Diet recipes that work

Ishi

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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.

Ishi in 1911.

On August 29, 1911, ‘Ishi’ walked out of the woods near Oroville, California. He was a member of the Yahi branch of the Yana Tribe , who had inhabited the area between the Sacramento River and Lassen Peak for centuries. Encroach-ment on tribal land by Spanish settlers in the early 1800s was followed by an invasion of Americans looking for gold from 1848 on. In 1840, the tribe’s population numbered around 1400. After massacres by gold-seekers in 1846, 1856, 1864-5, 1868, and 1871, the remaining Yahi went into hiding. Disease, accidents, and starvation killed the tribal members, until only Ishi was left. When he emerged from the forest, malnourished, in mourning, and disori-ented, he was taken under the wing of Alfred L. Kroeber who was director of the University of California Museum of Anthropology, then in San Francisco. Kroeber moved the man into the museum, as a ‘consultant’ on Yahi Tribal life and as a permanent exhibit. On weekends, White people would line up to watch Ishi knapp obsidian and make arrows. In his free time, he would hunt on the San Francisco peninsula and in Golden Gate Park. His true name was unknown, since he never spoke it: his people would never tell their name to a stranger, so he was called Ishi, meaning ‘adult man’ in his language. Ishi added to the Museum’s knowledge of the language and songs of the Yana, as well as giving practical demonstrations of Stone Age hunting techniques and tool-making. Was he happy living like that? Did he resent being put on display as ‘the last remaining wild Indian’? We will never know, since his command of English was limited. When he died of tuberculosis in 1916, he was cremated, according to his wishes. At first, his ashes were stored in a cemetery, but later Ishi’s remains were buried secretly in the woods where his tribe had lived.

Our foods honor the agricultural traditions of those tribes of Indigenous People who farmed. Corn, beans, and tomatoes were staple crops, as well as squash. Ishi’s people hunted large and small game, fished, and gathered native plants, such as acorns to eat.

Corn Scramble: 130 calories… 7.6 g fat… 1 g fiber… 10 g protein… 6 g carbs… 44 mg Calcium…  PB GF  Next time you enjoy corn on the cob for dinner, and cut off some of the kernels, and stir them into the eggs for breakfast. What a fine late summer meal!

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 and put it in the ‘fridge for next week. ++++ 2 Tbsp/ ½ oz cooked corn kernels ++++ 1 Tbsp chives ++++ 1 oz peach  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]

Put the corn and snipped chives into a non-stick pan spritzed with cooking spray for long enough to heat them. Whisk the eggs with salt and pepper then pour over the corn and scramble to your liking. Plate with the peach.

Tomato-Corn-Black Bean Dinner: 274 calories… 9 g fat… 16.5 g protein… 34.5 g carbs… 63.4 mg Calcium…  PB GF For a real late Summer treat, you can’t beat fresh corn and tomatoes! The recipe is from 100Daysofrealfood. and then I altered it a little. HINT: This makes 4 cups of salad. One generous serving = ¾ cup. As good as it is colorful.

1½ ears of corn Blanch corn 1 min in boiling water. Cool + cut kernels from cob. Put in a microwave-safe bowl. 
1 c canned black beansDrain + rinse beans, and add to the bowl. 
4 oz tomato: cherry tomatoes cut in half OR whole tomato cut in 1” dice +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ¼ cup red onion, dicedGently mix beans + corn with tomatoes + onion. Heat vegetables in microwave 45-60 seconds to warm slightly.
1 oz cooked beef, from steak or roast OR 1 oz roast pork Slice the meat very thinly and warm it briefly if it is cold.
¼ cup basil leaves, chopped +++++++++ 1 Tbsp olive oil +++++++ 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar ++++++++++++ salt and pepperIn a small bowl combine the basil, oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pour over the warmed vegetables and stir to combine. If you are not serving 5 people, cool and store leftovers in the refrigerator. Freezes well.
Plate ¾ cup corn salad per serving and arrange meat on top

The Balloonists

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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. Welcome to purpleroses912 who is now Following.

At the Paris Olympics 2024, the ceremonial Olympic Flame ignited a ‘cauldron of fire’ in the shape of the basket of a hot air balloon which was tethered at the West end of the Jardin des Tuileries. [I put cauldron of fire in quotes because there was no fire. The effect was achieved by intense LED lights and steam, to look like smoke.] This was an homage to the first human ‘flight’ which occurred in France in the 1700s. It was the brain-child of the Montgolfier brothers. Joseph-Michel was born August 26, 1740, and his brother, Jacques-Étienne, was born 5 years later. Their father was a prosperous paper-maker, with lots of children. Jacques-Étienne was studious and practical, while Joseph-Michel had a good imagination but no common sense — as a child, he jumped off the roof to see if he could fly. The brothers ended up inheriting the business, and Jacques modernized the factory, while Joseph thought up things to invent. Seeing laundry billow over a low, drying fire, Joseph thought that hot air from a fire might lift things from the ground. His first idea was to raise soldiers above ground to attack a height during battle. In 1782, Joseph made his first model, then convinced his brother to help him to scale it up. The following year, a prototype flew two kilometers before landing and being destroyed by a local resident who probably thought it was witchcraft. For a larger balloon, fabric was covered with wall-paper to contain 1,060 cubic meters of hot air. The air was kept hot by a brazier containing smol-dering plant matter. At last, in 1783, a public demonstration was held at the Palais de Versailles for the king and queen. The balloon basket held a rooster, a duck, and a sheep who flew for eight minutes. Thus began the history of flight. The Montgolfier Company still makes paper, and humans are still flying: on balloons, in airplanes, in space craft.

