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.

For a few years now, the State of Texas has been having a row with Mexico. It involves would-be immigrants from Mexico [and other nations] coming over the Texas border to seek citizenship in the US. This is not the first time the two anta-gonists have quarreled, but in the beginning the roles were reversed. Spain was the original colo-nizer of Mexico, since the 1500s, next, for a minute, the French held sway. The Spaniards ruled again in 1815, then Mexico gained independence in 1821. Mexico was a very large country, including all of Central America [except Panama] and parts of the current western United States up through California, Nevada, and Utah. When the United States bought New France [Louisiana Purchase], the US bumped up against Mexico. Eager to colonize its more remote areas, Mexico solicited American settlers. Land Agents were hired to arrange for lots of 300 immigrants from the US to come to settle in the “Texas” area of Mexico. By the late 1820s, the Mexican government began to suspect that there was a plot by the USA to invade/purchase/take over some sovereign Mexican territory. They passed a law forbidding more immigration, and questioning land titles. This lead indeed to a rebellion among the Anglo residents of “Texas”. Throw in a large population of Indigenous tribes who were choosing sides, and things got heated. While Mexico was undergoing some political unrest, the Texians took it upon themselves to write a constitution and form military units for resistance. There were battles and skirmishes, with wins and losses [remember the Alamo?] on both sides. A retreat by the Texians found them in the marshes along the San Jacinto River on April 20, 1836. Mexican reinforcements marched all night and arrived on the 21st, too tired to do anything. That afternoon, the Texians fell upon them yelling “Remember the Alamo!” The battle lasted 18 minutes, then the Mexicans ran away. Six hundred were killed, and as many were taken prisoner. When the leader of Mexico,  Antonio López de Santa Anna, was captured the next day, the Texas Revolution was over, and the Republic of Texas was formed.

Our meals celebrate the Tex-Mex cuisine of the region. If only we could unite over food and stop disputation.

Salsa-Chicken ScrOmelette: 150 calories… 8 g fat … 1 g fiber… 17 g protein… 6 g carbs… 62 mg Calcium…  NB: Food values shown are for the ScrOmelette and fruit only, and do not include the optional beverages. PB GF The lively taste of salsa adds some lift to these scrambled eggs, while chicken and cheese add protein.

++ 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 Tbsp low-fat cottage cheese, drained if very liquid ++++ 1.5 Tbsp tomato salsa, drained if very liquid ++++ ½ oz chicken, cooked and diced ++++ dash of cumin and/or pinch of crushed red pepper if you like it spicier ++++ 1 oz mango OR 2 oz 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] ++

Stir the cheese, salsa, chicken, and seasonings together. Heat a well-seasoned cast iron or non-stick pan and spritz it with oil or cooking spray. Whisk the eggs and pour into the pan. Dollop with the other fixings and scramble the eggs to mix everything together. Cook to your liking. Prepare optional beverages. Plate the eggs along with the fruit and tuck in to a jolly meal.

Eggs Pancho Villa: 283 calories… 9 g fat… 6 g fiber… 16 g protein… 30 g carbs… 157 mg Calcium…  PB GF From La Cuisine magazine comes another eggs-for-dinner meal. This one is named after the notorious Mexican border-raider of the 1800s.  TIP: doubles easily.

++++ ¾ cup white beans, canned, drained, rinsed ++++ ¼ cup chopped onions ++++ 1 clove garlic, chopped or pressed ++++ 1/3 cup crushed tomatoes ++++ 1 two-oz egg ++++ ¼ oz Swiss cheese, grated ++++ ground cumin + chili powder to taste ++++

Cook the onions and garlic in the tomatoes until they are soft. Add some water if the tomatoes get too thick. Stir in the beans and the seasonings. Turn into an oven-proof dish about 4” wide – a small cast-iron skillet works well. Poach the egg and put it on the beans/tomatoes. Top with grated cheese and bake at 400 F. for 3 minutes.