How to eat if you want to lose weight

New Year, New You

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

People often think that the start of a new year is a time to reinvent themselves. Do you think so too? The fact is, most people who make resolutions on New Year’s Eve, break those pledges within two weeks. At that point they either give up and castigate themselves as weak-willed losers, or they try again. The thing is, most resolutions are too ambitious and too general, which makes them difficult to keep. Instead of “I promise to lose all that extra weight” [a goal without a plan], swap it for “I will eat no more than 600 quality calories every Monday.” That is a specific, achievable goal which is aligned with a recognized, recommended way of eating called the Fast Diet. Once you have mastered one day a week, you can move on to another day of low-calorie eating for a total of two days of ‘dieting’ each week. That plan is much easier to live with than depriving yourself every day. What if one of those Mondays is your mother’s birthday and you can’t escape a big celebration with cake?!?! No problem, eat your 600 calories on Tuesday instead. See? Flexibility. Instead of “I will get more exercise” [another goal without a plan], try to think this way: “Before I sit down at the computer, I will do 10 Triceps Dips on the chair first”. Or, while I wait for the microwave to reheat my coffee, I will jog in place until it is done.” By pairing a new behavior with an old behavior, your goal becomes more doable. You can figure out some other new exercise behaviors to pair with activities you do every day. Good luck with your resolutions, and have a Happy New Year!

If weight loss is your goal, have I got menus for you! You won’t have to count calories — I already did it for you. Stick to it! The Fast Diet worked for me and my Dear Husband, it should work for you, too. Our menus today are new, like 2026. They are recipes that we tried this year but have not been published here previously. I hope they will help you to meet your goal for a healthy weight this year.

Succotash Bake: 177 calories… 6.5 g fat… 3.5 g fiber… 10.6 g protein… 20 g carbs… 94.4 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given above are for the egg-bake and fruit only, not the optional hot beverage. —PB GF— Corn and shell-beans were two of the staple crops of First Nations of North America, and they were combined for nutritious meals called ‘succotash’. Here, we bake succotash in eggs. Very good!

++1 two-oz egg++++ ¼ cup corn-lima beans ++++ 1 Tbsp Parmesan, grated++++salt & pepper++++ 2 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] ++

Spritz an oven-proof dish with cooking spray and distribute the succotash on the bottom. Whisk egg, pour on top. Sprinkle with seasoning and cheese. Bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes, plate with apple.

Roasted Zucchini w/ Shrimp + Za’atar: 281 calories… 8.3 g fat… 3.4 g fiber… 28.5 g protein… 21 g carbs … 145.5 mg Calcium…  PB GF Melissa Clark presented this recipe in the NY Times, and I had to try it.  HINT: Recipe serves 4 [four], so this is good for a small dinner party.

4 servingsPut rack 6” from broiler, heat oven to 425F.
18 oz zucchini, halved lengthwise, then sliced ½” thick.—-2 tsp olive oil– ½ teaspoon salt— pinch red-pepper flakes In a large bowl, toss these together. Spread evenly on a rimmed sheet pan. Save the bowl — don’t wash it. Roast ~12 mins, then stir/turn zucchini. 
Return to oven. Roast ~12 mins, until golden.
1# shelled shrimp, I used the size 21-26 per poundPat shrimp dry, add to same bowl used for zucchini. 
2 tsp olive oil—– ½ teaspoon salt—- ¼ tsp red-pepper flakes— 2 tsp za’atar —-zest of 1 lemonAdd these to shrimp, then toss shrimp to coat. Let sit at room temperature.
Take pan from oven. Turn broiler to high. Add shrimp to pan of zucchini, spreading it out evenly. Broil 2-5 mins, until shrimp just cooks through — don’t overcook.
2/3 cup plain fat-free yogurt——pinch salt———- 1 T juice of zested lemon—2 teaspoons za’atar——
1 garlic clove		Mince/grate garlic. Whisk these together. Taste, add more salt or lemon juice, if needed. If mixture is very thick, stir in a little water to loosen it. 
Chopped mint, cilantro or dill—-1 oz whole-wheat artisinal bread per servingSpoon yogurt sauce on top of shrimp + zucchini, sprinkle with chopped herbs. Serve with bread.

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

1 two-oz egg = US large1.5 two-oz eggs 
applesauceone slice 70-calorie whole-grain bread
Pan muffinMediterranean Vegetables
optional smoothieoptional smoothie
optional hot beverageoptional hot beverage

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

slivered almonds + bratwurst + celery2 oz clam meat, fresh or canned + tomato
carrot + sesame seeds + go-chu-jang sauceparmesan cheese + thyme + red bell pepper
soy sauce + rice wine vinegargarlic powder + purchased turkey meatballs
brown rice + kale + lettuce + mint ½ slice 70-calorie whole grain bread + Plain, non-fat yogurt
Sparkling waterSparkling water

Passing: Charley Parkhurst

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

Parkhurst ferries a slightly apprehensive passenger.

