Filling the Void

Hey 😀 Wow. I loved reading your insanely awesome comments to this morning’s discussion post. I know I can always count on you to be honest, classy and well-spoken ladies (and dudes). Thank you!

Here is the general consensus:

-OpenSky is helpful, but can be kind of annoying

-OpenSky is more annoying when bloggers promote things they wouldn’t use, and do so on a frequent and unnecessary basis

-When the temps go up, blog views may go down

-There’s a lot of redundancy in the blog world right now, which is causing some people to skim down their Google reader

I totally agree with you guys, especially about the redundancy thing. I always try to bring new and fun things into the blog world.. and when everyone and their mom is eating millet bread, maca powder and raw macaroons, I try to find something else to contribute so ya’ll don’t keep reading about the same stuff (thank you, mung bean pasta haha).

So for now, I’ll keep on doing my thang and will continue to keep the reviews and OpenSky promos to a minimum and not the focus of the bloggy. That’s not what this is all about anything. It’s about food, fitness and shenanigans. That is all 🙂

This morning, I made a green juice to take to the gym:

juice

In the mix:

-1 green apple

-1 anjou pear

-1 cucumber

-1/2 lemon

-handful of spinach

-parsley

-1/2 t spirulina

Everyone else was chugging their water and sports drinks, while I sipped on a green sludge 🙂

After Ashley and I did a chest and shoulders workout, I came back to the casa for bfast.

Raw Protein Chia Oats

oats

-1/3 C oat groats soaked overnight, blended up with

-almond milk

-1 small banana

-1/2 scoop Vanilla Sun Warrior

mesquite <—not the brand I use, but has a great description of the taste and benefits

-cinnamon

-vanilla

Topped with 1 T chia seeds that soaked in almond milk overnight

Face was rocked.

Next, I busted out some of this stuff….

coffee

COFFEE!

The Fresh Market was tempting me, so I bought some.

1/2 Decaf Almond Amaretto and 1/2 Molten Chocolate

coffee (2)

Gah!!

As ya’ll know, I gave up drinking coffee about a year ago. I’ll still have it every purple moon, but didn’t want to be dependent on it anymore (in college, if it were the night before an exam, I’d drink up to 16 cups. Terrible, I know).

Well, today’s moon is purple 😀

Productivity in a mug:

coffee (3)

I may have been bouncing off the walls and rocking out to Glee as I cleaned up our vacation tornado this morning 😉

So crazy because ever since I gave up sweets for Lent, I’ve been hankering for things I wouldn’t usually want. Gum… now coffee… I’m thinking it would be better if I just started eating sweets again. Blah! 2 weeks to go. Easter Sunday I will have a Liz Lovely cookie in each hand and a giant shake made of vanilla vodka, Bailey’s and vegan espresso gelato. Yeahhhhhhhh.

I’m off to work!

xoxo,

Gina

Something to do: Make this super easy Vegan Pasta Primavera!

Pasta Primavera

pasta primavera

Serves one hungry Fitnessista

Ingredients:

-1 zucchini, thinly sliced

-1 carrot, thinly sliced

-1 red bell pepper, julienned

-8 grape tomatoes, sliced in half

-1 serving pasta of choice (I used mung bean)

-garlic powder, sea salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil

-parsely and nutritional yeast, to serve

1. Pre-heat oven to 450 and spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray (or EVOO from the misto)

2. Spread veggies onto the cookie sheet in a thin layer, spray with olive oil, season with garlic power, sea salt and pepper, and roast for 25 minutes, stirring and re-seasoning halfway.

3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until it reaches al dente –I like mine with a little bite to it- strain, and place into a large bowl. (Can drizzle or spray with a little olive oil so it doesn’t stick)

4. Add the roasted veggies to the bowl, toss to combine, and transfer to a plate

5. Top with nutritional yeast and fresh parsley

6. Feast

© 2010 The Fitnessista

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61 Comments

  1. Heather (Heather's Dish) on March 22, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    YUM! i love pasta primavera…where did you get the mung bean pasta? i’ve been searching high and low and got nothin’ 🙂 p.s. thanks for being awesome! i love how in tune you are with your readers 🙂

    • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 1:45 pm

      i got it at the health food store- love it 🙂
      thank YOU for being an awesome blog friend <3

  2. Allie (Live Laugh Eat) on March 22, 2010 at 1:41 pm

    You shoulda picked up some SPRING BLEND from Fresh Market–that stuff is like dessert in a cup Mmmmm!! My blog views definitely go down on the weekends and this past weekend I’m pretty sure it was gorgeous everywhere (besides the midwest where it was snowing yikes).

    • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 1:44 pm

      i’ve had spring blend before– it’s SO good!

  3. Brie (The Fit Bride) on March 22, 2010 at 1:43 pm

    I feel like Lent sacrifices often backfire for me–like you said, if I gave up sweets I know I’d just totally overindulge when I got done and I’d start eating more bad-for-me salty snacks.

    I haven’t given up anything this year, but I think next year I’ll try to do a “positive Lent” like my pastor in church talked about awhile back–instead of giving something up, add something healthy to your daily routine!

    • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 1:44 pm

      that’s a great idea. the sweets thing just didn’t work out for me

  4. Jenny on March 22, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    I couldn’t give up sweet this year- I crave them so much! I try to give back instead:) and I love to read about Ming bean pasta!

  5. Gigi on March 22, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    That coffee look so good Gina! Well deserves, I am sure ;)! Didnt post in the last post but thought I just say it here, KEEP ON GOING,yourblog rocks my socks! 🙂

  6. Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin on March 22, 2010 at 1:59 pm

    Your green juice looks delicious! Question for you… do you find that using fruits and veggies in juice feels wasteful kind of? I don’t know but for some reason using so many carrots, apples, grapefruits etc and only getting a bit of juice out of it makes me feel like I’d get more bang for my buck if i ate the produce fresh.. not sure if that makes sense. I usually tend to use veggies when they’re kind of on their last leg for juicing so that I don’t let them go to waste, but just curious on your thoughts on this. Thanks!

  7. Emily N on March 22, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it:)

  8. Megan @ Healthy Hoggin' on March 22, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    Ha, I’m sipping on coffee this morning, too! It is definitely a sweet replacement for me at times, though I usually prefer to avoid it.

    That pasta primavera looks AWESOME! I’m going on a mission to find mung bean pasta this afternoon! 😀

  9. borntocare on March 22, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    Totally agree on a lot of the points about “blog-mercials”. Honestly I usually try out the things you blog about everyday (i.e., pasta primavera, millet bread, etc), rather than going out and buying the products you review or have on open sky–but i do like hearing about them sometimes 🙂 And i really like giveaways, even though i’ve never won 😛
    I’ve always thought Lent was a religious thing, right? I’m not really religious so I don’t really understand the whole Lent concept, but if you give up/add something to make you healthier then go for it! If it’s just gonna backfire on you, then forget it… Like you always say– do what works for you 🙂
    I could never give up coffee (ok maybe i could if i tried really hard), because i love the taste of it so much! Kudos for kicking the caffeine habit!

    You tweeted about not being able to exercise for 2 weeks… are you ok? injured? Hope everything is ok!

  10. OfficeGirl on March 22, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    Gina, just wanted to add my thoughts because didn’t have a chance to post this morning. Your blog is so thoughtful and intelligent and interesting and varied. You are an inspiring, generous person, and the fact that I get all this content for free is mind-blowing (and feels a little unfair!). I don’t have any problem with you unobtrusively and tastefully trying to make a little extra money through OpenSky. It’s the least your readers could do given the amount of amazing free content you provide. And i really appreciate your obvious care and concern for your readers. I think I would venture to say yours is consistently the best health and fitness blog I read. Please keep it up.

  11. Jessica @ How Sweet on March 22, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    Lent is killlllling me. I am also eating things I normally wouldn’t eat!

  12. Lauren @ Eater not a runner on March 22, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    I’m dying to try that mung bean pasta! Haven’t seen it around these parts yet….

  13. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg on March 22, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    I love your blog because you always bring something NEW to the table. You’re the reason why I’ve tried things like chia seeds and Maca, so I have no doubt that you’ll continue to introduce me to more awesomeness in the future!

  14. Kelly on March 22, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    I love rocking out to Glee! It comes back so soon!

  15. Teri [a foodie stays fit] on March 22, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    I agree that a lot of people are paring down their google readers lately. But even if you are posting the same thing as other bloggers (although usually they got it from YOU), you still present your posts in a way that makes them unique. You have a fun voice and your posts are fun to read, even if it’s the same ol’ typical food journal post. You make your posts great!

  16. Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine on March 22, 2010 at 2:35 pm

    That Easter shake sounds incredible…Baileys + espresso gelato? Count me in!! I love reading your blog because it ISN’T redundant! It’s hard to always find new foods and ways of using them, but I love that you’re creative in the kitchen 🙂

  17. Jenn @ LiveWellFitNow on March 22, 2010 at 2:36 pm

    I can’t tell you how ridiculous this lent season has been for me…the MINUTE I remove something from my diet by telling myself I cannot have it- MY MIND FREAKS! Restriction is such a mental thing!

