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. Welcome to The Meditation Body who is now Following.

January 19th marks a festival in Iceland called Husband’s Day. Some call it by its original name, Bóndadagur or Farmer’s Day, but with fewer people farming some think that “husband” was more encompassing than “farmer”. This is the day when the man of the house is fussed over and cosseted and thanked for all the good work he does during the year to support his family. Sound good? Not so fast! By tradition, on the first day of the month Þorri, the man of the house must arise at dawn. He puts on his shirt and puts one leg in his trousers. Then he goes outside — remember that this is Iceland in February!! Brrr!! — and runs/hops around the perimeter of the house, dragging his trouser leg behind him. That sacrifice to the god Thorr performed, he can go back inside. Presumably he will now get fully and warmly dressed, and bask in front of the fire while the womenfolk serve breakfast. This day has been celebrated since the 12th century. Because it is an ancient tradition, it is a time when traditional foods are served: Hangikjöt: dung-smoked lamb served with potatoes and white sauce; Harðfiskur: Dried fish is often enjoyed with butter; Blóðmör and Lifrarpylsa: Traditional blood and liver sausages. Mm-yum.

If you don’t enjoy dried fish or sheep’s heads or fermented shark, smoked foods are popular on Bóndadagur. Since Icelanders enjoy seafood, we will enjoy smoked salmon at breakfast and salmon cakes dinner. Be good to your Good Man, today and all days, and be grateful if you are in a supportive, loving relationship.

Smoked Salmon & Cucumber Toast: 206 calories… 12.4 g fat… 4 g fiber … 8 g protein… 20 g carbs… 33.5 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given above are for the plated food only, not the optional beverage.  PB A stacked, open-faced sandwich can be a delicious treat at breakfast. Smoked salmon and cucumbers make a winning combination.

++ 1 slice whole-grain bread, 70 calories  [Dave’s Killer Thin-Sliced Bread is great] ++++ 2 Tbsp whipped cream cheese ++++½ oz smoked salmon ++++ 4 slices cucumber OR  Swedish Cucumber Salad ++++ 2 oz strawberries OR 1 oz peach ++

Lightly toast the bread and spread it with the cream cheese. Top it with the samon and top that with the cucumber. Plate the fruit. Now try to top that for flavor!

Salmon Cakes: 233 cal… 10.5 g fat… 1.5 g fiber… 21.7 g protein… 10.7 g carbs… 46 mg Calcium…  PB GF – if using GF bread  Eating Well magazine is the source of this fine recipe of salmon with an East Asian flair. Serve with Corn-Tomato Salsa, a Side Salad, zucchini slices, or Coleslaw to add up to 61 calories, taking the total for the meal to 294 calories.

4 cakes. Sv 2	Cast iron or non-stick pan. 1/3 cup measure
1 c cooked salmon—-one 2 oz egg—2 Tbsp red onion—1 Tbsp coriander seeds—1 Tbsp chile-garlic sauce—1 Tbsp soy sauce—1 tsp 5-spice powder	Flake the salmon. Whisk egg. Chop the onion finely. Crush or grind coriander – Use fresh cilantro if you have it Add other seasonings and combine well.
½ c/1 oz fresh bread crumbs	Fold in crumbs. Form in 1/3 c patties.
1 tsp sesame oil	Heat in skillet over med-high. Cook cakes 3 mins per side.
½ cup coleslaw -OR- ½ cup Corn-Tomato Salsa -OR- 4 oz zucchini slices, cooked	coleslaw adds 41 calories, Salsa adds 61 calories, zucchini adds 40 calories