The Dr. Liebowitz Flagel Diet

My father, Dr. Liebowitz, is in his 80’s. He sees patients several times a week, is the emotional rock for me, my two sisters and his wife, plays tennis six times a week, walks with his buddies, and has discovered aqua-aerobics at his gym. He’s living a full life and seems pretty pleased with it most of the time, even through the inevitable hard stuff life brings. Our family is prone to pudginess yet he’s kept his weight down for several decades.

What’s his secret for vitality? The Flagel Diet.  A flagel, if you don’t know, is a flat bagel. It’s larger than a bagel and flat. Do not confuse the flagel with a “hollowed out” bagel, where the bready goodness is scooped out leaving just the hard toppings holder hull. It’s more the equivalent of thin-crust pizza, a different animal than deep dish.

So, the diet: First, go to the bagel store and order an everything flagel (could be sesame or poppyseed or garlic, but everything recommended). Have them top it with cream cheese, tomato, onion, and a lot of smoked salmon. Have them cut it in quarters.

Now the key: Eat one quarter of the flagel for breakfast, and SAVE, ie: do not eat, the other three. Eat another quarter for mid-afternoon snack (no lunch!) Give away the last two quarters or eat one more and nothing but salad for dinner. Run around, be social, be loving to the people in your life, take naps.

Keep this up for twenty years, live long and prosper. You’re welcome. I’m gonna keep going.