BYOC: Bring your own chili
Morning friends! How’s your day going? Hope it’s off to a fantastic start 
I’ve been a meal repeater the past couple of days….
That’s the lovely “slice and salad” from Renee’s Organic Oven. Renee’s opened fairly recently and specializes in local, organic foods and they have a TON of gluten-free options. If I would have had somewhere like this to eat in Valdosta, my brain would have exploded. And I would have spent a lot more money going out to eat 
-Gluten-free pizza with goat cheese, artichoke hearts, olives and tomato
-Avocado salad with red vine vinegar, olive oil and cashews
+ lots of this sprinkled all over the top
I may or may not have had a jumbo container of crushed red pepper in my purse 
You never know when you’ll be eating takeout and it will need a little zing. We took my pizza to the park so Bella could play while I munched and when I took the chili out, the Pilot was pretty stunned.
“You really brought that with you?”
“Um, yeah. I thought I might be having pizza sometime today”
Preparation and foresight, my friends Haha.
We had a good night watching Bella run the crazy out at the park, and then we came home and chilled for a while (playing Words with Friends right next to each other) and called it a night.
I’m off to do weights this morning, so I munched a quick b-fast beforehand:
Smoooooothie with
-1.5 C almond milk
-1 scoop Vanilla Sun Warrior
-1 T raw cacao powder
-1 banana
-frozen mixed berries
-handful of spinach
-1 t almond butter
Weights time and then I’ll come back and wake Bella up for a walk
See ya later today!
xoxo
Gina
Head’s up: Stay tuned for a Facebook giveaway this afternoon!
Something to read:
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!
Hahah. I’ve totally done that before. Pizza + red pepper flakes is just the best combo ever. My dad would NEVER eat a slice without them!
MMM red pepper flakes! I need to remember to put this stuff on pizza the next time I have it!
I am so addicted to words with friends… Such fun!
Ohhh girl, I bring crazy food related things in my purse….I think you have to when you have food intolerance’s or “food ways” now a days!
Love the pizza!!
xxoo
Have fun giiiirl! I occasionally carry stevia with me..it’s fine. I don’t exactly do sugar from restaurants in my tea
condiments in the purse are such a good idea!! If I could, I would bring Hummus everywhere cuz I put it on everything
Crushed red peppers are actually the ONE condiment I stash in my purse!
Great for adding to some pizza, wraps, and the occasional sammy.
Your pizza & salad look amazing! I haven’t even had my breakfast yet, and now I’m craving pizza and fresh salad. I’ll be back for the facebook giveaway
I carry Splenda in my purse because some places don’t have it. No weird… well-prepared
I’m glad my fiance and I aren’t the only ones who sit and play words with friends on our phones with each other on the couch
Can’t wait for your facebook giveaway & that pizza looks sooo good!
That pizza looks amazing! I have a feeling I am going to NEED to go gluten free, which scares me big time… the adjustment part anyway… but it’s good to have your blog to know that there are YUMMY options out there!
Also, I’m curious… will you possibly be doing any posts on being active while pregnant and the changes or modifications you make? I am hoping to be pregnant with #2 this year… I was not active at all with my first pregnancy and gained 60 pounds (that was after keeping 100 pounds off for 6 years at that point… shame on me!) but would love to see how you do it and get your advice!
So THAT’S why you got the big Michael Kors bag! Haha.
Red pepper is a necessary addition to any pizza! I usually carry around a smaller handbag, but have been known to slip in a to-go packet or two of red pepper flakes when called for
I hoard red pepper flake packets in my purse (I seriously put it on everything and take extras when I get takeout), as well as syracha and hoisin (left over from pho take out). I can’t tell you how many times it’s saved me, although I run the risk of a pretty bad purse explosion one of these days… hahaha. PS your pizza and salad looks so yum!
oh yikes, when I first saw the AB blob in your smoothie I swear I thought it was tuna fish! Gross!
I used to work at a pizza place in college and there was 1 lady who always brought her own ranch. I guess our ranch wasn’t up to her standards….that or she wanted more than we’d give her….or something! I dunno – carrying around crushed red pepper seems way less weird than a bottle of ranch!!! haha!
OK, the fact that you had that in your purse is hysterical! Way to be prepared!
That reminds me of the episode of Seinfeld when Jerry gets busted for bringing his own maple syrup at the cafe.
My ex-sister-in-law used to carry packets of heinz ketchup in her purse because she didn’t like any other brand. I’m more likely to be known for carrying peppermint tea bags than anything else I suppose.
That avocado salad looks delicious! So fresh!
Haha I love that you have that bottle in your purse!! Makes me think I should do the same….