 “Passing” means living your life as someone you are not, and getting away with it. The term can be used for people living as a member of another race or of a different sex. Charley Parkhurst was a rip-snortin’, rough-ridin’, rootin’-tootin’, six-gun-shootin’ stagecoach driver of the Old West. Being a stage coach driver, or ‘Whip’, was the job for only the strongest, bravest, most daring of men. They were highly respected, and little boys wanted to be just like them. Parkhurst was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire in 1812. Orphaned as a child, there were some hard years spent in an orphanage. Charley escaped and went to Rhode Island, getting employment at a livery stable. The boss took a shine to Parkhurst, teaching the youth about horses and coach-driving. When gold was discovered in California, Charley headed there and on the way, acquaintance was made with a man who owned a carting business. He hired the 37-year-old to drive delivery carts. Shortly after arriving in the Gold Fields, Parkhurst was kicked in the face by a horse, losing the use of one eye and earning the sobriquet “Cockeyed Charley”. Parkhurst reconnected with his old boss from Rhode Island, who ran a stagecoach line. Thus, Charley became a Whip. The other drivers soon recognized that, despite short stature and small hands, Charley was one of the best. Roads were muddy and rocky, steep and twisty through the mountains. Other dangers included bandits who wanted the bank strong-boxes that the coaches carried, plus bears, and mountain lions. Despite bad weather, floods, and washed-out bridges, Charley’s coaches were always on time, cargo and passengers intact. In 1868, Parkhurst registered to vote and participated in the election. Eventually, railroads took over the transport of people and goods, so Charley retired to a small property, farming in the summer and logging in the winter. When arthritis made motion less easy, Charley down-sized to the cabin where death finally overcame the famous coachman on December 28, 18–. Friends and neighbors had encouraged Parkhurst to see a doctor for his tongue cancer symptoms, but he refused. They found out why when they found him dead and began to prepare Charley for burial — Charley Parkhurst, who had been born “Charlotte”, was in fact a woman. Many of his friends refused to believe it. Parkhurst was so well-known, and the revelation so amazing, that newspapers across the country carried the obituary. Would Charley be considered a trans man today, or was Charley astonishingly adept at concealing his sex? [Before you try to correct me, ‘sex’ is determined by your chromosomes, while ‘gender’ is how you present yourself. Charlotte Parkhurst had the sex of a woman, but presented herself in the gender of a man.] Whatever. Does it matter? Charley showed that a woman can indeed do a “man’s job”, and that they can vote, too.

What did Charlie Parkhurst eat? Most likely simple, hearty foods found at a post stop while the horses were being changed, or meals prepared at home.

Ham ScrOmelette:  150 calories… 7.6 g fat… 1 g fiber… 12.4 g protein… 7 g carb… 45 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB  GF Here’s another classic of the breakfast table.

++ 1½ 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. ++++ ½ oz ground or chopped 3%-fat ham ++++ 2 oz melon or apple ++++ herbs to taste ++++ 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] ++

Chop the ham, slice the fruit, prep your beverage. Heat a cast iron or non-stick pan and spritz it with oil or cooking spray. Whisk the eggs and pour into the pan. When the bottom begins to set, distribute the ham over half of the eggs. {OR warm the ham briefly in the hot pan, pour in the whisked eggs and scramble together until cooked.] Fold the omelette and cook to your favorite degree of doneness. Pour your beverages, and you are off to a good start to your day.

Chicken/Turkey Dinner: 284 calories… 4.5 g fat… 9 g fiber… 31.6 g protein… 34 g carbs… 58 mg Calcium…  PB Perfect use for left-over roasted or lemon-marinated grilled chicken breast. Instead of potatoes, enjoy the crunch of high-fiber crackers. So low in calories that you may even have some lovely fruit for dessert!

++4 ounces roasted breast meat, without skin ++++ ½ cup/3 o z green beans ++++ 2 oz carrots, sliced as coins ++++ 2 pieces Finn Crisp crackers ++++ ½ cup sliced strawberries ++

Warm the cooked meat or not, according to your taste. Cook the vegetables and plate with the meat and crackers. Enjoy those strawberries as a sweet conclusion to the meal.

Christmas-y Words

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

Christmas will be celebrated around the world on December 25 — except for some Eastern Orthodox and Coptic Christians who follow the ‘Julian’ calendar and celebrate on January 7. [The Russian Orthodox Church celebrates on January 7, which they had insisted upon for Ukraine. In 2023, Ukraine switched its Christmas to December 25.] There are many words that are heard at Christmastime, and they are not interchangeable. Let’s look at some of them, and see what they actually mean. **********Christmas: this is a shortening of the name of the church service for December 25th. It was ‘Christ’s Mass’, which was contracted to ‘Christmas’. Originally, it was called the Feast of the Nativity. The first time the words ‘Christ’s Mass’ were used was in 1038 CE. *********X-mas: this is a contraction of ‘Christmas’. In Greek, the spelling of the word ‘Christ’ begins with a “Chi”, the letter “X”. [No connection with Elon Musk.] When people complain that this term ‘takes Christ out of Christmas’, they are unaware that for centuries ‘X’ was a universal symbol for ‘Christ’, and therefore X-mas is still naming Christ. *********Yule: is one spelling of the pre-Christian festival of the winter solstice in Northern Europe. The festival was held for several days around the solstice, which this year will occur on December 21st. In the 9th century, ‘yule’ became a synonym for ‘Christmas’. *********Noel: is the French word for Christmas, when they say “Joyeux Noel”. It is derived from the latin word ‘natalis’, meaning birth. In Old English, it was spelled ‘nowell’. Originally, the word was a shout of joy, rather like saying ‘hooray!’ *********12 Days of Christmas: the span of time from Christmas Day on December 25th to January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany. It was a time for parties and gift-giving among the gentry. Epiphany was the end of the Christmas Season in Medieval Europe. ********Epiphany: This day, traditionally January 6th, is said to be the date when the three Gentile Magi [meaning something more like ‘astrologer’, but it is usually translated as ‘wise man’] arrived to visit Jesus. According to the Gospels, these kings were alerted to the birth of Jesus by watching the night sky and seeing a change in the motion of stars. They brought gifts to the baby, whom they hailed as the King of the Jews.

Happy Christmas or Merry Christmas! For some, it is a religious celebration, for some it is a cultural tradition. However you do it, as Dicken’s Scrooge said, “keep Christmas in your heart all the year long”, .

Our breakfast is based on a Jewish Seder meal, to remind us that Jesus was Jewish. The dinner is home-made Chinese food, since non-Christian families who want to go out for dinner on Christmas often go to a Chinese restaurant, since they would be among the few that were open.

After Seder Breakfast: 289 calories… 10 g fat… 5.4 g fiber… 28 g protein… 30 g carbs…105 mg Calcium… PB NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake only, not the optional beverages. A few left-over bits and bobs from a Seded dinner can make a breakfast later in the week.