  18. Becky @ flybynyght on March 22, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    Love your posts – they always pick me up! …and who doesn’t love a purple mom 😉

    • Becky @ flybynyght on March 22, 2010 at 3:02 pm

      I meant moon! I don’t know anyone with a purple mom!!! lol

  19. Nicole, RD on March 22, 2010 at 3:03 pm

    Those are some great points about Open Sky. I really just find it repetitive and skim past it all. : )

    The pasta primavera looks wonderful!

  20. MAJL on March 22, 2010 at 3:15 pm

    I keep hoping that one day, people guzzling green drinks with floaty things in them (chia seeds) will be the norm 🙂

    What does mesquite taste like? I recall eating mesquite bbq chips and associate the flavour as a smokey and warm but from reading the description, I may be wrong.

    • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 3:22 pm

      it tastes sweet like carbo. the link has a lot of info on it 🙂

  21. MAJL on March 22, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    PS. My blog views have gone down too.

  22. Diana (Soap & Chocolate) on March 22, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    Yeah, I don’t think your pageview decrease is unique to your blog–same here, though I thought it was because I’ve been busier with less time to blog and comment on others’. I wouldn’t sweat it–nobody’s gonna quit ya anytime soon. 🙂

  23. Tyler Ramey on March 22, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    The next time you are coffee-less and back at the Fresh Market…Chocolate Cherry Kiss is a MUST, sista.

  24. Emily on March 22, 2010 at 3:41 pm

    So glad you’re going to carry on as is. It’s a fun blog you have, and I love visiting. You post at around my 2-3pm and I flick over and take a sneaky peak from my office desk 🙂
    Thanks for the recipe. I really do have to find some nutritional yeast. Til then, I live with a toe in goat cheese land!

  25. Amy on March 22, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Hi Gina,
    I have a question about the breakfast cookie. This has been my #1 go to thang in the AM…esp when I am in a rush. Lately, I my cookie is somewhat soggy in the morning and the texture thing has me not wanting to eat it in the morning. Am I doing something wrong? I followed your how to video to a T. Am I doing something wrong?

    • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 3:50 pm

      i’d use less milk and more nut butter
      xoxo

  26. Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman on March 22, 2010 at 3:59 pm

    A giant shake made of vanilla vodka, Bailey’s and vegan espresso gelato? You’re a genius. Plain and simple. Can I have mine before Easter??

  27. Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble) on March 22, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    I have tried, tried, and tried again… I can not give up coffee forever. But I save it for weekends and special occasions, only. It’s so delicious!!

    And yum to that recipe! I am going to need to search out MB pasta in Toronto!

    xo
    K

  28. Heather @ get healthy with Heather on March 22, 2010 at 4:33 pm

    I usually don’t drink coffee either but sometimes a cup of decaf is all I need to hush my sweet tooth at night. I feel like I really get to enjoy it more now that I don’t wake up needing it every morning.

  29. Sara on March 22, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    I love reading your blog! It’s food, fashion, fitness, puppies and a hot pilot. Keep it up 🙂
    Sara

  30. kalli@fitandfortysomething on March 22, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    i think your blog is very honest and genuine….not comercialed at all! have a good day.

  31. Sally on March 22, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    What is so special about your blog is that you actually ask your readers how they feel about spondored content instead of just presenting it, you show a great deal of integrity in doing so.

    I have a question for you: One of the wives in my husband’s squadron is going to have a baby soon but due to the nature of my work I won’t be around on the big day. However, I’d like to make and freeze some meals ahead of time. Do you have any suggestions for freezer friendly meals that would be delicious and nutritious for a recovering and nursing health-conscious momma (no special dietary restrictions, just healthy) that Dad won’t feed to the doggies? Thanks for your help <3

  32. LisaG on March 22, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    Your feasting looks yum. But that coffee is what I’m talking about!

    • LisaG on March 22, 2010 at 5:00 pm

      BTW I just had to order me some cacao coconut butter and cacao nibs from opensky!

      • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 7:37 pm

        i saw that! wahoo!!! thank you- i think you’ll love them 🙂

  33. Rhoni on March 22, 2010 at 4:56 pm

    Have you seen this yet??! http://www.rawessentials.com/products I am researching animal byproducts in cosmetics for a nutrition class and ran across this new product that Carol Alt launched! It sounds super exciting…who knew there was so much toxic crap in our skincare and makeup products. I guess I had an inkling, but have been trying to ignore it…glad we have more options now. And I am a faithful reader of your bloggie…and I enjoy being able to look at products you use and recommend on OpenSky…that’s my 2 cents!