Just as ballooning was of French origin, so are the cheeses in our meals: Camembert from Normandie with eggs, and bleu cheese from Languedoc on pizza.

Camembert Bake: 146 calories… 10 g fat… 0.6 g fiber… 9 g protein… 6 g carbs… 90 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages. PB GF  The best-known cheese of Normandy stars in this egg dish. Easy to prepare and so delicious. I hope you will try it.

One 2-oz egg ++++ ½ oz Camembert ++++ 1 tsp Dijon mustard ++++ grating of nutmeg ++++ 2 oz strawberries OR 1.5 oz apple slices ++++  Optional:  5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] ++++  Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories]

Cut the cheese [rind and all] into small chunks and leave to soften at room temperature. Stir in the mustard and nutmeg. Whisk the egg, then stir in the cheese mixture. Pour into an oven-proof dish that has been spritzed with non-stick spray and bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes. When the beverages are ready, plate with the fruit.

Bleu Cheese & Garlic Pizza: 280 calories… 8.6 g fat… 5 g fiber… 10 g protein… 29.5 g carbs… 203 mg Calcium…  PB When a character in a book ate this, I just had to try it. It is good! I based the recipe loosely on one from simplyplayfulfare.com

++++ 1 fajita shell or wrap [be sure it has no more than 150 calories] ++++ 1 Tbsp plain, fat-free yogurt ++++ 1 oz frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove excess moisture ++++ 3 or 4 cloves roasted garlic ++++ 3 Tbsp [½ oz] bleu cheese crumbles ++++ 1 oz finely diced tomato, drained to remove excess moisture ++++ 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated ++++

Heat the oven to 400 F. Put the fajita shell on an ungreased baking sheet. Smear the yogurt evenly over the fajita then sprinkle the spinach evenly on top. Break off pieces of garlic and distribute them around, then put on the bleu cheese and tomato. Dust evenly with the Parmesan. Bake for 5-10 minutes, until the cheese starts to melt.

Claude Debussy

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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.

Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. He was named Achille, after his father who was a shop-keeper. At the time of Debussy’s birth, the art style of “Impressionism” was beginning. In time, Debussy would become the leading composer of Impressionistic music. His family was not well-to-do, and his father had revolutionary leanings. During the Franco-Prussian War, Claude and his siblings were taken to Cannes by their mother. His aunt paid for him to have piano lessons there. Meanwhile, his father sided with the Commune in Paris. Their home-grown anti-clerical socialism landed him in prison. A cell-mate was a musician who’s mother took little Claude as a student. He progressed so well, that three years later, at age 10, Debussy was admitted to the prestigious  Conservatoire de Paris where he studied for 11 years. Professors and classmates thought him unfriendly and thought his music was strange. Yet Debussy won the coveted Prix de Rome, which permitted him to continue his studies in Italy. Soon, Claude decided that he would write his own kind of music, influenced by German and Russian composers and even by the music of Java. His approach to romance lead him to make liaisons with a string of women, each of whom he discarded abruptly, leading to scandal and social disapproval. He married for the last time in 1905 [after each could divorce a prior spouse]. By 1902, his music was gaining an audience, and his opera Pelléas et Mélisande was a success. Often Debussy’s work would be greeted with scorn, but later earn acclaim — for the same piece of music. His work reflected his love of nature, which lead some critics to call it ‘impressionist‘, although Debussy rejected the term. Still, his Clair de Lune [1890] and La Mer [1905] are so evocative of their subjects that they give the impression of a scene, as if looking at a painting by Monet or Turner.

Musical impressionism is linked to French Composers like Debussy and Ravel. Our foods today are very French and will give you an impression of the flavors of the country. Listen to some Debussy music while you partake.

Breton Breakfast: 195 calories… 14 g fat… 6 g fiber… 10.5 g. protein… 25 g carbs… 104 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values shown are for the crepe, egg filling, and the fruit, not for the optional beverages. PB Here is one way to use the galette/crepe batter which you saw in SLOW DAYS: Crepes and you stored in the freezer. You need one galette per serving. Make some extras for a lunch or dinner later this week. Put some cooked galettes in a zipper bag in the freezer for another time.