++ 2 oz cooked lamb ++++ 1 hardboiled egg ++++ ½ cup cooked spinach +++ ½ cup/3 oz sliced cooked beets ++++ 1-2 tsp horseradish ++++ ¾ oz whole wheat matzo ++++  Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea ++

Cut egg in quarters, cut lamb into bite-sized pieces, squeeze excess water from spinach before measuring. Put egg, lamb, spinach, beets, and horseradish into food processor, and pulse to chop but not puree. Serve like a spread with the matzo.

Egg Roll Dinner: 287 calories… 2 g fat… 2.3 g fiber… 14 g protein… 44 g carb… 52 mg Calcium PB Egg Rolls are fun to prepare at home, so there is no need to order take-out. Prepare the Rolls in advance, then settle down for a fine meal.  

++2 chicken or beef egg rolls**++++ 1 Tbsp soy sauce ++ 1 Tbsp Sriracha++++ 3-4 oz broccoli florets ++++5 cherry tomatoes ++

If egg rolls are freshly-made, keep warm while you prepare the sides. Combine the Sriracha and soy sauce for a dipping sauce. Cook broccoli to your liking. Plate with the egg rolls, tomatoes, and dipping sauce.

Chicken or Beef Egg Rolls makes 7 each: 101 calories.. 1 g fat.. 0.5 g fiber.. 6 g protein.. 27.4 g carbs.. 12.6 mg Calcium  ++ 3 oz raw chicken, cut in strips OR 2 oz roast beef, cut in strips ++++ 1 Tbsp oyster sauce + 1 Tbsp soy sauce ++++ 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed ++++ 1 tsp raw ginger, peeled and chopped ++++ 2 oz carrot, shredded ++++ 1 oz onion, sliced ++++ 3 oz cabbage, sliced ++++ 7 six-inch egg-roll wrappers ++++ 1 tsp sesame oil ++

Combine the chicken/beef, oyster sauce, garlic and ginger in a small bowl. In a heavy-bottomed pan or wok, stir-fry the carrot, onion, and cabbage in ¼ cup water for 4 minutes. Add the meat with the marinade and cook until chicken is done. Put in a food processor and pulse to chop it coarsely. Following the directions on the wrapper package, fill and roll the egg-rolls – use ¼ c of mixture per wrapper. [if you end up with filling left-over, mix it with eggs for breakfast.] Turn oven on to 350 degrees F. Warm oil in a clean, flat-bottomed saute pan. Put egg rolls in the pan and roll them to coat with oil. Cook gently on all sides over warm heat until beginning to brown and blister. Put egg rolls on a pan in the hot oven and bake until they are getting crispy, about 10 minutes?

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

1.5 two-oz eggs = US large1 two-oz egg 
3%-fat hamsuccotash = corn + lima beans
melon or appleParmesan cheese
apple
optional smoothieoptional smoothie
optional hot beverageoptional hot beverage

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

roasted chicken or turkey breast meatzucchini + olive oil + crushed red pepper flakes
green beans + carrots1 pound shrimp [size: 21-26] + za’atar
Finn Crisp crackerswhole lemon + plain, fat-free yogurt + garlic
strawberriesmint/cilantro/dill + whole wheat artisan bread
Sparkling waterSparkling water

Roger II of Sicily

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

Roger the 2nd of Sicily was a Renaissance Man long before there was a Renaissance. He was born on December 22, 1095 in Sicily. But this is not the Sicily that we know today. The Greeks and Romans had made their mark on the island, long before the Common Era. The Byzantines [535 CE] and Arabs [827 CE] had also ruled there for a few centuries. The Normans, before they invaded England in 1066, set out to enlarge their sphere of influence. In 999 CE, they entered Sicily, then took it over under the sword of Roger’s father, Robert Guiscard. Roger became King of Sicily in 1130, and he was well-suited for the job. An excellent linguist, he spoke eight languages, including the patois of the local people. Roger was interested in art and science and geography, and during his reign, all the disparate cultures and religions lived in harmony. Roger was a Christian, but he was a cameleon. Instead of stamping out the other religions, he permitted them to carry on. Instead of imposing Norman French ways and language, Roger adopted some of their customs. He rewrote the feudal code and eliminated most slavery. In his glittering capital Palermo, Roger married a succession of wives, and also kept a harem. He had built the astonishing Cappella Palatina/Norman Chapel within the Norman Palace of his father. The mosaic interior was created by Byzantine Greeks and Arab craftsmen. It is visually stunning and unlike most churches of its day, it celebrates Bible stories and the glory of Roger II, rather than suffering saints. Christ is shown, not in shame on the cross, but in victory as the All-Powerful. Lettering on the walls is in Greek, Latin, and Arabic. Due to his embrace of Arab influences and his reluctance to go on Crusade, popes were wary of Roger, but he continued to grow in wealth and power. His sons administered lands on the Italian mainland, from Rome to the south. Then Roger conquered Tunisia, expanding his grip on trade throughout the Mediterranean. At his death in 1154, Roger was the most powerful ruler in all of Europe. His enlightened governance was not inherited by his sons, and they lost much of the territory and influence that their father had won. Clearly, Roger II of Sicily was one of a kind.

Our meals contains that most prized vegetable in modern Sicily: the eggplant, served in two tasty ways.

Caponata Bake:  165 calories… 7 g fat… 3 g fiber… 8 g protein… 15 g carbs…72 mg Calcium…  PB GF Caponata is a favorite dish in Sicily. Delicious and versitile, it can be enjoyed at breakfast or dinner.

1 two-oz egg +++ ½ cup caponata +++ ½ clementine +++ 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] ++

Stir together egg and caponata.** Pour into an oven-safe dish and bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes. Plate with the fruit, and dream of sunny Sicily.

