Rice CAN Go in Salads

So I ran another half marathon and took a good two weeks off afterwards.  I continued to eat the same way I was eating when I was running 20 or so miles a week. Tons of calories+no run= rapid weight gain. I haven't changed sizes but it's just something you can notice. The hands have a little more to rest on on the hips these past few weeks. So what did I do? No need to diet or anything! I just decided it was time to get myself back into my 6 days a week workout routine and I also did something else... I decided to start counting my calories for the first time. I downloaded the "livestrong" app and got to work. It has calorie inputs for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks as well as exercise and water intake. I especially like the water intake because it reminds me to keep drinking- as a nursing student that's always on the radar- we don't need no hypovolemia!

For each meal, I search what I have eaten or manually put in the calories if I have the packaging. It keeps track of my intake for the day, letting me know how many more calories I could eat. When I exercise, I can put that in and it gives me back some calories to eat-BONUS- more food!

So what's with the title?

I had about 800 calories left for dinner (and dessert of course) this evening. So what did I have, you ask?...

THIS GLORIOUS SALAD!

2 cup red leaf lettuce: 8 calories
1 cup left over Uncle Ben's brown rice:110 calories [yes, rice can go in salads: it's delicious-try it]
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes: 14 calories
1 Tbs grated parm cheese: 22 calories
1 Tbs olive oil and vinegar salad dressing: 75 calories
1 applewood chicken and turkey sausage- feta and spinach flavor: 120 calories

Total Calories: 349

I've got 370 left for a kick ass dessert!