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.

Alexis is a man of mystery and conflicting histories. Was he born in Rome, son of a prominent, wealthy Christian family? Or was he born in ‘Syria’? [that’s in quotes because modern Syria and ancient Syria had different boundaries] Did he die in Rome, or in the Levant? [Alexis’ skull is housed in Greece] One story says that on his wedding day in Rome, he left the ceremony and went to Edessa, ‘Syria’ [now in Türkiye] where he lived in poverty, begging for his food, to honor Jesus. [I’m not sure how that works. Why not give all of your wealth to help the poor and lift them up?] One day in church, an icon of the Virgin Mary spoke, telling people that Alexis was ‘The Man of God’. [That icon is now in Rome.] Appalled by such notoriety, Alexis fled to Rome where his parents, unable to recognize him, took pity on the beggar and gave him a space under the stairs where he lived for 17 years. When he died, a note was found on his body, identifying him as their long-missing son. The contemporary Roman Catholic Church does not recognize him as a saint in their calendar, but his feast day was June 17.

Our meals represent the Levant and Italy, the two areas associated with the story of Alexis. The French got in on the game in the 13th century with a lengthy poem about the saint, considered by some to be the oldest example of poetry in Old French.

Breakfast Pita Sandwich: 156 calories… __ g fat… 2.5 g fiber… 12.5 g protein… 11.5 g carbs… __ mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given are for the plated foods only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB  “This breakfast pita is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a delicious start to their day! This easy breakfast that serves 2 combines fresh veggies and feta cheese with za’atar, a fragrant spice blend that enhances the taste,” wrote Sarah Hass at EatingWell. This is different and delicious.
 

Sv 2	large nonstick skillet
¼ c diced cucumber—————- ¼ cup diced tomato—————— ¼ cup garbanzo beans—–2 Tbsp crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese—– 1½ teaspoon za’atar	Drain and rinse canned beans. Measure these ingredients into a small bowl and toss together.Divide into two equal portions.TIP: Do this the night before.
Spritz olive oil + spray of PAM——– 2 two-oz eggs	Heat oil in skillet over medium. Put eggs into skillet, cover, cook until whites are set, ~2 mins
	Uncover, cook until done, ~2.5 mins.
½ teaspoon za’atar——one 5” flax-oat pita, halved:  60 calories/pita	Sprinkle eggs with za’atar; place each inside a pita half.
2 portions cucumber-tomato mixture	Spoon into pita halves.

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]

Minestrone Soup:  This recipe can be doubled easily. A fine dinner soup for a hot Summer day. Prepare in the cool of the morning so it can be served in the evening. Great for lunch, too.  PB  GF [if you use GF pasta] 1 cup = 145.5 calories…. 3 g fat…. 5 g fiber….. 8 g protein…. 27 g carbs…. 86.4 mg Calcium….  ½ cup = 73 calories… 1.5 g fat… 2.6 g fiber…. 4 g protein…. 14 g carbs…. 43 mg Calcium….

1 tsp olive oil——1 cup onion, chopped———- 2/3 cup carrot, chopped—— ½ cup celery, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped—– 3 slices pepperoni, chopped	Prepare all these ingredients and put into a sauce pan together. Cook over medium heat until onions begin to wilt.
½ cup sweet or red potato, cubed——½ cup zucchini, diced—— ½ cup mushrooms, chopped 2 cups crushed tomatoes—- ¾ cup small white beans, canned—-lots of sage and rosemary, chopped——1 cup water——- 2 cups chicken broth/stock**	Prepare vegetables as described. Drain and rinse canned beans. Add all these to pan, along with water and broth. Cook at a simmer ~20 mins.  **NB: low sodium broth is preferred>>> If freezing, stop here.<<<
1 oz pasta, whole wheat is better, to boost fiber [orzo/dinetelli/broken spaghetti]	Add pasta and cook until soft, 5-6 mins.
2 tsp Parmesan cheese, grated———————- salt and pepper to taste	Add these, adjust to taste. TIP: Soup improves by letting it sit several hours before reheating and serving hot.

HINT: One serving is one cup, but you could go to 1¼ cups each. This recipe made 4 cups for me – multiple meals from one prep!

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

apple butter + blueberries	1 two-oz egg + prepared horseradish
1 two-oz egg = US large	Romano cheese + chives
buckwheat cakes: flour + buckwheat flour +yeast	WisPride Cheddar spread
1 two-oz egg = US large + vinegar + sugar	fresh apricot
baking powder + baking soda + buttermilk	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

trout filets + carrots	canola oil + green chili powder + red onion
crumbs from a 70-calorie slice of bread	garlic + cumin + mexican oregano + salsa verde
96%-fat free ham + Worcestershire sauce	canned New Mexico green chilis + white beans
one 2-oz egg + scallions	cooked turkey/chicken + tomato sauce + scallion
Sparkling water	Sparkling water