**CAPONATA: makes 2 cups  Jamie Oliver’s take on a Sicilian classic. 1 cup: 156 calories… 4.5 g fat… 6.5 g fiber…3 g protein… 20.4 g carbs…66.4 mg Calcium ½ cup: 78 calories… 2 g fat… 3.5 g fiber… 1.4 g protein… 10 g carbs 33 mg Calcium ¼ cup: 36 calories… 1 g fat… 1.6 g fiber… 0.7 g protein… 5 g carbs… 16.6 mg Calcium

Can be served with whole-grain bread, on pasta, or polents, as a side for fish or meat.

2 cupsHeat oven to 400F.
2 tsp olive oil—2 c eggplants, in ¾” chunks— 1 tsp dried oregano/Italian herbs —  Sea saltAdd oil to a big pan over high. Toss these to coat in oil, add more if needed. Cook 4-5 mins, stirring at whiles. OR ROAST 10 MINS. – 
½ cup red onion—2 cloves garlic, finely sliced——–½ small bunch flat-leaf parsleyFinely chop onion + parsley.On cooktop, cook 2 mins in cooking spray.
1 Tbsp capers, drained—-6 pitted black olives——–1-2 T. herb vinegarAdd these, and cook until vinegar evaporates.
16 oz ripe tomatoes, OR 1½ c. canned diced toms—-cooked eggplantRoughly chop tomatoes, add to pan with eggplant, simmer 15-20 mins until tender.

Eggplant Patties w/ Onion Marinara: 273 calories… 4 g fat… 8.5 g fiber… 46 g carbs… 43 mg Calcium…  PB GF – if using GF bread/flour/pasta Marcella Hazen, in her Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking, gives the recipe for the patties and a sauce in which to serve them. I added the pasta to the meal. 

++ 4 prepared eggplant patties**, portioned with a 1½ Tbsp scoop ++++ 1 oz pasta– If you use whole grain or high fiber pasta, so much the better ++++ ½ cup tomato-onion marinara ++ 

**Eggplant Patties: makes 7 when using a 1½ tsp scoop = 32 calories each —9 oz eggplant with skin still on— 2 Tbsp bread crumbs— 1 Tbsp spinach chiffonade — 1 tsp minced garlic — 1 egg yolk — 1 Tbsp grated Parmesan — 1 Tbsp white whole wheat flour —

Roast eggplant at 400F until soft, around 15 minutes. Peel it and cut in rough cubes. Put in a collander over a bowl and let it drain, pressing down lightly. Add to a bowl with remaining ingredients. Stir with a fork until well-combined. Heat a skillet and spray with non-stick spray. Using a 1½ Tbsp scoop, put eggplant mixture into the hot pan, flattening it a bit. Cook on each side until starting to brown.

++ Tomato-Onion Marinara makes 1.5 cups  –1.5 c. onion, thinly sliced — 1.5 c. canned whole tomatoes — Salt + pepper — 

Spray a saute pan with non-stick cooking oil and heat it. Add onions and cook at medium-low until onions begin to turn golden. Add tomatoes, chopping them into smaller pieces with a plastic or wooden utensil. Cook until tomatoes have thickened a bit. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Boil the pasta while the patties are cooking. Heat the marinara, then add the cooked pasta. Put some of the sauce in the center of your plate and position the patties on top. Arrange the pasta and sauce around the center, as pleases your eye.

Coal

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

There its much talk around the world about energy to run our daily lives. For millions of years, humans traveled and performed work using their own muscles. That took energy in the form of food. Later, we harnessed animals to carry us and to pull our loads. Again, food was the energy source. For heat, we burned wood, for light we used candles [made of bee’s wax] or oil-lamps [powered by olive oil]. Around 100-200 CE, the Romans in England used coal for heat. In North America, the Hopi Tribe burned coal for cooking, heating, and firing pottery in the 1300s CE. But mostly at that time, water power turned mill wheels and operated machinery. What is coal? It is the only rock that burns. Coal forms over millions of years as plant material from swamps is buried by sediments, slowly decaying without oxygen, until only the carbon remains. Because coal is made of ancient living things, it is classified as a “fossil fuel”. Partially decomposed plant material is called ‘peat‘. More decomposition forms ‘lignite‘, a dull, dusty, brown form of carbon that burns with much soot and less energy output. True coal is ‘bituminous‘ or soft coal, which is the most common type. If bituminous coal is put under pressure, say from mountain-building, it becomes the most prized coal, ‘anthracite‘, shiny and hard and long-burning. Most coal was formed from vast swamps that existed 300 million years ago, during a period of the geologic past called the “Carboniferous”. Coal became a hot commodity in 1769, when James Watt built a steam engine that ran on coal. This ushered in the Industrial revolution. For the next 200 years, coal fueled the development of 1st-World countries: ships, factories, home heating, electrical generation plants, trains — everything ran on coal. Eventually, coal burning gave way to fuel oil — coal use and coal mining waned. By the 1970s, environmentalists were recognizing the down-sides of the mining and burning of coal. From water pollution at the mine sites, to air pollution around sites where coal was used, coal was a problem. The famous fogs of London, described by Conan-Doyle and Dickens, were caused by coal smoke and a new word was invented: ‘smog’, meaning ‘smoke + fog’. Still today, coal burning produces 41% of the world’s electricity. Coal is still forming, but since it takes so long to turn into anthracite, we consider coal to be a ‘finite’ or ‘non-renewable’ resource — if we use up all of the better grades of coal soon, we will run out of it. Better to leave it in the ground as a reserve, while we expand our use of cleaner sources of energy.

Food is what gives our cells the energy to do their job. Today’s menu presents foods from two coal producing countries: the UK and Slovenia. December 18 is the anniversary of the closing of the last deep-site mine in the UK: the Kellingley Colliery in Yorkshire, which mined its last in 2016.

