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 is Saint Augustine, a city in Florida; there is the Saint Augustine of Canterbury, England; and there is Saint Augustine of Hippo. The latter lived in Algeria. son of a middle-class ethnically Berber family. Born in 354 CE, Augustine was a citizen of the Roman Empire, yet was not from Europe. As assimilated Romans, his family spoke only latin, and the Afro-Roman nature of Augustine’s life influenced his philosophy. His mother [Saint Monnica] was a fervent Christian, his father not so much. Augustine was given a good Classical education, even though his parents really couldn’t afford it. While a student in Carthage, Augustine took a mistress [his mother objected], to whom he was loyal for 14 years. He flirted with being a Manichaean, a Persian-African Christianity, later declared heretical [his mother objected]. In Carthage, Augustine became a teacher of rhetoric, but disliked his unruly students. He moved to Rome to set up a school, but disliked his students’ apathy. A move to Milan to teach was a turning point in his life. He met Saint Ambrose, was baptized into Christianity [his mother approved], put aside his mistress, and became engaged to a young heiress whom he never married. Augustine returned to Africa and was pressured to become first a priest, then Bishop of Hippo [now Annaba, Algeria]. In that role, the rising ecclesiastical star preached and debated against heretical sects, and in so doing, refined his philosophy. Only bishops delivered sermons, and Augustine is reputed to have spoken 6000-10000 of them in his lifetime. They were written down by a stenographer at the time, and 600 sermons survive. Augustine was a fluent author. In addition to his sermons, 300 letters, and 100 books [two most popular: Confessions, City of God] leave no doubt as to his ideas. Augustine was against slavery, thought women were here to procreate and help their husbands, and promoted the idea of original sin. His way of uniting Christian, Roman, and Greek/Platonic traditions made his ideas accessible to a wide range of believers. In later centuries, Augustine influenced Luther, Calvin, and many secular thinkers. He died of old age during the sack of Hippo by the Gothic tribe called Vandals. His shrine is in Pavia, Italy.

For the Feast of Augustine, August 28th, our meals reflect the culinary traditions of Berber lands of Algeria and Morocco.

Chlada Felfel [Algerian Salad]: 175 calories… 15 g fat… 2.5 g fiber… 8 g protein… 8 g carbs… 47.5 mg Calcium…  NB: The food values given above are for the plated foods only, not the optional beverages. PB GF This Algerian favorite is often served as a side dish with lunch or dinner. But why not invite it to breakfast? While you are at it, invite a friend since this recipe serves 2 [two] persons. Coffee or tea would be appropriate for this meal, since both are popular in Northern Africa.

Serves 2, 1¼ c per breakfast
2½ oz/½ cup sweet pepper —— 3 oz/½ cup tomato, diced —— 2”/ ½ cup cucumber, diced——2 oz/½ c small onion —— 1 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves—–3 anchovy fillets——6 cured black olives—–	Seed peppers and chop finely. Cut tomatoes into ½” dice. Dice or thinly slice cucumber. Slice onion thinly. Chop cilantro and anchocy fillets. Pit olives and cut in half or chop.
2 tsp olive oil——2 tsp vinegar——¼ teaspoon salt—–¼ teaspoon pepper—-	Place all ingredients in a salad bowl, then toss gently. Divide between bowls.
1 hard-boiled egg, chopped——	Distribute egg bits over top.

Moroccan Tuna: 278 calories… 1.4 g fat… 7 g fiber… 34 g protein… 20.4 g carbs…  PB GF  Morrocan spice blend can really add zest to a simple meal. 

++ 4 oz tuna steak [When I see frozen tuna steaks at the supermarket, I get a few] ++++ Moroccan spices or ground cumin or mint +++ 1/3 cup white beans, rinsed and drained ++++ 1 slice preserved lemon OR 1 slice fresh lemon ++++ vegetable choices, choose ONE: 1/3 cup peas with mint OR ½ cup broccoli florets sprinkled with cumin OR 1/3 cup green beans sprinkled with cilantro ++++ 1.3 oz/½ clementine OR ++ 1.5 oz orange

Rub tuna generously on both sides with Moroccan spices. Chop the lemon and stir into the beans. Bake the tuna on a cast iron skillet for 4-5 minutes per side in a 400F oven. When the vegetable is cooked, drain and stir in the seasoning. Plate it all artistically.

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

melon cubes + Parmesan cheese	1.5 two-oz eggs
prosciutto + red onion pickle	celery + onion
plain Greek yogurt	green bell pepper
blackberries + Balsamic Vinegar	Tabasco sauce + Cajun seasoning
optional smoothie	optional smoothie
optional hot beverage	optional hot beverage

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

turkey breast + cooked brown rice	curry sauce  + peas + cucumber
shallots + olive oil + lemon juice	carrot + Naan bread, 92-calorie
capers + tomatoes + white wine	cauliflower florets + tomato
chicken stock + garlic powder	cooked chicken/turkey meat
Sparkling water	Sparkling water