1 galette ++++ 1 two-oz egg ++++ 1 oz/3 Tbsp diced tomatoes ++++ 1 Tbsp/1 oz diced artichoke, canned or frozen ++++ 1/3 tsp curry powder [seafarers brought a lot of spices to Brittany’s ports] ++++ 1½ oz apples or applesauce ++++ Optional:  5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] ++++   Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] 

Put vegetables and curry in a small sauce pan with any juice still in the tomatoes and cook uncovered until the veg are soft and the liquid has almost evaporated. HINT: do this the night before to save time at breakfast. If your crepe was cooked previously, warm it a little to take off the chill. Cook the egg by frying it in a lightly-oiled non-stick pan. Spoon the vegetable on the crepe, put the egg on top. Hold briefly, if needed, by covering with a domed lid while you pour the beverage and plate the fruit.

Basquaise Chicken: 265 calories… 4 g fat… 4.5 g fiber… 31 g protein… 21.5 g carbs… 87.5 mg Calcium…  PB GF  Basquaise sauce is a splendid flavor to accompany chicken. Having a batch in the freezer really simplifies meal prep.

++++ 4 oz chicken breast meat ++++ ¼ c Basquaise sauce* ++++ 1 slice polenta ++++ 1 tsp Dijon mustard ++++ 1.5 oz snow peas ++++ 2 oz green beans ++++

*BASQUAISE SAUCE: makes 5 cups Excellent for eggs, chicken, fish, pork, polenta. ½ cup = 89 calories 5 g fat 3 g fiber 2 g protein 8 g carbs 21.4 mg Calcium 

2 Tbsp olive oilHeat the oil in a large sauce pan
1 cup onion ++++++  2 cloves garlic +++++++++
optional: 2 oz Bayonne/Serrano ham/pancetta  ++++++3 c./13 oz red bell pepper ++++++3 c./13 oz green bell pepper +++++4 c. tomatoes, seeded 		Chop onions. Crush and chop garlic. Dice peppers and tomatoes.  If using, dice the meat.Add these ingredients and cook over medium-low heat until peppers are tender, 8-10 minutes.
½ cup red wine +++++ 5 g ‘esplette’ pepper or ground cayenne pepper ++++ 2 tsp fresh thyme +++ ½ tsp saltAdd to the panSimmer 10 minutes more

POLENTA: Sv 12 recipe from Bob’s Red Mill…………….. 12 slices: each slice = 43 calories… 0.2 g fat… 1 g fiber 1 g protein… 9 g carbs… 0 mg Calcium

1 cup dry polenta ++++ 3 c water or vegetable stock ++++ 1 tsp salt

Bring salted water/stock to a boil in a 2-qt saucepan. Add the polenta, a few tablespoons at a time, stirring after each addition. Once all polenta is in the water, turn down the heat to its lowest [I used the smallest burner on its lowest setting] and cook 30 minutes. Stir often to prevent lumps, to scrape down the sides, and to keep it from sticking to the bottom.  Unlike risotto, it does not need constant stirring. After 30 minutes, polenta will be very thick – the spoon should stand up by itself. Then cook 2-3 minutes more. Brush a very thin layer of oil on a 9×13” baking pan, and turn the polenta into it. Nudge polenta into corners and smooth out the top. Let it cool as the polenta solidifies. Before serving, cut into 12 squares. Heat a non-stick skillet and spray with cooking spray. Cook the polenta portions until they begin to take on a little color and are heated through. Individually wrap pieces and freeze cooked or uncooked, until needed.

Saute the chicken in a large pan spritzed with cooking spray, until it is almost cooked through. At this point, add the Basquaise sauce to the pan on one side of the meat and the polenta slice on the other side. Cover pan and continue to warm over very low heat.  Cook the vegetables and plate them. Plate the chicken and spread with the mustard. Top with the sauce and plate the polenta. Simple and delicious.

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

1 two-oz egg = US large1.5 two-oz eggs 
Camembert cheesecorn kernels
nutmeg + Dijon mustardchives
strawberries or applespeach
optional smoothieoptional smoothie
optional hot beverageoptional hot beverage

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

150-calorie fajita shell or wrapleft-over beef steak + tomato
roasted garlic + frozen spinachcorn [from the cob!] + basil
plain, fat-free yogurtcanned black beans + red onion
tomato + Parmesan cheeseoil + red wine vinegar
Sparkling waterSparkling water

The Elements: Earth

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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. Welcome sapient, who is now Following.

In Aristotle’s view, the 4 Elements are described by the 4 Properties.

