Days 4, 5 and 6

I am a survivor!

I endured my first party Friday night with yummy and tempting food all around me. The saving grace was bringing some cleanse-friendly treats for myself. I enjoyed veggies and hummus, popcorn and later a Cocktail Grapefruit -- which is not actually a grapefruit but a sweet, juicy cross between a Frua Mandarin and a Pummelo.

I made another trip to Trader Joe's and stocked up with some new things. (Look at my beautiful fruit above!)

This blogging business takes more time than I have, so I will no longer include all the scrumptious details of my meals. You'll also notice a decrease in photos. I'm sorry, friends, though I think my mother is the only one who actually reads this!

Breakfasts have been mainly oatmeal and fruit or almond butter toast and fruit. I try to vary the fruit so it doesn't get boring. For lunches and dinners, I love sweet potatoes, pasta, rice or beans with veggies and fruit for dessert. Soups are great, too. You can make them yourself or buy soups labeled "Vegan." Trader Joe's has a great split pea variety.

Another challenge: Yesterday my inlaws brought over pizza and this cinnamon dessert that looked like a pizza with frosting dipping sauce. Part of me felt like eating it because they seemed disappointed that I wouldn't partake -- I didn't want to appear ungrateful or high maintenance, but I've worked myself to a point where I didn't even want it. (Okay, I wanted the dessert big time, but not the sausage-laden greasy pizza.)

I whipped out some corn tortillas and warmed them in a little olive oil, topping them with black beans, rice, onions and some delicious Trader Joe's chipotle salsa. The tortillas were on the smaller side so I had three of them, which seemed like an indulgent feast. For dessert? Fresh strawberries! Darrell was happy because he got to gorge himself on the chocolate chip raspberry meringue cookies his mother made the two of us for Valentine's Day.

It makes me stronger every time I overcome one of these temptations. (Hopefully slightly smaller in the hips, too.)

Happy Valentine's Day!