Rounds, with Pan Muffin: 193 calories… 5.5 g fat… 3 g fiber… 6.6 g protein… 30 g carbs… 20 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values given are for the plated foods only, and do not include the optional beverage.  PB All the foods in this meal are round, hence the name. Easy to prepare with Canadian bacon [back bacon to readers in Canada or the UK] and pre-made pan muffins.

++1 slice Canadian Bacon [‘back bacon’ to Canadians] NB: You could go to two slices of the Canadian Bacon for another 20 calories and 6 g protein. ++++ two pan muffin++++2 oz apple, sliced along the equator so the slices are round OR 2 oz applesauce, in a round dish++++  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] ++ 

HINT: For easiest breakfast preparation, mix and cook the pan muffin recipe the night before. Freeze remaining batter or save for muffins tomorrow. Slice the apple and plate it. Cook the Canadian Bacon. Warm the previously-cooked pan muffin. Done!

PAN MUFFIN each: 71 calories… 2.5 g fat… 1 g fiber… 2 g protein… 11 g carbs… 8.5 mg Calcium… ..1 cup Bob’s Red Mill 10-grain hot cereal mix…. 1¼ cup buttermilk…  combine cereal + milk, let sit while preparing other ingredients. .. 1/3 cup butter … 1/3 cup sugar …1 cup unbleached flour…1 tsp salt… 1 tsp baking powder …1 tsp baking soda..

Cream the butter and sugar; mix in the egg. Add the dry ingredients and the cereal/milk mixture. Stir until just combined. Use 2 Tbsp batter for each pan muffin.  [use 4 Tbsp batter to make each muffin for Slow Days] 

Jota: 169 calories…  4.5 g fat… 7.4 g fiber … 11.5 g protein… 25.5 g carbs… 83.5 mg Calcium … PB GF The flavors of Slovakia are in this bean stew. Very satisfying. HINT: This recipe is enough for 4 [four] 1-cup servings.

++ 1½ cups sauerkraut, drained ++++ 1½ cups canned red beans, drained and rinsed ++++ bay leaf ++++ 4 oz red potatoes, cooked and diced ++++ 1 clove garlic, crushed ++++ 2 oz meat from smoked ham hock, cubed ++++ ½ cup or more vegetable broth or water ++++   Optional*: 1 clove garlic, crushed ++++ 1 tsp flour+ 1 tsp oil ++++ Optional**: raw leaves of baby spinach ++

Spray a heavy sauce pan with non-stick spray and cook one of the garlics until golden brown. Add the sauerkraut to the pan with the broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes. In another pan, heat the beans with the bay leaf until warm. Remove half of the beans and put them in a food processor with the cooked garlic and half of the potatoes. Puree, adding water/broth to adjust the liquids. Add the puree, whole beans, potatoes, and meat to the pan with the sauerkraut. Taste for seasonings. Add some water/broth to bring the volume to 4 cups. *Optional: Simmer the other garlic clove in 1 tsp oil until brown. Remove garlic and whisk in 1 tsp flour, then add some stock to make a roux. Stir into the stew as a thickener. **Optional: When the soup is in the bowl, tear the spinach leaves into bits and poke them into the hot liquid to add some extra color, texture, vitamins.

Baby Its Cold Outside

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

Lynn and Frank Loesser sing together.

Context is everything. It can take a song that was originally fun and flirty, and turn it into something scary and dirty. Such is the fate of “Baby, Its Cold Outside“. Frank Loesser, who went on to fame with Broadway favorites like Guys and Dolls, wrote the song in 1944. It was to be a duet between him and his wife, Lynn Garland, to sing at their housewarming party to signal that it was time to leave. Their friends loved it! At every party after that, the duo was asked to sing the song. Before you start clutching your pearls about the lyrics, you must understand the song. In the 1940s and 50s, a nice girl was to be home from a date by midnight. There was no thought of casually spending the night with your boyfriend — your reputation would be ruined. So the girl starts to make the ‘usual’ excuses [time to leave] and the guy gives the lamest excuse to stay [it is cold outside]. She continues to give reasons to leave [family expectations, societal pressures] while he keeps talking about the weather. Note: she never says “I don’t want to stay” — that’s because she DOES want to stay. Together they brainstorm reasons that she could give for not going home: no cabs, insufficient wardrobe, deep snow. The most controversial line — “What’s in my drink?” — was a convenient excuse of the era. But there is NOTHING in her drink except alcohol. The fact that they harmonize on the last line of each verse shows that they are on the same page. To people of a certain age, the lyrics are fun and consistent with the dating scene at the time they were written. We live now in a suspicious age, but we should not judge the past through that lens.

If it is cold outside where you are, consider this scramble from warm Provence for breakfast and a hearty soup for dinner.

Olive-Pepper ScrOmelette:  167 calories… 9 g fat… 2.5 g fiber…10.5 g protein… 6 g carbs… 29 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF I asked Dear Husband for a new omelette idea, and he suggested these flavors straight out of Provence.

++ 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, crack three 2-oz eggs into a jar with a lid and put it in the ‘fridge for next week.  ++++ 1 oz bell pepper, steamed and diced ++++ 1½ black olive, pitted and chopped ++++  1/8 oz [by weight] goat cheese/chevre], diced/crumbled ++++ 2 oz plum OR 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] ++

Whisk the eggs [salt and pepper may not be needed due to saltiness of olives]. Pour into a pan which has been sprayed briefly with cooking spray. When the bottom of the eggs have set, add the vegetables and cheese. Fold over, and plate. Brew your optional beverage and take the optional previously-made smoothie from ‘fridge.

Soup Royaume: 152 calories… 0 g fat… 6 g fiber… 12.6 g protein… 24.6 g carbs… 84 mg Calcium…  PB GF A fine meal for winter, made hearty with autumn vegetables and lentils, it is named after the old lady who saved Geneva from invasion by the Savoyards. Add as much seasoning as you wish. Any soup can be improved by preparing it ahead and letting it sit for 8-24 hours. 

