Hey guys! How’s your day going?? Things are bueno over here 
I started out the morning with a light green juice:
(1 pear, 1 apple, 1/2 cucumber. big handful of parsley)
and a walk with the puppen-havens (puppies) 
When we got back to the casa, I had the standard bfast:
It fills me up perfectly and I feel like the day hasn’t properly started until I’ve had some almond butter. Speaking of almond butter, THIS is my new favorite:
Woodstock farms raw almond butter!! I picked it up at the health store last week, and fell in love instantly. It even beat out Trader Joe’s, which was my previous fave. It has a very similar taste to the TJs AB, but is much thicker and less watery.
Look how creamy this stuff is:
(That pic was for you, HEAB)
Perfect for topping a macaroon:
And then stuffing said ‘roon into my face
I had a few training appointments this morning, which were a lot of fun because the people I’m training right now crack me up. We were doing dumbbell upright rows (for shoulders) and the lady this morning said “You’re lucky I don’t have big tatas, or I would be wacking them with these dumbbells”. HIGHlarious 
I came back to the casa and got dinner into the slow cooker for the pilot, since I wont be home until 9:45 or so tonight.
Spicy Chicken in Peanut Sauce
-Spray slow cooker with nonstick spray and add a large chopped onion, 2 cans of diced tomatoes with green chiles (undrained) and 1 can (14.5 oz) of crushed tomatoes; season with 1.5 ts of cumin, 1 ts cinnamon, salt, pepper, and 2 tbs of honey (I used agave)
-Brown 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (seasoned with S&P) on med-high heat for 4 minutes
-Add the chicken to the slow cooker and cover with sauce
-Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours
-Stir in 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter and serve over rice
Super easy, huh?? I put the chicken in the sauce and put the jar of peanut butter next to the slow cooker with the 1/2 measuring cup on top of the peanut butter jar, This way, when the pilot gets home, all he has to do is stir in the peanut butter, let it heat through, and feast out.
I went back to the gym to do Day 2 of this week’s shape up plan (those walk out push-ups were intense!) and then came back to the casa for lunch, which was super unique and way delicious.
Raw Sweet Potato and Beet Pesto pasta from this book
It’s just spiralized beet and 1/2 sweet potato, topped with an easy pesto sauce (EVOO, sea salt, garlic, pepper) and I added oregano and red chili flakes, grape tomatoes and raw goat cheddar for dessert.
Definitely an example of things you don’t think would go together AT ALL, but were perfect foodie harmony
Now I’m stuffed, and going to take a nap before teaching spin and training clients until later tonight. I hope you have a great day and I’ll see ya soon!
xoxo,
G
Shape Up girls: The spreadsheet has been updated- get those points in there! Keep up the amazing work!
Hi, I'm Gina. Welcome to The Fitnessista! I love blogging about my adventures as a new mom, military wife and fitness instructor, as well as sharing new workouts and recipes. Check out the About page for more info - thanks for stopping by!
enjoy your nap! that ab does look heavenly!
The spiralized veggies look gorgeous!! I've GOT to get on finding one of those things!
The AB looks fantastic-TJ's as my current fav now too, but I haven't seen this around.
The pilot's dinner looks fabulous and full of fantastic flavors, and your dish looks great as well. Is the spiralizer hard to clean?
Hope the rest of your day is lovely!
That lunch looks fab! What kind of spiraler do you use? I'm thinking I need to get me one!
The sweet potato pasta looks so colorful! I like the sounds of that!!
Delicious eats!
And I love Woodstock Farms: it's pure, affordable, and def my favorite brand
Your lunch looks so refreshing for the summer, yum!
Curious about the brand of the spiralizer as well and where to find one! Also, do you have to cook the beets/sweet potato before you spiralize them or just take the skin off?
that raw ab looks so good!! The pilots dinner sounds wonderful too!
have a great tuesday!
That lunch looks so colorful and delicious! Enjoy the rest of your day
Your sweet potato and beet "pasta" looks like heaven on earth. Love it!
I convinced myself NOT to get the $4.99 almond butter at TJ's the other day, and I'm kicking myself for it!
Enjoy your nap
heatrswholefoods- nope it's super easy to clean
krista- it's a joyce chen model- i love it! i got it online for about 30 dollars
anon- nope they're raw… just wash, peel and spiralize
Love love love the woodstock farms almond butter. It's my absolute fav!
YAY for almond butter!
mmmmm, almond butter! Looks great!
Thanks for that chicken recipe, I am going to copy and paste it and make it soon!
I must find that Almond Butter! How much was it?
shelby- it was $9 at the health food store.. the only other raw almond butter in valdosta is 21.99 right now!!
Your raw lunch MIGHT look better than mine. I'm SURE your tatas do.
Your sweet potato salad dish looks so wonderful. Can you just give me a hint about it – is the sweet potato completely raw or steamed?
I don't think I have ever seen a more beautiful raw lunch. It sounds incredible!
I've seen this AB before but have you tried Barney Butter? I'm a big fan but if you say this stuff is the best, I may have to take your advice.
Enjoy your night!
That raw lunch looks amazing!
YUMMY that looks like some good AB!!!! I'll have to look for that brand, havent seen it!
Yum Yum, that almond butter looks delicious!
-Muffy
Gina,
I've never had the Woodstock Farms raw, only their roasted, but oh my gosh, I must try it now. Looks so thick and creamy – thanks for the personal close-up shot.
I love when you include Pilot friendly recipes as I always bookmark them to make for Christian Dior. Thank goodness for the slow cooker, huh? The men can have their meat, and we can eat our yummy raw meals. Your pasta with pesto looked and sounded amazing. That one is getting bookmarked for HEAB!
SWEET potatoe pasta?!!! wooooo…. I need a spiralizer!!!
which brand do you use Gina?
Love the almond butter review. I'll have to look for that brand – TJ's is good, but that one sounds even better!
Yum Gina, That chicken looks yummy. I am making that soon! Thanks
~Justine
Gina,
Can you do a blog about what kind of juicer to buy? What kind do you have?
Can I ask how much the AB cost for you? I just bought that brand yesterday (SO GOOD) at my supermarket and it was $13! The organic version of it was $17 which I really couldn't justify, so I got the cheaper one. But WOW it is good!
hey anon- i use a jack lalane (sp?) juicer and i know andrea of care to eat and sarah from lovinmytummy use a breville juicer. i really like mine a lot, but i've heard the breville is also amazing.
dori- it was only $9! i have no idea WHY, but i bought it up!
Thanks so much for this. I thought I discovered loads of beneficial stuff here yesterday after spending all day going through this private area.