Diet recipes that work

Gimme a ‘C’

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A lot of good flavors have migrated North across our southern border and today’s menus feature some of them.  And they both begin with the letter ‘c’.  Here at the end of November, let us cheer for sunny tastes and give a cultural embrace to the peoples  who produced them. Fasting Lifestyle is diverse in its sources.

Carne-Green Chili ScrOmelette   289 calories   13.7 g fat   1.9 g fiber    13.6 g protein   18.6 g carbs   59 mg Calcium   GF   The directions below are for an omelette, or as the name ScrOmelette implies, you could scramble it all.carne-scramble

1 ½ 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.                                                                                   ½ ounce carne adavado [pork shoulder boiled with hot spices until it falls apart: make ahead and freeze for future use]                                                                                                                                ½ oz roasted green chilies, drained [Hatch brand is the best]                                                                  1 and 1/2 oz apple or unsweetened apple sauce                                                                                    black coffee or black tea or lemon in hot water                                                                                                5-6 oz green smoothie or fruit smoothie or unpasteurized cider

Whisk the eggs with seasonings to taste. Drain the chilis, if too liquidy, and stir with the carne. Put the eggs into a hot pan spritzed with cooking spray. Once the bottom of the eggs are set, sprinkle with carne and chilis, fold and plate. Slice or dish the fruit, brew beverage, blend the smoothie or take it from the ‘fridge and shake it before serving.

Cesar Salad:   233 calories   9 g fat  2.6 g fiber   24 g protein  4 g. carb   104 mg Calcium  GF Straight out of the Fast Diet book, with quantities changed a teensy bit. Delicious!Cesar Salad

1 and 1/4oz Canadian bacon  [that’s ‘back bacon’ to the Canadians]                                                                                                                                       3 oz chicken breast, left over from a roast or poached if raw                                                                    2 c chopped romaine or 2 c. mesclun                                                                                                                1 T grated Parmesan                                                                                                                                               1 tsp olive oil + ½ tsp lemon juice                                                                                                           Mexican oregano [Cesar Salad after all is of Mexican origin, not from Roman rulers]

Heat the bacon on a hot, ungreased griddle until it begins to brown. Remove and slice into strips. Cut chicken meat into strips or chunks, as you wish. Roughly chop or tear the romaine, if using. Whisk the oil and lemon juice in a salad bowl. Add the lettuce and toss to coat with the dressing. Plate the greens and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and oregano. Arrange the meat on top of the greens. Isn’t that a big meal?!

No Time, version 2

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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. Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

So you say you’ve got no time to comb your own hair let alone make special foods for a diet to make you healthier?  Here are some more menus which are super-fast to prepare and delicious to eat.  As always, planning ahead makes the Fasting Lifestyle go much easier: plan the meals ahead of time and prepare some parts of the meal ahead of time. Try it;  you’ll see how well it works.

Oatmeal for breakfast can be prepared the night before — that saves you time in the morning! The salad for dinner comes together in a snap.

Oatmeal Pudding: 301 cal  3 g fat   3 g fiber   15 g protein    16.3 g carb   199 mg Calcium   GF PB   A riff on a recipe found in Marion Cunningham’s Breakfast Book, this can easily be prepared the night before.      NB: THIS MAKES ENOUGH FOR TWO [2] SERVINGS

oatmeal-cottage cheese pudding

1/2 cup rolled oats, cooked in 1 cup water  HINT: do this the night before or days before                                       2 tsp maple syrup                        ½ cup fat free cottage cheese                                                                                                                            pinch of nutmeg and/or cinnamon          4 Tbsp. blueberries [fresh or frozen]                                                                                                              5-6 oz fruit smoothie or natural apple cider            blackish coffee or blackish tea or lemon in hot water

Cook the oatmeal in the water. Take off the heat and stir in the maple syrup and nutmeg. While it is still a little warm, stir in the cottage cheese. Let sit to cool. HINT: I did this part the night before while cleaning up after dinner. If making one portion, pour half of the pudding into a freezer container and top with 2 Tbsp blueberries. Freeze it. HINT: make the entire batch, eat half of it today and freeze the rest for a really simple-to-prepare breakfast for another day. With the remainder, stir in 2 Tbsp blueberries and pour the pudding into a ramekin. Nuke it for a minute to heat through – longer than that and it will bubble over. Serve with the fruit smoothie, and hot beverage for a hearty, healthy meal.

