Diets do not appeal to me. My thighs, however, love them. That said, my whole family has climbed aboard the South Beach Diet boat. I still don’t know how I coaxed them, but we’re paddling all the same. Yes, we’re arriving somewhat late, but better late than never. Or is it?

Since Sunday we’ve been swimming in eggs, salads, meat, and ricotta cheese. Waves will be high the first two weeks.  The thunderstorm of eggs already has me shaky.  If I even imagine an egg now, I cringe.  This, and we’re only on day four. Good thing I have my V-8 juice. Great thing I like it.  We’ve already consumed more spinach than Popeye, and I half expect to wake one morning and scare my own self to death with bulging muscles.  Oh, did I mention we can’t eat fruit for two weeks? I now fantasize about apples and oranges. Sad, I know.

Last night we had a prolonged discussion on cheeseburgers and M&Ms. I finally put a stop to this. Food talk hour is now off limits, punishable by extra eggs. Pretty sure this will work.

Now back to the ricotta. With this diet I’m supposed to whip up dessert every night with this white pasty cheese.  You add slivered almonds,  almond extract, artificial sweetener, and serve it chilled.  Yuma!

Just kidding.

It tasted a bit like gussied up glue. The expressions on family faces ranged from horrified to disgusted.  A bit discouraged, the next night I added cocoa powder and baked it. Like a cheesecake, I thought. Oh, I love cheesecake. But I can’t talk about that. Anyway, it was better, but still far from cheesecake. Did someone say cheesecake?

Well, the good news is, weight is dropping. Three pounds down all around. If we can make friends with the egg we’ll have it in the bag.  On the third week, we’ll see our precious fruit once again. Be introduced to a potato.  If you don’t hear from me in the next ten days it means I’ve slipped into an egg induced coma. Someone please call a chicken. But really, this is a fine diet, as far as diets go.

If I could have it my way, though, I’d create the North Beach Diet. Only those who eat chocolate cake, cheeseburgers and French fries could participate.  No bikinis on this beach. Skinny people are not allowed.  Thighs flap here and have a grand time. Triple chins are all the rage.  Sunsets would swirl with barbecue smoke.  Eggs, ricotta cheese and salad would be curse words punishable by law.

But meanwhile I must go toss a salad.