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Sustainability...ARGH!

So, the detox was a four-day one.  And that fourth day was this past Saturday.  That meant that Day Five could be a return to regularly scheduled bad eating habits...

Wait.  What?  No.  Urm.  Did I say that out loud? 

I knew, deep-down, I was not ready for a long-term commitment to this detox diet.  Four days without coffee, wine, meat, and a little sugar?  Boy howdy, no!  I'd go crazy within the week.

However, I was loathe to undo all the good work I'd spent the last four days doing.  I needed a compromise - and it looked something like this:

- stay off the soda.  Both of us.  However, I could do coffee, though not to excess.
- resume eating as usual, with keener attention to preparation, recipes, etc.  The idea was to keep meals as simple as possible.

Sunday involved a trip to our state's capital, to an Olive Garden, and the newest, showiest grocery store in the state.  I felt that I did well...the Unlimited soup, salad, and breadstick combo deal...I mean, that seems like a decent way to ease back into everyday eating, right?

Then, I learned (after the fact, of course) the dressing on Olive Garden's iceberg lettuce is composed of the following ingredients: 

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup white vinegar 
1 teaspoon vegetable oil 
2 tablespoon corn syrup 
2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese 
2 tablespoon Romano cheese 
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt, or one clove garlic, minced 
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning 
1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes 
1 tablespoon lemon juice 
sugar (optional)

Huh.  Mayo?  Corn syrup?  Huh?  Why do those things need to be in my salad dressing?  I'd planned on the salad's health factor to hedge my bets on the bowl of creamy Zuppa Toscana and two breadsticks.  So much for that, really.  Then, after going to a season premiere of 'Downton Abbey' party last night (light snacks only)...it's no wonder the scale went up nearly a pound this morning.

I shrugged and went on with the day.  I'd figured it would go like that...but it's time to search for the balance somehow. 

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