Hey everyone! Hope you are having a happy almost-Friday!
I’m so happy you liked the Zumba video! Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous to post it, but you flooded the bloggy with so many wonderful and sweet comments- thank you! <3
Our house has been ridiculously full of foodgasms lately, because I had a lot of un-cooking to do last night.
I got started on my favorite raw malted chocolate tarts(recipe from 105degrees- I used to make these every night when I worked in the restaurant!)
The coconut-almond macaroon crust
and the most decadent chocolate filling ever (made of maca, cashews, coconut oil, raw cacao powder and other deliciousness)
I filled up the tart shells and plopped them into the freezer so they’d be ready for my clients today
Next, I got started on some raw cheesy Kale chips (also from 105degrees).
Two sheets full, dehydrated to perfection while I was sleeping 
When I woke up this morning, I grabbed a piece of millet with maca and cinnamon before heading to the gym:
(Plates R 4 Suckas)
We DOMINATED our legs today! An hour of split squats, kettleball squats, leg presses, side hamstring curls, stability ball hamstring curls, hip raises, abductor and adductor work. Amazing 
I came back to the casa for some protein action!
(1 cup almond milk, 1 cup water, 1 frozen banana, 1 T raw cacao powder, 1 scoop vanilla Sun Warrior, Stevia and cinnamon)
and a heaping bowl of raw kale chips
Next, I got started on my clients’ meals for the day…
Steak and potatoes!
Garlic mashed “potatoes” (made out of fresh almond milk, cauliflower, sea salt, garlic, thyme, pepper, and dehydrated) with a portobello steak: marinated and dehydrated portobello mushroom.
I had a version of this for my lunch, too
My portobello was topped with an egg white puff, served with a side salad and hot sauce all over the “potatoes” 
Everything was wonderful but the hot sauce mixed with the cauliflower was a terrible idea.. it tasted like death. Apparently hot sauce doesn’t go on everything. Who knew???
The cauliflower was destined to garbage disposal city and I munched a banana instead.
I’m off to meet my friend Meara for a long-ish run then training some clients.
Enjoy the rest of your day! <3
Gina
Today’s workout jam: “Never Miss a Beat” by Kaiser Chiefs
Hot sauce doesn’t go with everything? Oh no! I live by the line that anything can be made edible with a little hot sauce… I shall be sure not to involve it with my cauliflower. Though I can say a salsa verde with jalapenos in works quite nicely on cauliflower…
good to know! the red hot sauce was TERRIBLE with it :/
I made some kale chips (not raw, but in the over) with some nutritional yeast. SO MUCH BETTER than without!!!
Those kale chips look amazing! Why are they orange- does that have something to do with them being raw?!
nope that’s just the “cheesy” coating i put on them! SO good
I love portobello mushrooms- must try it “steak” style!
Mmm I’m drooling over those chocolate tarts!
I had an idea for a reader’s request post… what about healthy eating on a budget? I wish that I could go to health food store or whole foods and just fill my cart with all the amazing goodies, but it’s just not in our budget right now. I definitely believe that it’s money well spent if it’s spent on foods that benefit your health, but still I’ve only got so much to work with a week. I’d love any recommendations that you might have
hey laura,
i wsh i could be more help with that. i get asked that question pretty often, but the honest truth is that i spend a ridiculous amount of money on food. buying organic (especially in a small town) is worth it and i tend to go a little buck wild at the health food store, which is also very pricey. maybe that would be a good challenge for me????
We set ourselves to a $150 a week budget for food – that’s in Canada, where my household is just my hubby and I.
I focus on doing weekly menu planning, creating organic, as local as possible meals that are vegetarian or pescatarian. Everything we eat is local, organic and/or sustainably made/grown. And I make sure I only go grocery shopping once a week to avoid overspending.
I find making a list totally helps keep me on budget for my meals each week. Plus not buying meat helps us, as well as eating local food.
I would LOVE to see a Fitnessista budget challenge!
Do you make your fitness clients lunches as part of your job? Or at least, I’m assuming these are clients that you are personal-training. How does that work?
i add in personal chef services to their packages if they request it, since i’m a certified raw foods chef too
That’s pretty cool =O) Do you work out of your gym independently then? I am assuming those extra chef services doesn’t go through your gym?
yes, you can be a contracted trainer at our gym but i’m also employed there because i give orientation training sessions to new members (show them how to use machines and set up a plan) but also train my own clients at the gym
That “steak and potatoes” looks amazing. I wish you were my chef!
I would have thought hot sauce would have tasted good on the cauliflower. Bummer.