A characteristic of humans is that we want to understand how things work and why. The Sicilian/Greek philosopher Empedocles in the fifth century BCE proposed that all things were made of 4 Roots: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Plato later called them ‘elements’, believing that the smallest unit of matter was an element. [Later, that smallest unit was called an ‘atom’.] In the fourth century BCE, the Athenian philosopher Aristotle [384-322 BCE] made careful observations of the natural world to try to figure out why things were as they were. He concluded that the natural world was composed of combinations of five basic elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Ether. The first four made up earthly things, while Ether made up celestial objects: the sun, planets, stars. Items that contained the Earth element had the properties of being cold and dry and solid and heavy. As a Platonic Solid, the Earth Element’s shape was a cube. Rocks and soil were made of 100% of the Earth Element. This is why a rock will fall to the ground if you throw it: the rock returns to its Element. Humans and land mammals were mostly Earth [they walked on the ground and decayed into soil upon death], although they also contained Fire, since they were warm-bodied. The Earth Element was associated with agriculture and fertility; with Autumn and melancholy; with goddesses such as Demeter and Ceres. This is how we got “Mother Earth”. Our planet is named after the Element, because agriculture depended on it. The 4 Elements were such a clever idea, that the concept endured for generations, until it was replaced by the thinking of Paracelsus (1493-1541). Eventually, scientists found out more about chemistry and biology, and the idea of the 4 Elements was discarded.

Foods are described as having an ‘earthy’ flavor. It is deep and rich and savory. Mushrooms and beets form the basis of our breakfast and our dinner, as we savor the flavor of the Earth Element.

Egg-Mushroom Galette/Crepe: 153 calories… 6 g fat… 2 g fiber… 9 g protein… 17 g carbs… 39 mg Calcium… NB: The food values given above are for the plated foods only, not the optional beverages… PB This is yummy. The eggs are creamy, the mushrooms are earthy, and the crepe is nutty. 

1 galette/savory crepe ++++ one 2-oz egg ++++ 1 oz mushrooms, chopped ++++ 1 Tbspchives, chopped ++++ 1 tsp thyme ++++ generous dash of granulated garlic ++++ 1 oz strawberry OR ½ oz apple ++++   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]

Warm the galette. Spritz the non-stick saute pan with oil or spray and gently cook the mushrooms. Put the chives, thyme, garlic, salt, and pepper in with the egg and beat it up. Scramble lightly with the mushrooms, keeping the eggs moist. Turn egg out on the crepe and fold the galette over the egg. Plate the fruit. Sip your beverages and have a very fine day.

Baltic Dinner: 293 calories… 5.5 g fat… 7 g fiber… 6.6 g fiber … 13 g protein… 33 g carbs… 86.4 mg Calcium…  GF Believe it or not, this diet dinner is adapted from the book Two Fat Ladies Obsessions. The meal has wonderful Eastern European flavors and is so simple to prepare that once I assembled it in 16 minutes!! 

++ 1.5 low-fat hot dogs [I like Hebrew National reduced-fat] ++++ ½ cup canned sauerkraut ++++ ¼ c pickled beets, drained ++++ ¼ c sliced onions ++++ ½ tsp horseradish ++++ 2 Tbsp canned white beans, drained and rinsed ++

Put the hot dogs [frozen or thawed] and onions in a saucepan with a little water or some juice from the sauerkraut. Heat until the dogs are cooked and most of the liquid is evaporated. Remove the dogs and add remaining ingredients to the pan to heat. Cut hot dogs into 5-6 pieces and put them back in the pan until all ingredients are heated through.

Kamikaze

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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 large1 two-oz egg  + curry powder
mushrooms + galette/savory crepe 1 galette + tomato
chives + thymeartichoke hearts
strawberry or appleapple or applesauce
optional smoothieoptional smoothie
optional hot beverageoptional hot beverage

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

1.5 reduced fat beef hot dogsChicken breast
sauerkraut + canned white beansBasquaise sauce
pickled beets + onionsDijon mustard + polenta
prepared horseradishgreen beans + snow peas
Sparkling waterSparkling water

Cleopatra

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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.

What do you know about Cleopatra? If you are basing it on Shakespeare’s play or the Elizabeth Taylor film, then you are perhaps under informed. Was she beautiful? Maybe. Did she sleep her way to the top? Nope. Was she just another pretty face? No way! Cleopatra VII was the descendant of a long line of pharaohs of the Ptolemaic Dynasty. They were really from Macedonia in Greece, but they had ruled Egypt for 10 generations. When her father died, 20-year-old Cleopatra and her 10-year-old brother became co-rulers. Following tradition, the siblings married — to keep it all in the family. [He died a few years later, and another brother was co-ruler.] As pharaoh, Cleopatra was a shrewd politician and tactician, steering the country through famine and into a stable economy. Her undoing was the fault of the Roman Empire and its succession struggles. Julius Caesar’s government had been threatened by rival Pompey, until the latter was murdered in Egypt at the Ptolemaian palace. The Romans invaded Egypt, and Cleopatra decided to side with the winner. She flirted, and she won his heart. Cleopatra and Caesar ruled together, and had a son, Caesarion. On the side, her brother was challenging her rule, so Caesar disposed of him. After Caesar’s assassination, there was competition between the dead ruler’s son Octavian and his father’s protege, Mark Antony. They divided the empire, with Antony taking the East — and Cleopatra too. They had three children together. At last, Octavian attacked the pair, at sea and on land. Seeing the end was near, Antony killed himself. Cleopatra committed suicide on August 12, 30 BCE, no doubt with poison, rather than an asp. How do male historians deal with strong, capable women? By reviling them as evil, wanton temptresses who corrupt men. Now you know the truth. Take it as you will.

Egyptian peasants ate bread and drank beer made from bread. The nobility ate a wide variety of fruits and dairy products, along with poultry and fish. Our breakfast is made entirely of foods known to ancient Egyp-tians, including the fruit and yogurt in the Berry Lassi. The dinner is similarly full of favorites of that era.

Cleopatra’s Breakfast: 187 calories… 8.5 g fat… 3.5 g fiber… 19 g protein… 33.5 g carbs… 301 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values given are for the plated foods only, and do not include the optional beverage.  PB  This meal is based on foods eaten by aristocrats in ancient Egypt. The salty cheese is a good foil to the sweet melon. Be sure to purchase whole-grain pita at 65-75 calories, or cut one to fit our requirements. To add some more Egyptian flavors, serve with the Berry Lassi, even thought that recipe is from India. 

Whole-grain pita bread [75 calories or less] ++++ 5 oz watermelon, rind removed ++++ 1 oz halloumi ++++  Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] or or Berry Lassi [89 calories] ++++  Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories]

Put the halloumi on a dry [ungreased] cast iron pan over medium-high heat and cook it until it is browned on both sides. Plate with the fruit and bread.

Cleopatra’s Supper: 292 calories… 7.6 g fat… 5 g fiber… 25.5 g protein… 30 g carbs… 59.4 mg Calcium…  PB GF Ancient Egyptian nobles partook of a variety of foods, and four of them appear in this simple but delicious meal.

++++ One 2-oz hard-cooked egg ++++ ½ c chickpeas, drained ++++ 2 deglet noor dates ++++ 2 oz chicken breast, cooked ++++

Dice the egg and chop the dates. Cube the chicken and put everything in a bowl. Dust lightly with salt, and gently mix it all together before serving

Dominicans

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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.

Monasticism flourished within the Christian Church in the post-Roman era in Europe. Monks and nuns belonged to different ‘orders‘, each with its own name and rules. One such group was the Dominicans who were approved by the Church in 1215. The order takes its name from its founder, Dominic de Guzman, who had been sent from Spain to southern France to preach. First, he set up a convent for women who had converted due to his preaching. Then he decided to train religious men to be good preachers, and what’s more, to have the learning to preach effectively. Because of this, the group called themselves the Order of Preachers. Before that, preaching was the privilege of bishops only. Dominic began with 16 members who agreed to live as mendicant friars: that is, men who traveled about [instead of living in monasteries] and who lived in poverty, accepting hand-outs from others. The group wore white robes covered by black capes and, in time, they came to be known as the Black Friars. The order valued learning, so soon the major universities of Europe had Dominicans on site. A smudge on the order’s reputation came with the Inquisition, when the Dominicans were the prosecutors. They were also prominent missionaries during the colonial era of European domination. Theologists, philosophers, educators, there have been many famous Dominicans in the past, and the order continues today around the world.

Because the Dominicans eschewed meat, our meals derive their protein from eggs at breakfast and from cheese and nuts at dinner. Both meals are from Southern France, where the Dominicans were founded.

Basquaise Sauce ScrOmelette: 153 calories… 9 g fat… 1 g fiber… 10 g protein… 2.5 g carbs… 50 mg Calcium…   NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF Basquaise Sauce takes eggs to a new level and it is so easy to use if you already have a batch in the refrigerator or freezer.

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 and put it in the ‘fridge for next week.  ++++  2 rounded Tbsp Basquaise Sauce** ++++ 1 oz apples Or ¼ cup blueberries ++++ 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]

Heat a non-stick saute pan which has been spritzed with non-stick spray. Whisk the eggs with salt and pepper to taste and pour into the pan. As the eggs just begin to set, spread the Basquaise Sauce over half of the egg. Fold and continue cooking to your liking. Plate with the fruit and serve the beverage of your choice. Have a spicy day.

**BASQUAISE SAUCE: makes 5 cups ½ cup = 89 calories 5 g fat 3 g fiber 2 g protein 8 g carbs 21.4 mg Calcium Excellent for eggs, chicken, fish, pork, polenta.

2 Tbsp olive oilHeat the oil in a large sauce pan
1 cup onion +++++ 2 cloves garlic +++++ optional: 2 oz Bayonne/Serrano ham/pancetta +++++ 3 c./13 oz red bell pepper +++++ 3 c./13 oz green bell pepper +++++4 c. tomatoes, seeded Chop onions. Crush and chop garlic. Dice peppers and tomatoes.  If using, dice the meat. Add these ingredients and cook over medium-low heat until peppers are tender, 8-10 minutes.
½ cup red wine +++++ 5 g ‘esplette’ pepper or ground cayenne pepper ++++ 2 tsp fresh thyme ++++ ½ tsp saltAdd these to the pan.
Simmer 10 minutes more

Pear & Bleu Cheese Salad: 277 calories… 18 g fat… 5 g fiber… 17 g protein… 22 g carbs… 215 mg Calcium…  PB GF Such a delightful melange of flavors!

