Happy Wednesday. It’s time for another What I Ate Wednesday. As always, thanks to Jenn for hosting the link party. Hop on over to Peas & Crayonsto see more WIAW from other bloggers.

One thing I’m learning is that working in a big hospital, you walk a lot, and there are very exact when-and-where rules about eating and drinking. I’m starting to get used to it, but I realized pretty quickly that I need to be on top of making sure I’m getting enough calories to keep me going until I get into a groove and don’t have to think about it.

As someone whose body seems to respond to any major life change by losing 5 pounds for no reason, I’ve learned a few ways to keep that tendency in check over the years (just as valuable as that time I learned “drink until he’s cute” doesn’t work). I’ve found that adding little “extras” here and there (dried fruit in a salad, extra peanut butter and spreads here and there, more protein, etc) along with focusing on strength training, help a lot. You want to hang on to that lean muscle mass, you know?  Of course, there’s vanity involved too—I like to look good in my clothes, not like I’ve been playing dress-up in my big sister’s closet.

Naturally, everyone is different, so what helps one person maintain a comfortable weight may not be what does it for the next person. Really, the main thing I care about is that it shouldn’t feel like hard work. Here’s what Monday looked like:

Breakfast: leftover chocolate chia oats, topped w/ berries and (unpictured, due to tech problems) chocolate PB2 sauce

recycled pic—tech errors!

Lunch: Salad from the cafeteria (eaten outside—about damn time) and an unpictured pink lady apple and coffee 

Dinner: St. Patrick’s Day-ish leftovers from Saturday’s dinner. My mom makes awesome vegetarian stuffed cabbage, and the sautéed/accidentally caramelized cabbage rocked. 

Snack: An unpictured piece of dark chocolate (w/ caramel & black sea salt—I love Trader Joe’s); Greek yogurt w/ fruit, cereal, fig butter and honey later on

What’s the best think you’ve eaten recently?