My legs are sore just from reading your workout Gina.
I need an Excalibur for those kale chips!!!!!!
Do you know how long roasted butternut squash keeps in the fridge for in a covered container? I made some last Saturday and forgot about it (have no idea how that happened as I’m obsessed lol).
i have no idea but think it should be fine (3-5 days is usually the standard). give it a whiff and see how it smells maybe??
I thought hot sauce really could go on everything, LOL!
Wow Gina!
How do you do an hour long workout for your legs and then go for a long run on the same day?
I would be TOAST! You must be a machine!
hey jamie,
i just make sure to fuel myself really well
my body’s used to it. i work out like it’s my job because well, it is my job
Gosh I wish you could prepare my meals……Looks so good!
The garlic mash looks delicious, going to give it a try maybe at the weekend. Ordered the idiots guide to eating raw, it got some good review on Amazon, so I’m hoping I’ll like the recipes. Have Ani Phyo’s book but it’s a little nut heavy, I way prefer the recipes you have on your blog. Enjoy the run and have a great day!
let me know if you like the book!
yes, i have to watch it on the nuts and try to stay around 1 serving a day.. otherwise my jeans don’t fit
Kale chips look interesting – do you use a dehydrating appliance or put them in the oven? The tarts look delicious too!
i use an excalibur 9-tray dehydrator.. my favorite birthday present from the pilot
Those raw tarts absolutely look like they’re worth a visit to Oklahoma! I would have put hot sauce on the cauliflower as well- shame it didn’t work! They look great, anyway though
Oh WOW! I wish you lived near me so I could be one of your clients and have you cook for me. All of this looks amazing! I had a few questions if you have some time to answer.
1. I’ve noticed that your Maca is not the greenish color that mine is. Are there different kinds?
2.How do you make those amazing looking cheesy kale chips?
3. Do you have the recipe for the raw macaroons? I can’t seem to find it on the site.
Thanks!
i would totally cook for you!
1. hmm.. i have no idea! mine is a light tan color
2. i can’t give the recipe away, since it’s from a restaurant i worked at.. and i beefed it up a little
3. also a top secret because i’d like to publish it one of these days. sorry, i’m not much help today! :/
enjoy your night <3
mmmm mushrooms and cauliflower are sooo good. is it bad that i’m practically salivating over your food?!
no, that’s awesome
Mmmm that protein shake looks so good! I miss havin my blender around!
I have a quick question about the Winter Shape Up. Would a caffeine free herbal tea contribute to my overall water intake for the day? Thanks!!
ehhhh, i’d try to have just plain water in your daily “water intake”. tea is excellent but i don’t think it’s as hydrating as water by itself…
That “cauliflower of death” sounds horrid. Thank goodness you didn’t KILL your clients mashers! I’ve got to go watch this Zoomba video now.
this is a delayed response but your zumba video was amazing..i wish they had that at my gym! your dance training really shined through!
thank you, jewels! <3
haha I honestly can’t take hot sauce on anything! Too spicy!
Gina, seriously, how do you fit it all in?? Blogging, Making food, Training clients, You yourself working out, Zumba, THE Pilot, Friends, Vacays…. Envious!!!
hahah it takes a lot of time management. all of my days are planned out by the hour, but i always include fun time and friend time
Oh and taking pictures and videos of everything. Its awesome and you never seem to be overloaded. P.S. I love portobellos. I always said it was like a vegeterians steak. Its very meaty. I made it in a sauce the other day, but You pretty much do everything raw. Sounds delish though. Do your meals come with your clients fee’s? Or do you just do it to do it? I want to try to do healthy drinks. Im like how you were… ADDICTED TO CAFFINE!!! I swear I WAS as bad as a ciggarette smoker or a druggie because technically caffine is a drug (right?) Anyways, like if I didnt have a pepsi I would be on ends… Now I cut back to just water and an occasional diet pepsi but I want to be off soda completely. So maybe one day we can talk about juicer drinks. I dont have a juicer or anything, and my blender sucks, even though it was for smoothies… The motor always smells like its gunna catch on fire. I guess I need an expensive one. We will catch up. See you Monday!
I just tried millet bread a few days ago, and LOVED it!! Thanks for introducing me to such chewy goodness
i’m so glad you liked it! it’s AMAZING
I’m so jealous of your clients!! haha Seriously, though. That’s awesome. Such a marketable skill, too
Everything looks fab.
OMG, I just watched your Zumba vid and I LOVE IT!!!! I couldn’t help but get up and do it along with you!!! That is SO FUN! I HAVE TO find a Zumba class, PRONTO!!!