6 [six] servings of 1 cup each OR5 [five] servings of 1¼ cup each
2½ oz pork loin, raw or cooked, diced——½ cup onion, chopped—-3½ oz /½ c dry lentils**Put pork, onions, and lentils in a heavy saucepan and cook until browned.**small green lentils from France, if possible
3 oz rutabega/turnip, cubed—2 oz carrot, diced—3 oz parsnip, diced—3 cups chopped cabbage—–½ tsp mace—½ tsp dry mustard— 1 Tbsp caraway seed —salt & pepper—3 cups waterAdd these to the pan. Pour in water to cover the vegetables. Cover pan and simmer about 1 hour or until vegetables are tender.Taste for seasonings.
½ cup frozen spinach, choppedAdd the frozen spinach, and heat through.
Divide in 6 equal servings. Freeze what you don’t need today.
per serving: several leaves of fresh spinachRoughly chop the leaves and poke into the hot soup when serving. 

A Friend of Bill’s

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

“Are you a friend of Bill’s?” This seemingly innocuous question is an opening gambit that can lead to shared experiences and recovery from a debilitating disease. Who is Bill?? William Griffith Wilson was born and raised in Vermont, where his grandparents ran an inn. In the nineteen-teens, Bill met Lois Burnham, a summer resident of Vermont and attended Norwich University. There, Wilson was a recognized leader and he was trained in New York and Virginia in preparation for World War I. Before Wilson went off to war, he was made a second lieutenant and he married Lois. He also became depressed and started drinking, to ease social anxiety. Following the war, Wilson and his wife moved to Brooklyn. He continued drinking while he worked as a stock speculator. His drinking prevented him from graduating from law school. By 1933, Wilson had been committed four times to a New York hospital that treated alcoholism, but their methods did not help him. A meeting with an old drinking buddy, now sober, inspired Wilson to join a group that used spirituality and fellowship to help alcoholics. After that, a series of events lead him to sobriety: a spiritual experience, a phone call to a supportive person, and wishing to help another person to recover. With fellow sufferer, Bob Smith, Wilson formed a a group for mutual support, and on December 11, 1935, Bill took his last drink. The group was so successful that other groups started. In 1939, Wilson wrote a book called Alcoholics Anonymous, in which he outlined the 12-step program for sobriety in the group called AA. To maintain anonymity, group members would introduce themselves by their first names and last initial only, so Wilson became ‘Bill W’. If a member is looking for a meeting to attend, he/she might ask someone if they were ‘a friend of Bill’s’, a coded phrase to identify fellow AA member. You might hear a Friend of Bill’s being paged at an airport or on a cruise ship. AA has helped millions to get sober and stay that way. Today, there are 123,000 A.A. groups in 180 countries. That’s a lot of people trying to tame their addiction.

For Bill W’s military service in France, an omelette for breakfast. And a dinner from his native New England.

Basquaise ScrOmelette:  165 calories… 8 g fat… 2.5 g fiber… 11 g protein… 11 g carbs… 82.5 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF This recipe, full of the flavors of the Basque region of SW France, comes to us from Salute to Healthy Cooking, published by the French Culinary Institute. Wonderful book from which we cook all year long. Note that this is a baked omelette, so the method is a little different. Faites bien attention.

++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 tomato sauce++++ 2 Tbsp bell pepper, chopped++++ 1 clove garlic or pinch granulated garlic++++ 2 tsp parsley, chopped ++++ 1 tsp Parmesan cheese, grated++++ pinch or two piment d’esplette+++++ 1½ oz apple or pear+++++  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 the oven broiler. In an oven-safe skillet, put the tomato sauce, peppers, garlic, parsley, and 2 Tbsp water. Cook gently on the stove-top until the veg are soft and the water is evaporated. Remove from pan. Add a spritz of non-stick spray and heat the pan. Whisk the eggs with 2/3 of the tomato mixture and pour into the pan. As the eggs cook, gently lift the edge of the eggs and let uncooked egg flow underneath. Do not flip or fold the eggs. Top the eggs with the cheese and put the skillet under the broiler to finish cooking. Prepare the fruit and beverages. Slide the omelette onto the plate OR serve it in the skillet and top it with the remaining tomato/pepper mixture.

Scallops with Sun-dried Tomatoes: 285 calories… 11 g fat… 5 g fiber… 28 g protein… 29 g carbs… 66 mg Calcium…  PB GF Jasper White offers this recipe in his book Cooking From New England. It is simplicity itself to prepare and a delight to eat.  HINT: this recipe serves 2 [two] diners.

Serves 2Prepare a mise in place, since the operations procede very quickly
½ c/¾ oz sun-dried tomatoes – NOT in oil Slice each tomato into 4 strips and put in a small bowl. Cover with hot water. Set aside to soak.
½# scallops salt + pepperTrim off any white tissue. Blot dry on paper toweling. If using sea scallops, cut in half along equator. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
1½ oz red lentil pasta Cook as package directs. Drain, reserving some water.
1 Tbsp olive oil—–1 Tbsp garlic, choppedHeat a saute pan until hot, then add oil. Immediately add scallops in one layer and garlic. Count 30 secs and turn scallops.
1 Tbsp lemon juice—1 tsp butter—-¼ c pasta waterCount 30 seconds and add the drained tomatoes, lemon juice, butter, and pasta water while stirring. Add more pasta water, as needed.
1½ Tbsp parsley/basil——cooked pastaChop the herbs. Count 30 seconds and add the cooked pasta. Heat through and add parsley. Ready to serve.