Tuna-Egg-Tomato Salad: 262 calories 10 g fat 5.8 g fiber 29 g protein 17 g carbs 79 mg Calcium PB  GF– if using GF bread   This is a Spanish-inspired meal from a cookbook called Everyday Tapas. I took out the potatoes and substituted garbanzo beans. The recipe is very simple and delicious as well – perfect to dress up with pansy blossoms [they are edible].  HINT: This makes enough for two meals. Invite a friend or enjoy it as a lovely lunch the next day. Today’s lettuce will wilt by tomorrow, so plan around that.

Tapas Tuna w: egg & tomatoes

5 oz canned white-meat tuna in water                        2 eggs, hardboiled and cut into 1/2” dice                                                                                                          4 oz tomato, cut into 1/2” dice                                  ½ cup garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed                                                                                                    1 cup baby salad greens                  1 ½ tsp olive oil              1 tsp white wine vinegar                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   fresh parsley, salt, pepper               pansy or other edible flowers for garnish                                                                                            optional: 1/2 piece 70-calorie whole grain bread

Drain the tuna and flake the meat into 1” chunks. Whisk the oil and vinegar together and toss with the lettuce. Add everything else, except the flowers, and gently toss to combine with the salad dressing. Garnish with as many flowers as you wish. Serve at room temperature.

Relax

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The busy weeks of the holidays are ahead of us and you know what that means: hurrying to complete ever-longer lists; a little stress; ritual feasting; not a lot of time for planning a healthier you. The Fasting Lifestyle comes to the rescue! You can continue to Fast or you can begin to Fast starting now. By eating less on a Fast Day, you will have more time to chip away at that to-do list. By eating wholesome foods, you will have more energy and feel better about yourself.  Today’s menus are easy to prepare and satisfying to eat.

Still think it will be too difficult to stay on a healthy plan during the holidays? Read this: http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Lose-Weight-Keep-Off-34888357

Bleu Cheese Bake: 292 calories   7.3 g fat    2.3 g fiber  14.3 g protein  37 g carbs  250.7 mg Calcium PB GF  Every time we eat this, we go ga-ga over how delicious it is!  Hope you agree.bleu-cheese-bake-w-r-b-applesauceyog

1 two-oz egg                                                                                                                                                                ¼ oz bleu cheese, crumbly rather than creamy                                                                                             1 Tbsp fatfree cottage cheese, drained                                                                                                           2 oz applesauce, unsweetened with 2-3 raspberries stirred into it                                                              5-6 oz green smoothie or fruit smoothie or natural apple cider                                                              Black-ish coffee, black-ish tea, OR lemon in hot water

Mash the cheeses together with a fork and whisk in the egg. Bake in a lightly-spritzed ramekin at 350 degrees until cooked through, about 12-15 minutes. Dish up the applesauce, pour the smoothie, pour your beverage.

Thai Butternut Squash Soup 260 calories GF PB   Found in the newspaper in Nova Scotia, this recipe makes a lot of delicious soup. Although it looks complicated, given the long ingredients list, the soup goes together quickly.  It freezes beautifully, so you can enjoy it again and again. Don’t forget to add 3 oz of chopped shrimp to each serving. HINT: makes 8 cups of soup. Save out one cup for dinner and freeze the rest in portion-sized servings.Thai butternut squash soup

2 Tbsp vegetable oil                                                                                                                                                     2 cups chopped onion                                                                                                                                                2 cloves garlic, chopped                                                                                                                                        1 tsp salt                                                                                                                                                                            1 Tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated                                                                                                            1 tsp Thai red curry paste, or more to taste                                                                                                    2.5 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and chopped [about 6 cups]                                              3 cups water or unsalted chicken broth                                                                                                            1 lime, zest and juice                                                                                                                                                  1 cup unsweetened coconut milk                                                                                                                      per serving: 3 oz chopped shrimp [raw or cooked – it will cook as the soup is heated]                   1/4 cup baby spinach cut as chiffonade [strips]

Heat oil in large soup pot over medium-low heat. Add onions, garlic, and salt. Cook about 10 minutes or until onions have softened. Stir in ginger and curry paste. Cook for a minute or two longer. Add squash and water/stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until squash is tender, about 15-20 minutes.