Love the chocolate tarts!
hey marisa,
whoo hoo!!! so glad you danced along
ahhh those macaroon treats look to die for!!! i still haven’t found millet bread at the store yet but i am determined since i trust your seal of approval
Hey Gina!
Loved the zumba video! Unfortunately there are no classes near me but maybe I’ll try and follow along haha!
I have a question: How long, an average of course, do your Intro to Iron Pumping and Winter Shape Up Workouts take? I’m taking a fitness class for my last semester in high school and I’m thinking of implementing the workouts! Our class is just under 90 minutes but I’d like to include some cardio too. Could I fit both the strength and cardio in, do you think?
hey hannah,
they take about 30-45 minutes– not too long. you could definitely fit them into your class with some cardio! let me know what you think
Great! Thank you so much Gina and I can’t wait to try them!
Those tarts look A-mazing.
Great eats!!
Hi Gina, I’ve been looking everywhere for Millet bread and can’t find it at any of the grocery stores here. Where do you buy it?
i get it at the health food store but most health stores should carry it
The kale chips look great and I havent made a batch in a couple weeks…need to get on that!
Thx for answering my question the other day re the cauli rice and seasoning…and that you were just wingin’ it so no formal recipe. I will wing it too!
hahahahaah that is like the most perfect banana i’ve ever seen. weird. ANYWAY, i have a question. do you think we should be supplementing the winter shape up workouts with some abs work? i know that a lot of the moves work your core indirectly, but i’m weird and feel like i need to be targeting my abs. thoughts? thanks girl!
you can add some in, as long as you don’t do it on consecutive days
Those kale chips do look great! And I actually got to try them for the first time today because someone offered me some – so good! I can’t wait to make some for myself
.
I did once make a mac n cheese with califlower in it and I put hot sauce all over it and it was fine.
Maybe you just need to add your favorite cheese to it before applying the hot sauce? 
excellent idea
these meals sound SOO GOOOOOD! especially the “steak and potatoes”…i lurve mashed cauliflower
Hi Finessista, I love your food pics, but I’ve noticed that you use a garnish now, and it doesn’t seem too personable or realistic for the everyday eater. I guess I look at your blog so much that I notice every. little. thing. I’m so weird! I’m addicted to your blog.
hey girl,
i started doing that after culinary school… gotta add a little sumthin different i guess
I think that is so cool you used to work at 105degrees. I learned about the restaurant recently through work. I provide international students with visas to come to the United States and processed paperwork for a participant who will be training at 105degrees.
I will have to try it if I am ever in Oklahoma City.
That chocolate filling sounds a-mazing!
Omg, I want kale chips!!!!!
Oh and PS, I’m totally trying zumba at my gym for the first time, thanks to yours truly
-Lauren
Ok Coz, I’m glad to see you eat Maca too. I just bought my first bag at Whole Foods a couple of weeks ago, because I heard it’s good for fertility. The only problem, I have no idea how to eat it! It tastes like dirt, honestly. I’ve been trying to mix a little into yogurt, but is there a secret to preparing it or something?
That’s too funny about the cauliflower/hot sauce combo because I LOVE hotsauce on my reg. mashed potatoes lol I don’t know if you have done this before but do you think maybe you could do a post on how to keep things fresh/what to eat right away? I just feel like when I buy all this healthy food a lot of it goes bad quickly..I live pretty far from wholefoods so frequent trips buying a small amount of stuff is kinda out of the question =(
xoxo
I appreciate your foodography; it gives us an incentive to try new things. I like your garnishes too; it helps add some color! (By the way; the macaroons were too tasty!)
i’m so glad you liked them
Yum yum yummy food! That steak just looks delicious. And the coconut tarts look really appetizing, too. LOL about not using plates (you rock).
Gina, will you ship orders out? I live in Pa. and would love the raw meals your are preparing for your clients!!! The tarts look amazing and I love Kale chips as well!
hey lisa,
i’m doing this as a personal chef kind of thing because the health department won’t let me share a kitchen with another local business, so i can’t get a license. the grand plan was to do all of this on a much larger scale, but i won’t be able to until we either move or i can rent a kitchen on my own.
we shall see…
if/when it happens, i would love to send you some kale chips, tarts, whatever you would like!
Hiya Gina! I’ve been meaning to ask you where you get the millet bread? It looks so yummy and dense but I haven’t been able to find it! Thanks a bunch, love your blog.
Beef steak has always been my all time favorite dish and i am always looking for some new recipes that has steak as the main ingredient.;’*