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

1 two-oz egg = US large1 slice ‘Canadian’ or back bacon
OLIVE-PEPP SCROMapple slices or apple sauce
Pan Muffins: Bob’s Red Mill 10-grain hot cereal mix +
butter + sugar + unbleached flour + leavening
optional smoothieoptional smoothie
optional hot beverageoptional hot beverage

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

SOUPE ROYAUMEJOTA
Sparkling waterSparkling water

James Thurber

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

My parents’ library had many books, but my sister and I went back to one again and again: Thurber Carnival, by James Thurber. It was full of adult humor, yet it appealed to us, too. There were funny stories [The Secret Life of Walter Mitty], odd cartoons, and just enough mystery [why would adults think this is funny?] to make us come back for more. James Grover Thurber was born on December 8, 1894, in Columbus, Ohio. He was second of three sons, and lost sight in one eye at age six, when one of his brothers accidentally shot him with an arrow. Their father was a political aide, his mother was a story-teller with an out-sized sense of humor. Thurber attended Ohio State, but was not graduated. He tried newspaper work, then was sent to France as a code clerk at the end of World War 2. When he returned to the States, his career and his marriage were both very rocky. Newly divorced, Thurber moved to New York, where he met E.B. White. Through White, he got a job as an editor at the neophyte New Yorker magazine. It was White, too, who recognized Thurber as a cartoonist, urging him to publish his art. And so the world was introduced to Thurber’s style: stories of weak-willed married men who dream big dreams as a way to escape their scoffing, criticizing wives; fairy tales that fracture the traditional mode; and delightful parodies of popular norms [Pet Department spoofing the advice column.] As he aged, the vision in Thurber’s ‘healthy eye’ deteriorated, so he drew his cartoons on huge papers, using heavy, dark lines, and composed whole stories in his head for later dictation. In 1961, he was operated on for a blood clot in his brain. He died one month later, taking all his whimsical animals and angsty mid-century urban men with him.

If she had served this for breakfast, perhaps Mr Prebble wouldn’t have wanted to get rid of his wife. Animals such as dogs, seals, and owls populate Thurber’s cartoons, but I liked his rabbits the best. Rabbit Pie for dinner.

Ham Bake: 142 calories… 7 g fat… 1.6 g fiber… 11 g protein… 5 g carbs… 61.5 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given above are for the egg bake and fruit only, not the optional beverages. PB GF The baked version of a ham omelette.

++1 two-oz egg ++++ 1 oz 3 %-fat ham from the deli, minced ++++ 1.5 tsp reduced fat ricotta +++ 2 tsp chives/scallion, chopped ++++ ½ tsp Dijon mustard ++++ large pinch of crumbled sage + salt & pepper to taste ++++ Clementine or 2 oz unsweetened 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] ++

Spritz a ramekin with non-stick spray and set the toaster oven to 350 F. Vigorously whisk the egg, ham, cheese, and seasonings and pour into ramekin. Bake 12-15 minutes until puffed, not until golden. Portion the fruit, pour the beverages and this will surely be a good day.

Rabbit Pie: 275 calories… 6.6 g fat… 4.6 g fiber… 25.6 g protein… 27.5 g carbs… 77 mg Calcium…  PB Rabbit is a common meat in recipes the world over. It is high in protein and low in fat. And yes, it does taste like chicken. You could substitute.

++ 2 oz mushrooms ++++ 4 oz chicken stock ++++ 2 tsp potato starch ++++ 0.55 oz [1 slice] ham from the deli ++++ 3 oz rabbit meat ++++ ¼ cup onions, chopped ++++ big pinch dried thyme + big pinch savory + salt + pepper ++++ ½ Arnold Multi-Grain Sandwich Thin OR a 4” circle cut from whole-grain bread ++++ 1.5 oz carrots ++

If the rabbit is uncooked: Cut it into bite-sized pieces and quickly cook in a saute pan which has been spritzed with non-stick spray. Remove the meat. Chop and cook the mushrooms in non-stick spray, but do not evaporate all of the liquid they give off. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set aside. Add the onions and the stock to the pan along with the mushroom juices and ¼ cup water. Simmer to cook the onions. Whisk in the potato starch and the seasonings. Continue to whisk over heat until the potato starch is dissolved. Cook at a simmer until the liquid measures ¼ cup and is thickened. Add the rabbit meat, ham, and the mushrooms. Simmer for a few minutes and taste for seasonings. Pour and scrape into an oven-proof dish. Top with the Sandwich Thin. Bake at 350 F for15 minutes. Cook the carrots. Plate the meal by first putting the Sandwich Thin on the plate, then covering it with the rabbit-mushroom mixture. Pour any extra liquid so that it is soaked up by the bread. Plate the carrots to complete the meal.

The Grange

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

Have you heard of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry? Probably not, but you might recognize its common name: The Grange. The name is from the French word for “barn”, a necessary outbuilding on every farm. The Grange was formed following a tour of the American South by a commissioner tasked by President Andrew Johnson to look into agricultural practices on small farms. Oliver Kelley visited farms in the former Confederate States and also in the territories and new states of the Midwest. He was horrified by farmers’ lack of knowledge about ‘progressive agriculture’. Kelley thought that if there were a national organization of farmers, that they could trade information and best practices to improve farm output and profits. Through the work of likeminded people, Grange #1 was established in Fredonia, New York on December 4, 1867. The group went national in 1873, setting up an office in the nation’s capital. From its start, the Grange was egalitarian, recognizing the work of women and teenagers on the farm. Every Grange was required to have at least four women among its elected officials, and teenaged boys ‘old enough to push a plow’ were permitted to join. Grange members not only promoted modern farming, they were a major part of the social fabric of the town. They sponsored patriotic celebrations, summer lawn parties, community suppers, and theatrical performances. Eventually, as forms of entertainment became more available and family farms became fewer, the Grange was no longer the sole way to meet people or to spend leisure time and membership dwindled. Today there are still around 2100 Granges in 37 states. We will always need farmers.

Our meals are from the garden and the hen house, just the right food for a Grange member.

Leek & Tomato ScrOmelette: 153 calories… 7.4 g fat… 3 g fiber… 10.4 g protein… 12 g carbs… 73 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF Eggs taste great — leeks and tomatoes always make them even better.