2½ cups mesclun [baby greens] ++++ 2 oz pears ++++ 1 oz bleu cheese, sliced or crumbled ++++ 1½ oz tomato, cubed or cherry-type ++++ ¼ oz walnuts ++++ 1 oz cannelli beans, rinsed, drained ++++ 1 tsp olive oil ++++ ¾ tsp white Balsamic vinegar

Toast the walnuts by putting them in a heavy, dry pan and tossing/stirring over medium-high until the nuts become fragrant and slightly browned. Whisk oil and vinegar in a wide, shallow bowl. Add the white beans and the salad greens along with a pinch of finishing salt. Toss to coat with the dressing. Put onto the serving plate and garnish with the remaining ingredients. Amazing.

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

60 calories whole-wheat pita bread3 two-oz eggs 
watermelonsugar + rice vinegar
halloumi cheesesoy sauce + funikake
Berry Lassicucumber + chives
optional smoothieoptional smoothie
optional hot beverageoptional hot beverage

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

cooked chicken breastpurchased Chinese dumplings: pork, chicken
2-oz hard-boiled egghoisin sauce
deglet noor datesblack vinegar
chickpeasbok choy + soy sauce
Sparkling waterSparkling water

Toni Morrison

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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.

Chloe Wofford was born in 1931 in Ohio. Her neighborhood and schools were not segregated, yet racism was all around. At age 12, Chloe became a Catholic and took Anthony of Padua as her baptismal name. From then on, she was called “Toni”. She loved to read and at high school she participated in drama and the yearbook staff. Undergraduate studies at Howard University showed her other types of segregation, both on campus and in Washington, DC. Next came a Masters Degree, then teaching in Texas and at Howard where Toni met her hus-band. Despite divorcing after six years, she kept his last name, becoming Toni Morrison. While working as a fiction editor, Morrison wrote and published her first novel, the Bluest Eye, in 1970. By her third work in 1981, Toni was acclaimed as a writer of note and could quit her day job. Her most famous novel Beloved was made into a film and was the basis of an opera. Over her career, Chloe had many firsts: 1st member of her family to attend college; 1st Black woman to win Nobel Prize in literature; 1st Black person to earn a chair at an Ivy League university. Morrison often said that her real self was Chloe Wofford — that Toni Morrison was her writer’s name, not who she really was. Whatever her name was, Chloe/ Toni Wofford/ Morrison was a force in American Literature up until her death on August 5, 2019.

Morrison wrote about food a lot. It was a metaphor for love and life and the Black experience. Our breakfast is an old staple of Black Southern cuisine, and the dinner is for the author’s enjoyment of fish and fresh vegetables throughout her lifetime.

Hoe Cakes with Fruit & Egg: 183 calories… 5.6 g fat… 5.4 g fiber… 9.5 g protein… 23 g carbs… 44 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values given are for the main meal only, and do not include the optional beverage. PB GF This recipe harks back to Colonial Days in the American South. Everyone from enslaved people to President George Washington ate hoe cakes.  HINT: This recipe makes 6 hoecakes – enough for 2 servings of 3 each. Originally this would be made with white cornmeal, but the yellow has more nutrition.  NB: Hoe cakes were never ‘cooked on a hoe’ by farm workers, as some claim. Silly notion.

3 Tbsp yellow cornmeal – even polenta meal would do +++++  2.5 Tbsp hot water Combine by stirring well to make a mush.Let sit for 15 minutes
1 oz egg white ++++++ ¼ tsp yeastStir into the warm cornmeal mush and let sit for 1 – 12 hours.This was 125 ml in volume
2 Tbsp cornmeal +++++ 2 Tbsp water +++++ ¼ tsp saltMix into the cornmeal mush. If you take some up on a fork, it will sit on top with a little batter dribbling through. If it is not like this, add more cornmeal or more water. This was ½ cup in volume.
Using 2 tbsp of batter per cake, drop onto a hot griddle sprayed with non-stick spray. This should make 6 cakes. Cook on both sides. Best if eaten while fresh.
¼ cup raspberries ++++ 1 tsp honey ++++ one 2-oz eggPut the fruit and honey in a small dish and microwave for 30 seconds.Fry the egg.
Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories]Plate 2 of the Hoecakes with the egg and the other with the berry syrup.Pour with your beverage of choice.

Dear Husband enjoyed this very much and so will you.

Fish Roasted with Summer Vegetables: 288 calories… 5.6 g fat… 8 g fiber… 30 g protein… 18 g carbs… 186 mg Calcium…  PB GF Delicious one-pan meal. AND it is low in calories and fat. Can you believe that a women’s magazine had a similar recipe for 425 calories!!