Zest and juice the lime. Put 1 tsp of zest and 1 tbsp juice in the pot. Save remaining zest and juice. When squash is tender, stir in coconut milk. Puree the soup in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Return to pot, reheat, adjust flavor with more lime juice and/or curry paste. For each serving, stir spinach and chopped shrimp into hot soup. Serve when spinach is just wilted.

A-B-Cs of Soup

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Nothing is nicer on an late Fall evening than to curl up with a hot satisfying bowl of soup.  Did you know that our word ‘supper’ comes from the French word meaning ‘to eat soup’? The recipes presented today are delicious and easy to prepare. They are easy to eat, too, and have the benefit of providing multiple meals to store in the freezer for busy days.

Asparagus Soup   242 calories   10.7 g fat   7 g fiber   16.3 g protein   33 carb   [GF] PB   This fabulous soup is from Salute to Healthy Cooking and we have been loving it for years. Despite its rich taste, it is very low in calories and fat. HINT: the recipe makes enough for 6 servings. Freezes very well for easy meals later. I serve it here with Finn Crisp crackers covered with melted cheese. If you want to eliminate them, go ahead.asparagus soup

One and a half pounds asparagus                                                                                                          ½ c onion, roughly chopped                                                                                                                           1 cup potato in 1 “ dice                                                                                                                                     5 cups chicken stock                                                                                                                                        4 oz raw chicken breast cut into 4 pieces                                                                                                    salt & pepper                                                                                                                                                  per serving:  1 ½ tps Boursin cheese     4 pieces of Finn Crisp crackers           1 ½ oz Swiss cheese [1 deli slice]

Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus and cut spears roughly in half. Pour the chicken stock into a sauce pan. Add the onion and asparagus. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables so that it will steam/poach while the asparagus is cooking. Bring the liquid to a simmer and put on a lid. Remove the chicken when it is cooked and put it in the blender. When the vegetables are cooked, remove them and put in the blender. Cook the potato in the pot and cook until soft. Pour the stock and the potatoes into the blender with evrything else. Blend until smooth. Return to the pan and season to taste. Cool and divide into 3 portions [or 6 portions if you are serving one] for the freezer.

To serve, thaw the soup and warm it gently. Adjust seasonings. Cut the slice of cheese into 4 strips, 4” x 2”, and put a portion on each cracker. Warm in the oven until cheese melts. Delicious.

*Baked Bean Soup   285 cal  3.5 g fat  8.3 g fiber   11.4 g protein    31.8 g carbs    83.4 mg Calcium  PB GF   This classic is from the Fannie Farmer cookbook and it sure hits the spot. Super easy to prepare.  OK, the carb count is high, but look how low the fat is! And baked beans are good for you!baked bean soup w: grapes & caulifower

1 cup baked beans, canned                                                                                                                               1/8” slice onion, chopped                                                                                                                               1 stalk celery, chopped                                                                                                                                ¾ cup canned diced or stewed tomatoes                                                                                                   1 ½ cup brown stock/beef stock                                                                                                                  dash hot sauce                                                                                                                                              salt & pepper                                                                                                                                                 per serving:  2 lemon slices  [OR squeeze of lemon juice in the soup]                                      1/2 hard boiled egg, sliced or diced to sprinkle on top

Simmer beans, onion, celery, and tomatoes in a covered pan for 30 minutes or until celery is soft. Add brown stock, hot sauce, salt, and pepper and heat through. Run it all through the blender or food processer. Serve with lemon slices and egg slices as a garnish. Fast, easy, inexpensive, good.