I used to carry around packets of stevia for trips to Starbs but have been forgetting recently… I need to re-stock my stash!
I cannot believe that meal was from a restaurant!!! It looks so fresh and homemade! Love it!
haha! nice foresight
i bring stevia with me some places, but never pepper flakes – too funny. that pizza and salad looks ridiculously delicious! 
xyx
Thank goodness I’m going to the store today, because I.WANT.A.SMOOTHIE! I’ve been clean out of my main smoothie supplies for the past week, yikes!
I always have liquid vanilla stevia in my purse. Pizza and salad look delicious!
Yes! Crushed red pepper is a MUST for pizza!!
it tastes so boring without it
Love the crushed red peppers in the purse…you need to make a little holster for it that you can wear on your waist
i dont carry condiments in my purse, i kind of just hate carrying a purse.period. But its not a bad idea!
I need to get in on some smoothie action, i’ve been craving them super bad lately.
I put hot sauce or red pepper flakes on EVERYTHING when I was pregnant!!
That pizza looks delicious! Artichokes are the best topping ever.
I’m a little addicted to red pepper flakes myself. I can’t eat pizza without them!
That smoothie looks awesome! What kind of almond butter do you use???
trader joe’s
Honestly, it’s just too cute and hilarious that you carry a jumbo container of red pepper flakes in your purse. In fact, it’s an awesome idea and I think I’m going to start doing it!
Love it! my husband carries a bottle of onion mustard in his car for sandwich emergencies
I <3 crushed red pepper, we use it on everything!
Oh that pizza looks delicious! What a great combo with the salad too! And love that you were carrying the red pepper with you “just in case.” It never hurts to be prepared
I cannot have pizza without red pepper flakes. I’m obsessed!!
I think I could have your pizza/salad combo everyday for lunch.
Haha! At least you weren’t carrying a bottle of ranch dressing around with you! I have actually seen someone do that…
hi gina,
i’m curious… when you were trying/planning to get pregnant, did your acupuncturist ever talk to you about avoiding cold foods? mine has steered me away from smoothies which is KILLING ME and i’m wondering if this is just her thang or a common chinese medicine tip.
thanks!
YES. it was very difficult, and would be even more so now that it’s so hot outside! hang in there- lots of soup and tea
That pizza looks AMAZEBALLCITY. You have inspired me to check out some healthy takeout grub in my city. I’ve had trouble with such as I hail from the hot-doggy, beer-sluggin’ midwest, but I’ve found at least one solid option I’m excited to try so far!
new (to me, and maybe you, too) chocolate bar: Dagoba Organic Chocolate. i’m currently trying the chai flavor (milk chocolate, crystallized ginger, and chai essence) for the first time and it’s awesome! try it out if you see it anywhere!!
ive had dagoba- love it!
Red pepper flakes end up in half the meals I eat. They add juuuuust the right amount of kick. I’m ready for lunch right now and that avocado salad is looking mighty tasty.
Too funny that you bring red pepper with you. When I’m road tripping I always have stevia and cinnamon just in case. My bf and I sit next to each other and play WWF too
That pizza looks so light and fresh! I wish I had takeout options like that around here.
I sometimes carry soy nut butter in my purse so that I can sub it for PB on my bagels and toast.
At first I thought you meant that you brought an entire batch of chili to a restaurant. Somehow, though, that wouldn’t surprise me
haha it wouldn’t surprise me either
I hear ya! I put red crushed pepper flakes on everything! It seems everything anyways!
“I’ve been a meal repeater the past couple of days….”—–
That’s ok, I’ve been a meal repeater for the last 10 years. lol
I call it a food groove, not a food rut. I tend to eat things in the same family over and over, or versions on a theme. It may not make for exciting blog content but it’s just real life. But that’s what creative desserts are for, right
And hot pepper flakes in your purse. Classic. I heart you
When I first read the title I was thinking…”damn, is she nuts? Chili (soup) in Tuscon when it is 111 degrees.” lol. I’m obsessed with red chili flakes-I might just have to get a miniature bottle for my purse!
That pizza and salad look amazing! And aren’t those Starbucks tumblers the best?! I use the large one for my shakes everyday
Have a great night!
I like to bring my own cinnamon around with me!
I’ll have Trader Joe’s cinnamon stashed in my bag at times b/c there is nothing like it! More often though, I do the reverse of BYOC. When I’m at Starbucks with my boyfriend, he will put sugar in the raw in his coffee but not use the whole packet. I feel awful that it’s going to waste so I fold up the remainder, pack it in my bag, use it at home and recycle the packet
A little ridiculous but every little bit helps the environment!
I just realized the hilariousness of the fact me and your dog share the same name, by the way that pudding looks amazing! I must try it. (: