargue red rice	small white beans + sweet potato + Parmesan
Sparkling water	Sparkling water