Chicken Noodle Soup   293 calories   10.1 g. fat    20 g. protein      28 g. carbs  HINT: This makes enough for two servings. Invite a friend or freeze for another easy meal.Chicken Noodle Soup

3 cups chicken or turkey broth                                                                                                                   2 oz chicken white meat, diced or shredded                                                                                         1 oz broken spaghetti or linguine                                                                                                            ¼ c. white beans, drained and rinsed if canned                                                                                 1.5 oz carrot, diced                                                                                                                                               1.5 oz green beans, cut into 1” pieces                                                                                                               1 0z Canadian or back bacon, slivered                                                                                    seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, dried thyme, dried sage                                                                    Per serving: 1 tsp grated Parmesan cheese + generous sprinkling of parsley

Bring the broth to a simmer and cook the noodles until almost tender. If the chicken is raw, throw it in the pot to cook. Add the beans, carrot, green beans, Canadian bacon and seasonings. When heated through, ladle into bowls and top with the cheese and parsley. Yum. Yum.

No Time

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Got no time at all for dieting? Your life is so hectic that all you can do is grab fast food on the run? Hold it right there, my friend: we’re going to put the FAST in Fasting. The Fasting Lifestyle has something for everyone and today’s menus go on the plate in no time flat. Any more excuses?

Dutch Breakfast 290 calories   8 g fat  3.8 g fiber    16 g protein  36 g carbs    210 mg Calcium GF – if using GF bread   This meal is inspired by a breakfast I enjoyed in Amsterdam in 1969. That was served in a hotel restaurant, but you can pull this together in no time at home, using ingredients straight out of the ‘fridge.Dutch b-fast, h-b egg

one 2-oz egg, hard-boiled or coddled HINT: the hardboiled egg can be made days before ½ oz ham, low-fat from the deli                                                                                                                      ½ of an Arnold Multi-grain Sandwich Thin [50 cal] OR ½ slice 70-cal multi-grain bread [35 cal] OR one “Holland Rusk” [35 cal]                                                                                                                1/4 oz [1/2” cube] Jarlsberg cheese [if you used less bread, you could have more cheese]                         2 oz melon or apple or pear OR a mixed fruit cup                                                                                              4 oz fruit smoothie or green smoothie or unpasturized apple cider                                                   blackish coffee or blackish tea or lemon in hot water

Warm the ham in a skillet, toast the bread, brew your beverage, slice the fruit, cube the cheese. Prepare the smoothie or take the other half of the smoothie recipe from ‘fridge and shake it to mix.

Baltic Bake:  280 cal    5.5 g fat    6.6 g fiber   11 g protein   29 g carbs    75.5 mg Calcium GF Believe it or not, this is from the book Two Fat Ladies Obsessions. The meal has wonderful Eastern European flavors and is so simple to prepare that I assembled it in 16 minutes!!baltic-bake-in-pasta-bowl

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

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 the hot dogs into 5-6 pieces and put them back in the pan until all ingredients are heated through.

Something Veggy

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How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow. On another day this week, eat the meals from another post.  Eat sensibly the other days of the week.  That’s it.  Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

This post is for all the veggie-lovers and plant-based dieters who wish they could follow the Fasting Lifestyle but thought the plan couldn’t accommodate them.  This doesn’t pretend to be a posting for vegans, but there are lots of vegetables on the menu today.

Zucchini Egg Soufflé:   299 calories    7.2 g fat      1.8 g fiber     19.7 g protein    23.6 g carbs      109 mg Calcium   PB GF   When zucchini are plentiful, this is a good way to use them.Zucchini Breakfast Souffle

¼ cup zucchini, grated, steamed, patted dry                                                                                                 ¼ cup fatfree cottage cheese, strained to drain out extra liquid                                                                one 2-oz egg                                                                                                                                                              2 tsp Parmesan cheese                                                                                                                                   pinch garlic powder                                                                                                                                              a few strawberries, or rasperries, or blueberries                                                                                         5-6 oz fruit smoothie or green smoothie or natural apple cider                                                                       nearly-black coffee or tea; or lemon in hot water.

