Two weeks ago, my husband Kurt, me, and all of our grown children and their spouses and a girlfriend gathered along the Central Coast of California. With our kids scattered all over the country, it was a glorious getaway with everyone!

I had every intention of sticking to my plan that guarantees freedom from food addiction; but how does a landlocked, Midwest girl pass up clam chowder samples, or a family birthday celebration with traditional cake, or plenty of recreational eating?