  34. Midgetkeeper on March 22, 2010 at 4:59 pm

    Missed the discussion this morning but I would just like to say that I absolutely love your blog!

  35. christina cadden on March 22, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    Your coffee made me want coffee right now!

  36. Jennifer on March 22, 2010 at 5:46 pm

    hey! first time ever commenting- just wanted to say that I love your blog. There are so many food ideas and I like that you post often.

    on a different note, I noticed that you said in one of your comments that the idea of oatmeal and egg whites seems scary. trust me. its absolutely delish. think of the oatmeal as a type of risotto or sticky short grain rice. then its easy to eat it as a savory meal :]

  37. Paige on March 22, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    …do shirtless pics of your pilot spike your numbers??!

    love you girl!

    • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 7:37 pm

      HAHAH! i wish… he better get over and pose, then 😉

  38. Christy on March 22, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    Hi! I’ve been following your blog for a bit and love reading it! i recently bought 2 things (that I think you’ll absolutely be excited about). 1) nutritional yeast— i love this stuff! i make your egg white puff, add some soy sauce, some chili sauce, and sprinkle/dump the nut. yeast on top. it is soooo yummy. 2) grounded chia seeds– now, to be honest with you, it tastes sort of funky to me. I added it to salads(bad idea), I added it to tea (weird). I haven’t tried any smoothies yet or juice, but i was wondering how else do you incorporate chia seeds to your meals? thank you!!!

  39. LindsayK on March 22, 2010 at 5:55 pm

    can I just say that while there may be redundancy in the blog world, you are the one who introduces everyone else to things like millet bread, raw macaroons, etc? So you should never feel like you’re one of the pack – you’re leading the pack! i’m not a blogger, but i do read yours and about 5-7 “top” food blogs, and anytime i see a breakfast cookie or millet bread, I know where it all started 🙂

    so keep up the awesome work. i love that you’ve been posting more recipes lately as well! this blog always has been a breath of fresh air – thank you for that!

  40. Lindsay on March 22, 2010 at 6:15 pm

    I meant to comment this morning but I like looking at open sky accounts. I think its great and would love to support all my buddy bloggers! Now just get some Sun Warrior up there and I will be buying like crazy, haha.
    That smoothie looks like the one I wanted to make. It had ginger, cilantro, pineapple, and other goodness! Check it out. http://www.elanaspantry.com/ginger-cilantro-green-shake/

  41. Brandi B. on March 22, 2010 at 7:17 pm

    Is there anyway you can sell the mung bean spaghetti at your open sky shop? I’ve tried to get them in my area but I am having a difficult time–I even tried to find them online to order but they are all from Australia (I’m from PA). I would love to try them–if you can let me know and I’ll be online to order in a jiffy:)

    • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 7:35 pm

      i’ll have to check out and see if opensky can work w the supplier. i would love to have it in the shop!

  42. Donna Porter on March 22, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    I wish everyone and their mom was eating raw roonies! That would mean I would have had one!!! LOL

    • Fitnessista on March 22, 2010 at 10:50 pm

      LOL

  43. Allison @ Food For Healing on March 22, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    Your doing so good with Lent! You can do it, it will be over before you know it!

  44. Carolyn @ lovinlosing.com on March 23, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    I gave up TV on the weekdays for lent and I really like it at first because I was getting to bed earlier, but now I’m missing vegging in front of it. 🙁

  45. sandy on March 23, 2010 at 3:09 pm

    catching up on your posts! agreed gorgeous weather=less blog time! there is redundancy in the blog world but your blog of fitness plus raw is the reason i read (one of them anyway:).

    what is that glass tumbler thing you have our green juice in? how many oz. does it hold? i want one. but i need a big one.

    • Fitnessista on March 23, 2010 at 3:58 pm

      i think it holds about 4 cups 🙂

  46. Kristy R. on April 7, 2010 at 3:42 pm

    I made your pasta primavera last night and it was AWESOME! Even the hubby loved it. Thanks Gina!

    • Fitnessista on April 7, 2010 at 4:02 pm

      i’m so glad you liked it!!
      xoxo

  47. Alycia on April 13, 2010 at 3:30 pm

    that green juice looks delicious!! did you peel your fruits before you put them in or not?

    • Fitnessista on April 13, 2010 at 4:21 pm

      nope, i just put the whole thing in 🙂

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