Grate the zucchini on a box grater and steam it over water or ‘saute’ it in a pan with enough water to prevent sticking. Transfer it to paper towels to dry off excess liquid. HINT: steam it the night before and let it drain in a strainer over night. Combine with the cheeses and garlic, and stir in the egg enough to break the yolk and mix all ingredients. Bake at 350 until puffed and starting to brown. Prep your beverages, add the fruit, and there you are: enjoying your veggies.

Red Beans & Rice    295 calories     1.2 g. fat    13 g. protein    57.5 g. carb   PB GF      This is the old classic recipe for the ‘perfect protein’. I used to be afraid that we wouldn’t like it, since it sounds bland, but it is good. Yeah, you’re right, the carbs are way out of control, but for a once-in-a-while this is really good. And besides, these are complex carbs, the best kind. HINT: This is enough for 4 servings! Either have a gathering or cut the recipe or freeze for later.Red Beans & Rice w: gr. beans

1 and 3/4 cups brown rice, cooked                                                                                                                                                          ½ cup celery, chopped                                                                                                                                                      ½ cup sweet yellow or other color pepper, diced                                                                                         1 cup onion, chopped                                                                                                                                            2 cloves garlic, minced                                                                                                                                         ¾ cup crushed tomato                                                                                                                                              oregano +   black pepper                                                                                                                                       1 and 3/4 cups red beans, drained and rinsed [Goya brand is very good]                                      per serving:    ½ cup green beans or peas

Cook the rice. Saute the celery, pepper, and onions for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 5 minutes more. Add the tomatoes and seasonings. Stir in the red beans and heat through. When the rice is done, add 1 and 3/4 cups to the mixture. HINT: if there is extra rice, it freezes well. Serve with the cooked green vegetable.

 

Saint Hubert

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How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow. On another day this week, eat the meals from another post.  Eat sensibly the other days of the week.  That’s it.  Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

Tomorrow, November 3rd, is the feast day of St. Hubert.  According to his legend, he was hunting deer one day in the 7th century A.D. when he espied a stag with a crucifix in his antlers.  This vision was enough to convert the young Frenchman, who went on to become a bishop and a saint.  Deer hunting is a tradition around here and sometimes we are lucky enough to be gifted with some venison, since we don’t hunt.  Mushrooms are commonly found in hunters’ food, so we’ll have some of them, too.

 

Ham & Mushroom ScrOmelette   279 calories   8.9 g fat   4.7 g fiber  17.6 g protein   21.6 g carbs   242 mg Calcium   PB  GF– if using GF bread   Ham and mushrooms are so good together that you owe yourself this treat.

ham-mushroom-scromlette

++3 two-oz eggs of which you will use 1 ½ eggs per person 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. ++++ 1/2 oz mushrooms, chopped ++++  1/4 oz ham [from a roast; if you use 3%-fat ham from deli, the fat will be reduced] ++++  1/4 cup raspberries OR 2 oz unsweetened applesauce ++++ ¼ of an Arnold Sandwich Thin  OR 1/2 slice 70-calorie multi-grain bread ++++ blackish coffee or tea++                                                                                         

Chop the ham and mushrooms and combine. HINT: I did this the night before. Heat a cast iron or non-stick pan and spritz it with oil or cooking spray. Add the ham/mushroom combo and stir to heat and cook the mushrooms, if raw. Whisk the eggs and pour into the pan, stirring to distribute the ham/mushrooms. Cook to your favorite degree of doneness. Dish up the fruit, toast the sandwich bread, brew your hot beverage. What a treat!

