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.
Time was that the year was divided into four parts, delineated by the four observable solar events: Winter Solstice, Vernal Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox. It was very convenient that these dates could be observed by High Priests or Holy People, since no one had a calendar handy on the wall. Having mileposts on your journey through time help you to mark your way. For herders, the mileposts told you when to move the flocks to grazing in a different location. For farmers, when to plant, when to store up for cold weather. These were also festival days, dedicated to deities of the Sun or deities of the Crops. Sometimes the parties lasted for days! The Sun’s rays will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn on December 21: the moment of the Solstice. This year, on December 22, the Southern Hemisphere will be enjoying its longest day for the first full day of Summer. At the same time, the Northern Hemisphere will be experiencing its shortest day on the first full day of Winter. People here in the North sometimes shiver with dread at the idea of the longest night, but wait! After the Winter Solstice, the days get longer. The converse is true for the beach-going residents of the Southern Hemisphere. All of this season-changing, daylight-changing is due to the tilt of the Earth at 23 degrees from vertical. If the Earth tilted less, seasons would be less pronounced, and the reverse if the Earth were to tilt more. The Wheel turns. The Earth stays true in its orbit. The Sun gives us light. Happy Solstice.
December 22nd will be the first full day of Winter/Summer. Our meals honor both the Summer and the Winter Solstices. It is fun to have special meals to mark events, be they astronomical or cultural. Make the day an occasion!
Summer Solstice Eggs: 140 calories 8 g fat 2 g fiber 10 g protein 7 g carbs 64 mg Calcium NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF When a Fast Day falls on or near the Summer Solstice, it calls for a breakfast to mark the occasion. The scallions, or ‘Spring Onions’, are an obvious choice for the departing season and nothing says Summer like tomatoes and basil. The strawberries straddle the seasons.
1½ two-oz eggs HINT: If you are serving one person, crack three 2-oz eggs into a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Whip up those eggs and pour half of their volume into a jar with a lid and put it in the ‘fridge for next week. 1 oz scallions [2 large], sliced diagonally 2 oz strawberries 2 oz tomatoes, cherry or standard [I used cherry tomatoes, sliced cross-wise] 2 Tbsp fresh basil, sliced across the leaf Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] or lemon in hot water Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories]
After prepping the vegetables and basil [HINT: I did this the night before], put them into a hot saute pan which has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Season them and put a lid on the pan while they heat and soften. Whisk and season the eggs, remove the lid, and pour the eggs over the vegetables in the pan. Cook, undisturbed, until the eggs are done to your liking. Plate the fruit and pour your choice of beverages. Say goodbye to Spring as you welcome Summer.
Winter Solstice Pizza: 283 calories 10 g fat 3 g fiber 16 g protein 16 g carbs 224 mg Calcium PB On the Winter Solstice, we like to prepare a pizza with elements of the season past [mushrooms and olives represent Fall] and of the season to come [cured meats stand in for Winter].
1 whole wheat tortilla [Herdez-brand 8” Fajita-style Tortilla is what I use], must be 170 calories or less 1.5 Tbsp crushed tomatoes + pinch granulated garlic 1 oz mozzerella cheese, grated 1 oz mushrooms [2 Tbsp] 1/3 oz prosciutto 1 Tbsp onion, chopped 1 calamata olive, quartered
Heat the oven to 400 F. Spread the tortilla with the crushed tomato sauce and garlic. Chop the prosciutto roughly and combine it with the mushrooms, onion, and cheese. Distribute over the pizza shell. Sprinkle with herbs, crushed red pepper, or other seasonings to taste. Dot with olive bits. Bake for 5-10 minutes. Light some candles and enjoy pizza on the longest night of the year.
Ingredients for next week: Breakfast, single portion for Monday …………………………… single portion for Thursday:
| 1 two-oz egg + 70-calorie whole-grain bread | 1.5 two-oz eggs + apple |
| corn kernels + diced tomato + red bell pepper | heavy cream |
| red onion + cider vinegar + dry mustard | sugar + cinnamon |
| turmeric + sugar + ground cumin + apple | butter + peach |
| Optional smoothie | optional smoothie |
| optional hot beverage | optional hot beverage |
Dinner, single portion for Monday:………………………….. single portion for Thursday:
| delicata squash + chili powder | hard, rounded stones, such as granite or basalt |
| Bison chili ; ground bison + canned tomatoes | beef + carrot + cabbage |
| garlic + red onion + red or black beans | parsnip + Green beens + red potato |
| green bell pepper + ground cumin + melon | spinach + White beans + herbs |
| Sparkling water | Sparkling water |
2.5 
Eating well, with creative recipes, to follow the Fasting Lifestyle according to Michael Mosley's "Fast Diet." 