4 oz pollock or other white fish ++++ ½ slice [0.2 oz] American/streaky bacon ++++ 3 oz zucchini in ½” chunks ++++ 3 oz string beans, cut in half ++++ 3 oz eggplant, cut in cubes ++++ 3 oz cherry tomatoes, cut in half ++++ 1 Tbsp Parmesan cheese ++++ 

Set the oven at 450 F. Cook the bacon in an 8” oven-proof pan, such as cast iron. Remove bacon, chop it and set aside. Put the prepared vegetables in the pan and toss to coat with the bacon fat. Salt and pepper to taste. Roast for 10 minutes. Remove the pan of vegetables from the oven. If you think they will need more cooking, put them back in for 2-3 minutes. They will not be cooked through at this point. Turn oven down to 400 degrees F. Move the vegetables aside so the fish will sit on the hot pan, with the vegetables next to it. Salt and pepper the fish. Return the pan to the oven and bake 5-10 minutes more, depending on the thickness of the fish. Sprinkle the entire contents of the pan with Parmesan cheese and bacon. You could eat it right from the pan.
 

Lammas Returns

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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.

It is fun to have special occasions to punctuate the year. Ancient people, who told time by the sun and its position in the sky, observed that twice a year, the day and night were the same length [we call those “equinoxes”]; and that one day was exceptionally long and one day was equally short [we call those “solstices”]. They held great holidays at those times, to honor the sun. Then, half-way between those days, there were other holidays, giving eight in total, spaced through the year at 1.5 month intervals. Lammas, the Harvest Festival, is one of the four minor celebrations. Since the early Christian church had a way of preempting the non-Christian festivals, the former Celtic holiday of Lughnasa became “Our Lady’s Mass” or “Loaf Mass” [the word ‘lady’ means ‘loaf-kneader’], which was slurred into “Lammas”. The celebration of Lammas begins on August 1st and lasts 2-3 days. Celebrate!

The Lammas festival is all about the harvest, especially grains. If it weren’t a FAST Day, we would enjoy Lammas Bread — but we can have that tomorrow since Lammas is a multi-day occasion! Today we will indulge in ripe summer vegetables, at breakfast and at dinner — and even include a hearty slice of whole-grain bread.

Broccoli-Olive-Tomato ScrOmelette: 150 calories… 8 g fat… 2 g fiber… 13 g protein… 9 g carbs… 91 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF Sometimes things in the ‘fridge say, “Put us in eggs for breakfast.” Who am I to deny their wishes?

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 and put it in the ‘fridge for next week.+++++ 1 oz broccoli +++++ 1 Tbsp cottage cheese ++++ 1 oz tomato ++++ ½ black olive ++++ ¾ tsp Parmesan cheese ++++ pinch of basil ++++ 2 oz strawberries ++++   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]

Dice the tomato and drain in a strainer, overnight if possible. Drain the cottage cheese overnight if it is very liquid. Steam the broccoli and chop it finely. Chop the black olive. Into a hot saute pan spritzed with non-stick spray, add the tomato, broccoli, and olive. Stir until warmed. Whisk the eggs with the cottage cheese and pour over the vegetables in the pan. Scramble or fold as an omelette, hence ScrOmelette, and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Prepare the beverages and plate the berries. Bliss.

Sicilian Caponata: 282 calories… 14.5 g fat… 9 g fiber… 8 g protein… 35 g carbs… 95.5 mg Calcium… PB  GF – If using GF bread  From Jamie Oliver, a taste of Summer in Sicily. Lots of fresh vegetables go into this meal, and it is delicious. Do not be put off by the high fat content: the olives and almonds contribute most of it, and those are healthy fats.

True to form, I forgot to add the garnishes! It was still delicious…
Adaptation = 2 cupsHeat oven to 400 F.
2 tsp olive oil ++++++ 2 c eggplants, in ¾” chunks ++++1 tsp dried oregano/Italian herbs ++++++ Sea saltPut eggplant and seasonings on a small, rimmed baking sheet or on a cast iron skillet. Drizzle with oil and stir to mix. Roast 10 MINS. Take from oven.
½ cup red onion ++++++ 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced ++++ ½ small bunch flat-leaf parsleyFinely chop onion + parsley.In saute pan on cooktop, cook these 2 mins in cooking spray.
1 Tbsp capers, drained +++++6 pitted black olives ++++ 1-2 T. herb vinegarAdd these to the pan, and cook until vinegar evaporates.
16 oz ripe tomatoes, OR 1½ c. canned diced ++++ cooked eggplantRoughly chop tomatoes, add to pan with eggplant, simmer 15 mins until tomatoes are tender.Take off heat.
Parsley leaves ++++++ 2 T. slivered almondsLightly toast almonds. Add pepper/ salt/vinegar to taste, top with these.
1 oz Wh-grain bread Serve on bread Or on pasta OR as a side dish 

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

1 two-oz egg = US large + egg white1.5 two-oz eggs 
yellow corn meal Basquaise Sauce: bell pepper + tomato + garlic >>>>
yeast + honey>>onion + red wine + esplette pepper + thyme
raspberriesblueberries
optional smoothieoptional smoothie
optional hot beverageoptional hot beverage

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

4 oz pollock or white fish/servingsalad greens + pear
bacon + Parmesan cheesebleu cheese + walnuts
cauliflower or broccoli + carrotscannelli beans + tomato
Brussel sprouts + cherry tomatoesolive oil + white balsamic vinegar
Sparkling waterSparkling water

Tainan

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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.