Venison Salad: 291 cal      GF      If you have access to venison, this is a great way to celebrate St Hubert’s day.  Farm-raised venison is available on line and in some stores.

venison-salad-w-tomatoes

++3½ oz roasted venison  ++++¾ oz marinated mushrooms  ++++ 1 oz roasted red pepper without oil++++ 1 slice dried pear  ++++ 2 cups lettuce ++++1 tsp olive oil +  ½ tsp balsamic vinegar +++3 oz broccoli ++++ 2 oz tomatoes ++

Slice the roasted venison into pieces less than 1/2” thick. Whisk the olive oil and vinegar together, then toss with the lettuce and mushrooms. Place on a salad plate. Arrange the meat on the salad and arrange the red pepper and broccoli on top. Dice the pear and sprinkle over all.

Ides of October

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To the Romans, the 3 days at the middle of any month were called the Ides.  All anyone thinks about are the infamous ‘Ides of March’ against which Julius Caesar was warned.  There is nothing sinister about the middle of October, so let’s eat [up to 600 calories], drink [lots of water], and be merry about our anticipated weight loss for tomorrow.

Red White and Blue       295 calories      1.4 g fat       3.8 g fiber     20 g protein           45 g carbs 504 mg Calcium      PG GF— if using GF bread      Ricotta is higher in protein and Calcium than cottage cheese, but you could substitute that if you wish.Red White & blue

½ cup fat-free ricotta                                                                                                                                                   ¼ cup blueberries, fresh or frozen [if frozen, keep frozen until ready to use]                                                    ½ cup sliced strawberries, fresh or frozen [after slicing, put into a strainer to let the juices drain]                                                                                                                                                                                       1 slice of 70-calorie multi-grain bread [Nature’s Own] cut into a star with the largest cookie cutter that will fit the bread                                                                                                                             large pinch of cinnamon sugar                                                                                                             blackish coffee or blackish tea or lemon in hot water                                                                                            5-6 oz fruit smoothie, green smoothie or natural apple cider

Cut your slice of bread with the star cookie cutter, freezing the scraps for use in Crab Cakes or Stuffed Clams or Crab-Stuffed Flounder. Sprinkle the bread with a small pinch of cinnamon sugar and toast it. Measure the ricotta onto your plate. Put the fruit on top. [I do not recommend stirring the fruit into the cheese, since it will ‘stain’ the cheese.] Top with a small pinch of cinnamon sugar and plate with the toast. Pour the hot beverage and the smoothie.

Lobster Thermador:    269 calories     13.4 g fat     5.5 g fiber       29 g protein     18.4 g carbs 130.5 mg Calcium    PB GF     Lobster is wonderful for the Fasting Lifestyle, whether you get it pre-cooked or raw. The damage comes when it is slathered in butter. I think that butter masks the clean, pure taste of the lobster, so I haven’t dunked my lovely crustacean in it for years. This recipe is so elegant yet lacks calories to such an extent that I have added a very French dessert course:  peaches and raspberries.Lobster Thermador

¾ cup lobster, cooked and cut into chunks                                                                                                      1 Tbsp heavy cream 2 Tbsp bechamel sauce [see: 1789, posted on July 13, 2016. I always keep béchamel sauce on hand, frozen in small amounts.]                                                                                  ½ tsp Dijon mustard                                                                                                                                                             flat-leaved parsley, chopped, for garnish                                                                                                         3 oz green beans                                                                                                                                            dessert: 1 oz raspberries  +  2 oz peaches, fresh or frozen, cut into cubes

Stir together the cream, bechamel, and mustard. Lightly fold in the lobster. Heap into a ramekin, sprinkle on the parsley, and heat at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cook the beans and put the fruits in a lovely bowl for dessert.

Progress Report: 3.5 Years

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We have been following the Fasting Lifestyle for 3 and 1/2 years.  How’s that working out? Both my husband and I have reached our weight goals AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE WEIGHT LOSS.  That’s the big story — lots of diets will help you to lose weight, but can you then keep it off? I’m here to tell you that on the Fast Diet, yes, you can. By restricting calorie intake to 600 calories [that’s calorie restriction] 2 days a week [that’s called intermittent fasting], and eating wholesome unprocessed food the rest of the week, we have been successful in our weight loss goals.

Are we fasting every day? no.  Are we eating some weird food? no.  Do we avoid entire food groups to keep the pounds off? no. Are we starving ourselves? no.

