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.

Anyone looking at the Parthenon in Athens, Greece today, would assume that the nearly 3000-year-old building is in ruins due to its age. Not so. The building was begun in 447 BCE, and completed 15 years later. It was part of a complex of religious and civic structures built on the Acropolis, the limestone hill around which Athens grew. Constructed of marble, it was built to last — it has even withstood earthquakes. What finally brought it down was human bellicosity. The Parthenon was built on the site of two previous temples which dated back to 570 BCE. The temple was dedicated to Athena, goddess of wisdom, and its name translates as “temple of the virgin goddess”. Over the years, it was an early Christian church, a mosque, a Roman Catholic church, and a Greek Orthodox church. In 1458, the Ottoman Turks invaded Greece and took Athens. The Ottomans put pressure on neighboring countries in an effort to take them over. By the 1660s, a coalition of European nations, lead by the Republic of Venice, sought to drive the Turks from Greece. There was a siege, during which the Turks stored their gunpowder in the Parthenon, with the idea that no one would shoot at the revered structure. But they did and on September 26, 1687, a Venetian shell hit the powder magazine, creating an explosion that blew off the central roof, toppled pillars, and damaged statuary. For a brief while, the Turks left the city, but took control of it again later. Thus the Parthenon was blown up for nothing. And don’t get started on the “Elgin” Marbles…!

A Greek omelette and a Turkish dinner seem fitting for a discussion about one result of the Turkish occupation of Greece.

Creamy Greek Omelette: 165 calories… 9 g fat… 2 g fiber… 12.6 g protein… 14 g carb… 89 mg Calcium… NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF The feta lends a tang to the eggs, while the cottage cheese gives a wonderful melting texture. A real treat.

++ 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. ++++ 3/8 oz feta cheese ++++ 1½ Tbsp cottage cheese ++++ Greek oregano ++++ salt + pepper ++++ 1½ oz of 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] ++

Mince/crumble the feta and combine with cottage cheese and oregano. Spritz a non-stick skillet with oil or non-stick spray, and heat the pan over medium-low heat. Beat the eggs well with 1 spoonful of the cheese mixture using a rotary mixer. Pour the eggs into the pan and let cook undisturbed until the edges set. Lift the edges gently to allow the uncooked egg to flow underneath. Before the top surface sets, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put dollops of the cheese mixture on half the omelette and make an attempt to spread it out. Fold the omelette in half and continue to heat in the pan. Filling will heat and may ooze out a bit. Brew and pour your beverages. Plate the apple and the omelette. Oh yum.

Lamb Gozleme: 200 calories… 9 g fat… 3 g fiber… 10.5 g protein… 22 g carbs… 101 mg Calcium…  PB This Turkish dish is just the thing when you want something different. HINT: Serves 2 [two]. The recipe doubles easily. The directions are for two large triangles of gozleme. If you prefer, cut the dough into four portions and procede accordingly.

1¼ c white whole wheat flour ++++  ¼ c water ++++++ ½ tsp salt ++++ ¼ c plain yogurt	DOUGH: Mix flour + salt in large bowl. Combine yogurt/water and stir in until well-mixed. Add a bit more water if too dry. On a floured surface, knead ~3 mins,until smooth and elastic. Cover and let sit.
½ tsp Olive Oil ++++ 1 cup onion ++++1 clove garlic ++¼ pound / ~ ¾ c.gr. lamb	Chop the onion and mince the garlic. Saute onion in oil over medium heat 3-4 mins until onion is soft. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.Add lamb and cook while breaking up into chunks for ~5 minutes.= LAMB MIXTURE, beginning
1 tsp tomato puree½ tsp ground coriander¼ tsp pepper + ¼ tsp salt½ tsp paprika1 tsp ground cumin3 oz fresh spinach	Chop the spinach.Add tomato puree and spices to the pan.Add spinach. Cook and stir for a few minutes.Set aside to cool for a bit.Divide into 2 [or 4] bowls.= LAMB MIXTURE, completed
¼ c fresh mint leaves1 scallion, sliced¼ c fresh parsley¼ c feta½ c tomato	Chop the mint and parsley. Slice the scallion into ¼-inch pieces. Cube or crumble the feta. Dice the tomato. Divide these ingredients between 2 [or 4] bowls – not same as above. = FRESH INGREDIENTS
	Divide dough in 2 [or 4] parts. Roll dough into 9 or 10” squares [or 5” squares]. Spread ¼ c. [or 1/8 c.] of lamb mixture over each. Top with fresh ingredients. Fold over dough to form a triangle and crimp edges to seal.
Lemon wedges ++++ olives	Spray a large skillet/griddle with non-stick spray. Cook 3-4 mins/side until golden brown and crisp. Cut each large piece in half and serve with olives and lemons for squeezing.

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

pumpkin puree + baking powder	1.5 two-oz eggs
plain or white whole wheat flour + butter	Gouda cheese
fruit jelly or jam + Canadian bacon	kiwi fruit
clementine + fat-free vanilla yogurt	Pimenta da Queijo [a medium red pepper sauce]
optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

crab meat + scallion + Dijon mustard	tuna steak, 5 oz per serving
egg white + whole-grain fresh breadcrumbs	red bell peppers + olive oil
4 flounder or sold fillets + shallots	zucchini + cherry tomatoes
white wine + side salad with carrot, tomato	lemon juice or lemon wedges
Sparkling water	Sparkling water