In the 1500s, Portuguese traders in western Asia sailed past an “Ilha Formosa,” or beautiful island. Had they stopped there, they would have found it inhabited by indigenous Austronesian people who had been there for 15,000 years. Life on the island changed in 1624, when ships from the Dutch East India Company landed. Their goal was to establish a trading foot-hold in Asia, so they built Fort Zeelandia on land that they called ‘Taiwan’ — perhaps derived from the native Sirayan word for ‘meeting place’. The city that grew up around the fort became Tainan, the oldest city of the island nation of Taiwan. Meeting place indeed! Although the Dutch controlled the island, in 1661 waves of Chinese from Fujian arrived. Twenty years later, the Qing Dynasty of China extended its dominion over the land. From 1895-1945, the Japanese were in charge. Then in 1949, Chang Kai Shek and his anti-Communist followers arrived. Since then, the island has been called the Republic of China, although the government on the Chinese mainland does not accept their independence. Every time a new ethnic group took over, a new language would be imposed on the citizens. Today, there is an effort to revive the indigenous languages. Tainan City has the oldest Confucius Temple [1665] and the oldest Mazu Temple [1683] on the island. The city is known for its ancient streets and houses, as well as for its lively street food scene. All this year, Tainan will be celebrating its 400th anniversary with festivals, exhibitions, and special events.

For the Dutch, who started it all, a very Dutch Breakfast. For dinner, a very Taiwanese shrimp dish. Happy Birthday, Tainan.

Dutch Breakfast 210 calories… 10 g fat… 3.6 g fiber… 14 g protein… 16 g carbs… 164.5 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages. GF – if using GF bread  This meal is inspired by a breakfast I enjoyed in Amsterdam in 1969. It was memorable because it is so good. Dear Husband’s opinion? “This is one of my favorite Fast breakfasts.”

++++ one 2-oz egg, hard-boiled or coddled HINT: the hardboiled egg can be made days before  ++++ ½ oz ham, 3% fat ++++ ½ of an Arnold Multi-grain Sandwich Thin [50 cal] OR ½ slice 70-cal multi-grain bread [35 cal] OR one “Holland Rusk” [30 cal] ++++ [½ oz cube] Jarlsberg cheese [if you used less bread, you could have more cheese] ++++ 2 oz fresh peach or melon OR 1.5 oz apple or pear ++++ Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] ++OR ++Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [75 calories] ++++

Warm the ham in a skillet, toast the bread, prepare your beverage, slice the fruit, cube the cheese. Are you ready to savor?

Taiwanese Shrimp Meefun: 270 calories… 6 g fat… 3 g fiber… 19 g protein… 33.6 g carbs… 84.4 mg Calcium…  PB GF This recipe is from Susan Livia New York Times Cooking. Some recipes call for dried shrimp, some for smoked tofu. For convenience, I used frozen shrimp.  HINT: Recipe is enough for two [2]. Enjoy the other half of the recipe warm or cool for lunch or dinner later this week.

2 servings Non-stick skillet. Wok.
2 oz rice vermicelliSoak in cold water until softened, 5-10 mins. Drain, save water and warm it. 
2 dried shiitakesSoak until hydrated + softened, ~10 mins. Drain, reserving water. Slice ¼” thick.
Cooking spray +++++ 1 two-oz egg, lightly beatenHeat skillet over medium, spray with PAM. Add egg, swirl to create a thin, even layer. Cook until set + cooked through, ~1 min. Remove egg, cool, slice thinly. 
1 tsp oil ++++++ 2 T shallot, thinly sliced ++++++ soaked mushrooms Put a wok on stove + raise heat to medium-high. Add these and sprinkle with salt. Cook, stirring often, until shallots begin to brown, 3-4 mins.
1 cup carrot, shredded ++++++saltAdd carrot and salt, then cook, until softened but still crisp, 1-2 mins.
1½ c cabbage, shreddedAdd cabbage to wok. Season + cook, stirring,  1-2 mins until slightly wilted.
4 oz shrimp +++++++ 1 Tbsp soy sauce ++++ drained vermicelli ++++++soaking waterCut shrimp in pieces and add to wok with soy sauce, drained rice vermicelli. Add water from steps 1 and 2, in ½ cup increments. Cook, stirring often, until noodles absorb the water, 5-6 mins.
½ tsp white pepper +++++++ Reserved cooked egg  +++ cilantroSeason with pepper, add reserved egg and stir to combine. Serve topped with chopped cilantro.