Mondays and Thursdays we Fast.  Sunday we have a roast for dinner.  Tuesday we eat the roast as leftovers.                                          roast-lamb-w-bordeauxWednesday we eat pasta. carbonara-pasta-roasted-veg-w-barbera-dalba

Friday we eat seafood.    Saturday we eat pizza. grilled-bluefish-w-rhubarb-sauce-aust-riesling forestreet-pizza   And we drink wine and we eat dessert.                                                                                   See, we eat real food, like real people and we still maintain our weight.  Does our weight ever vary? Of course it does — up 2 pounds, down 1.5 pounds — that’s normal.

Happy?  You bet!  Healthy? Yes!  Willing to continue the Fasting Lifestyle?  VERY MUCH SO!   If you are waffling about starting a diet, get on board and follow this food plan.  Happy rest of your life.

PS: If you want to see recipes for the foods we eat the other days as well as the wines to go with them, go to www.peterspicksblog.wordpress.com      It is posted every Friday.

Canadian Thanksgiving

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This event occurs on the second Monday of October, roughly around Columbus Day in the USA. Can you Fast and still Feast?  Let’s live it up with our Canadian neighbors while keeping our calories down. Here’s how:

French Toast   294 calories   6.7 g fat   3.2 g fiber   13.5 g protein   31 g carbs   260 mg Calcium HINT: This recipe makes French Toast for 2 people or two breakfasts. If serving one, prepare all the toast, but put the rest in a bag in the freezer for a really fast breakfast later.french-toast-maple-leafs

4+ slices 70-cal whole grain bread — When the bread has been cut to shape, there should be 4 ounces of bread      For today, I cut them out with a maple leaf cookie cutter                                                    one 2-oz egg                                                                                                                                                                    2 Tbsp fat-free milk                                                                                                                                                 per person: 1 oz strawberries, fresh or unsweetened frozen                                                                        1 and ½ tsp maple syrup         [the REAL kind]                                                                                                                                        one 60-cal sausage I like Al Fresco brand chicken sage breakfast links                                       nearly black coffee or tea or lemon in hot water                                                                                          3 oz green or fruit smoothie or natural apple cider

THE NIGHT BEFORE: Whisk the egg and milk together. Cut the pieces of bread into appropriate shapes using a cookie cutter. [This step is important for the calorie count to come out right, so don’t skip it even if it seems too much like ‘crafty food.’ The bread that is left over can be fed to the birds or saved to make Stuffed Clams] Put the bread into a pan with a rim which is just big enough for the bread pieces. Pour the egg/milk mixture over the bread, making sure it is all wetted. Let stand OVERNIGHT. Also combine the strawberries and syrup.                                                                                                                                                               THE NEXT MORNING, cook the batter-soaked bread in a hot non-stick pan with a spritz of non-stick spray. Cook until browned on both sides. NOW PUT 1/2 OF THE PIECES ASIDE TO COOL. PUT INTO A BAG AND FREEZE THEM FOR A LATER DATE. Cook the sausage, too. Mash the berries a bit and add the maple syrup. Warm the mixture a little and smear onto the plated toast. Enjoy with the sausage, hot beverage of choice, and smoothie.

Turkey Dinner:   Go to the holiday table armed with the facts. I’m not going to tell you what to eat, but I will provide you with some nutritional facts for common foods:chicken-dinner-for-2

4 oz turkey breast, roasted, skinless: 153 calories                                                                                           ½ cup green beans:        21 calories                                                                                                                            ½ cup breadcrumb stuffing:       176 calories                                                                                                                                    ½ cup peas:         62 calories                                                                                                                                          ¼ cup mashed potatoes:         59 calories                                                                                                              2 Tbsp gravy:        16 calories                                                                                                                     pumpkin pie, 1/8th of a 9” pie:       316 calories                                                                                                                             The meal on the left in the photo has 206 calories.   The meal on the right, with stuffing, has 382 calories.  Eat as your conscience tells you, or have a real Fast Day tomorrow.