Hello, Hot Bar

Hi guys! How are ya?? Happy Labor Day to those of you who have the day off! What do you have planned?

Last night, the Pilot and I drove around looking for somewhere to feast. We wanted to go somewhere super casual (he was in shorts and I was in yoga clothes with frizzy rain hair) and had no idea where to go since we usually hit up fancier restaurants here for dinner.

Whole Paycheck to the rescue:

whole foods

HOT BAR! 😀

me pilot

Yum.

hot bar

Dinner was a cornucopia of healthy delights including plantain and yucca, shrimp curry atop broccoli, Madras veggies on top of grilled squash, Babylonian treasure salad and an artichoke and kidney bean salad.

After dinner, we met my aunt and cousin’s at Bar Louie and brought some fortune cookies since the Pilot had ordered Pei Wei crab wontons (from next door) to go with his hot bar.

Quite possibly the best “in bed” fortune ever:

fortune

🙂

We came back to the casa, watched the Kardashians and My Big Fat Greek Wedding for the 1,382 time and called it a night.

This morning, I’m munching a banana with almond butter:

banana

and am about to do the workout thang before my Pilot love and I hit the road back to Valdizzy.

Have a great day <3

xoxo,

Gina

Looking for something to cook up for today’s Labor Day feast??

Here are some ideas:

Mexican dinner party

Butternut squash lasagna, salad and POMtinis

Pasta, roasted asparagus and strawberry tarts

Maple glazed salmon, mashed sweet potatoes, Autumn salad

-Grilled chicken/meat and vegetables (with garlic, rosemary, olive oil, sea salt and pepper), served with sweet potato fries, salad and Vegan Almond Butter Chocolate Chips (on their own, or pizookie style for dessert!)

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57 Comments

  1. Danielle on September 6, 2010 at 8:47 am

    I love the WF Hot Bar. It’s just a good thing I don’t live too too close to it. Always yum$, all the time 😉 have a great ride back!

  2. Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine on September 6, 2010 at 8:53 am

    WF hot bar is always a good call, regardless of attire or appetite. There’s something for everyone!! Have a safe trip back!!

  3. Tina on September 6, 2010 at 9:00 am

    Hope your trip back goes well. Love how WF can come to the rescue.

  4. Evan Thomas on September 6, 2010 at 9:01 am

    Whole Foods is my family’s favorite place to eat when they visit me in town. They can get greasy personal pizzas and I can get avocado-kale and Indian tofu. There’s really something for everyone

  5. Brittany @ Eating Bird Food on September 6, 2010 at 9:02 am

    WF Hot Bar is such a great spot to grab dinner. Looks like you and the pilot enjoyed your feast!

    Have a safe drive home!!

  6. Nicole on September 6, 2010 at 9:02 am

    I hope your trip back goes well! The hot bar seems to always be the perfect dining destination for me 😀

  7. VeggieGirl on September 6, 2010 at 9:08 am

    Can’t beat the hot bar! Nor can you beat a steamy fortune 😉

    Safe travels! xo

  8. Cara Craves... on September 6, 2010 at 9:11 am

    Love the for food bar…I have only frequented it twice though.
    I love the selection, but sometimes I just get so overwhelmed by all
    the goodness that they have to offer. I can be quite indecisive at times, especially
    when the price tag is determined by the weight of the box. It’s worth it!

  9. Katelyn on September 6, 2010 at 9:14 am

    I wish I had a Whole Foods nearby!! I would go there allll the time..we don’t have any really good hot bars around here except at Wegmans, but then again even that is not up to the Whole Foods par 🙂

    Almond buttah + banana = get in mah belly. Thanks for the morning inspiration 🙂 Yours looks pro, if I do say so myself.

  10. holly @ couchpotatoathlete on September 6, 2010 at 9:14 am

    I love My Big Fat Greek Wedding! And I’ve probably seen it a million times 🙂

    Dare I say it? I think The Pilot looks more excited for the Hot Bar than you! I didn’t think that was possible 🙂

  11. Jessica @ How Sweet It Is on September 6, 2010 at 9:15 am

    I have seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding that many times too… it never gets old.