++1½ 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 tomato++++ 0.35 oz leeks, sliced and cooked++++ pinch garlic powder++++ 2 pinches basil++++ 1 clementine OR 2 oz apple++++ 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 tomatoes and put them in a pan which has been spritzed with non-stick spray. Add salt and the basil, and cook until warm. Add the cooked leeks along with the garlic powder. Whisk the eggs and pour over the vegetables in the pan. Cook to your liking: as a scramble or as an omelette. Plate with the fruit, serve the beverages of your choice, and enjoy a fine day.

Gazpacho: 171 calories… 6.5 g fat… 2.4 g fiber… 14 g protein… 14.6 g carbs… 57.6 mg Calcium…  PB GF– if using GF croutons This is from Craig Claibourne’s Gourmet Diet cookbook from 1980. We used to make this, then it fell out of the repetoire. Time to re-embrace this classic Summer soup.  HINT: Serves 3 [three]. Makes a fine follow-up lunch. 


++1 pound red ripe tomatoes ++++ 1 tsp minced garlic ++++ ½ cup diced onion++++½ cup green or red pepper in ½” dice ++++ ½ cup cucumber, diced ++++ 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar ++++ 1 Tbsp olive oil ++++ ¼ cup tomato juice ++++ generous grinds of black pepper + pinch piment d’Esplette OR Aleppo pepper OR cayenne pepper ++++  garnish per serving: 2 oz shrimp, peeled, cooked, cut in ½“ pieces ++++ ¼ oz whole-grain croutons ++


Core and dice the tomatoes. Put them into a blender. Add the next seven ingredients in order. Put the spices on top and turn the blender on to medium speed. When you are finished, all the ingredients should be mixed throughout but there should still be chunks of vegetables. Measure 1 cup of the soup into each bowl and top with the garnishes and a pinch of finishing salt. Just what we need in the Summer.

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

1 two-oz egg = US large1.5 two-oz eggs  + Parmesan cheese
applesauce + chives/scallionstomato sauce + bell pepper
3%-fat ham + sagegarlic + parsley
part-skim ricotta + Dijon mustardpiment d’Esplette + apple or pear
optional smoothieoptional smoothie
optional hot beverageoptional hot beverage

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

3 oz rabbit meat + portobello mushroomsBay scallops + sun-dried tomatoes — not in oil
ham + onions + carrotparsley or basil + butter
chicken stock + herb savory + thymeolive oil + garlic
Arnold Sandwich Thin  or slice 70-calorie breadred lentil pasta + lemon juice
Sparkling waterSparkling water

Advent Challenge

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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. Join me in the Fasting Lifestyle.

Since Dear Husband and I enjoy celebrating holidays with appropriate foods, at Christmas and Advent we always fell back on favorites from our countries of ancestry: Germany, France, England, Ireland. Then one year, it occurred to me that many more nations than those were celebrating Christmas, and that it would be fun to stretch our culinary repetoire to include them. There are 14 countries that do not have Christmas as a national holiday, and five nations where it is illegal to celebrate Christmas. But aside from those, the majority of countries in the world have citizens who keep Christmas. Ever since that epiphany, we have challenged ourselves to eat foods in December from as many different countries as possible: there are 62 breakfasts and dinners in December. It is fun to sample different cuisines — in 2024, 36 countries were represented in our count, since we don’t do a different country every day. I do stretch the boundaries a bit, to include empires that no longer exist: Romans, Mongols; and some that exist in our hearts due to literature, like Tolkien’s Shire. Many of the recipes used for these meals are from my FAST Diet collection, so there is an added benefit — if you ate 300 calories at dinner for even 15 of the days in December, you would have more ‘room’ for eggnog and fruit cake. So many people dread the amount of weight that they gain in December, leading to doomed resolutions in January. By eating Fast meals more than two days per week, we keep our weight down and still enjoy the jolly season.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<Here are some suggestions for meals from diverse cultures>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> France, https://fastingme.com/2025/05/07/antoine-laurent-de-lavoisier/ ————————————– Taiwan, https://fastingme.com/2025/04/06/mazu/ ————————————————————- Ireland, https://fastingme.com/2025/03/16/patrick-has-his-day/ —————————————————— The Frankish Empire, https://fastingme.com/2025/02/26/mayor-of-the-palace/ ———————————– Persian and Mongol Empires, https://fastingme.com/2025/02/09/end-of-an-empire/ ————————— Sri Lanka, https://fastingme.com/2025/01/15/pongol/ ——————————————————– Ukraine, https://fastingme.com/2024/12/15/carol-of-the-bells/ —————————————————- First Nations of America, https://fastingme.com/2021/10/10/dwellings-abenaki/———————— Russia, https://fastingme.com/2024/11/27/saint-herman/ ——————————————————— England, https://fastingme.com/2024/11/24/elizabeth-i/ ——————————————————— United States, Southern, https://fastingme.com/2024/11/13/booker-t-washington/ ———————- Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt, https://fastingme.com/2024/08/11/cleopatra/ ——————————- Canada, https://fastingme.com/2024/06/30/canada-day-3/ —————————————————— Roman Empire, https://fastingme.com/2018/10/14/diocletian/———————————————- Morocco, https://fastingme.com/2023/02/12/morocco/ ———————————————————— India, https://fastingme.com/2019/06/09/crossroads-indian-ocean/ —————————————— Germany, https://fastingme.com/2023/04/16/diet-of-worms/ —————————————————-Japan, https://fastingme.com/2021/02/24/plum-blossoms/——————————————————– Peru, https://fastingme.com/2018/08/22/rose-of-lima/ ———————————————————-

I could go on, but you get the idea. Enjoy your run-up to Christmas, but don’t forget that it isn’t about food or gifts or parties. It is about the coming of the Prince of Peace. The world needs a lot of that. Be an ‘instrument of peace‘ in your part of the world.