Hey, Glenda! Your comment about the return of people after the New Year made me laugh. You don't have to wait. We're here.

As the cool weather approaches, I fend off my cravings for starchy comfort foods with things like a good mound of seasoned and buttered cauliflower rice under my meat and vegetables. I'm astounded that it works as well as it does. Pulling out my little book of tricks works for me as long as I stay focused - and stocked with the right foods. Every once in a blue moon I have grabbed a handful of tortilla chips or a few M&Ms or, yes, a "fun size" Halloween Kit Kat or Almond Joy and I'm still here to tell about it, but if I have raw vegetables or walnuts or olives or pickles or grape tomatoes on hand ready to grab, it makes it less likely that I will stray off course.