  12. The Hot and Fit on September 6, 2010 at 9:16 am

    Next time I am in the UK I have to visit Whole Foods! I read about it too much I am DYING to see what its like!

    • Fitnessista on September 6, 2010 at 12:06 pm

      it’s life-changing 🙂

  13. Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg on September 6, 2010 at 9:22 am

    Ahhhh…I SO don’t mind giving my paycheck to Whole Foods sometimes…it’s just worth it 🙂

  14. christina cadden on September 6, 2010 at 9:24 am

    Looked like a lot of fun!

  15. Kate on September 6, 2010 at 9:39 am

    The WF salad bar/hot bar is the best. I would eat there every day if I could afford it but it usually costs me like $10-15 a meal. And I watch the Kardashians too, I forgot it was on last night but I’ll have to catch up today! Have a great day yourself 🙂

  16. Meaghan on September 6, 2010 at 9:46 am

    I love the YUM! faces. Too cute 🙂

  17. Heather (Heather's Dish) on September 6, 2010 at 9:51 am

    oh girl, i am making enchiladas and i can’t WAIT! yum yum eat ’em up…

  18. A Teenage Gourmet on September 6, 2010 at 9:59 am

    That banana really is food porn, I’m sorry. I’m crack up over here, haha.

    • Fitnessista on September 6, 2010 at 12:05 pm

      hahah! for real, right? 🙂

  19. Jenna on September 6, 2010 at 10:31 am

    OMG. Whole Foods hotbar is my LIFE. We don’t have a Whole Foods or Trader Joes, or anything like that around where I live because it’s such a small town, and the closest one(s) are like..hoursssssss away. But, I went shopping out of town and me & my dad passed a WF’s, and I was STARVING, and it’s honestly always been my dream to go to WF’s, so I made him stop….Let’s just say, that hotbar…oooo lawdd. Right after I got done eating it, I literally said “So THIS is the definition of a foodgasm.” (: it’s the best. I cannot wait to go again (which probably won’t be for..like..EVER.)

  20. April @ Crazy Fabulous Life on September 6, 2010 at 10:38 am

    I wish I could get my husband to go to the hot bar at WF with me..he thinks its way too much health food! 😀

  21. Neen @ Broad Bean to Runner Bean on September 6, 2010 at 10:43 am

    looks like a great evening was had! have a safe trip home x

  22. Kristina @ spabettie on September 6, 2010 at 10:59 am

    the WF hot bar is always awesome… we used to go there several times a week when we were closer to WF… so yum.

    although I’m not a HUGE pasta fan, your pasta + asparagus + strawberry tart is what sounds SO good right now… I may have to do this… and try to find those cute napkins of course! *always buy the shoes* 😉

  23. Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter on September 6, 2010 at 11:12 am

    That has got to be the best fortune cookie every for you! Yayyy!

  24. Ellen@FirednFabulous on September 6, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    You always look cute…frizzy hair and all 🙂 Whole paycheck is the best place to go when your indecisive because they have everything! That banana/nut butter bfast sounds so good right now!

  25. Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin on September 6, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    Whenever I go to the WF hot bar, there are always dishes with nuts in them, so I can’t eat there! 🙁

  26. MoniMeals on September 6, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Yes, My husband and I have called it a WFoods Hot Bar night many times:) No shame in my game. 🙂 Happy Labor Day Gina!

  27. Tracey on September 6, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    Seriously…could your husband be any cuter?! You guys look like you’d be so much fun to hang out with!

  28. Stacey (The Habit of Healthy) on September 6, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    You simply can’t go wrong with Whole Foods, it’s always awesome! And banana with nut butter is just one of the yummiest things known to man. Love ’em!

  29. Stefanie @thenewhealthy on September 6, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    Yum yum to everything! Rather than doing anything fun for Labor Day, you can find me at the library studying! Good snacks are certainly necessary for today. Have a safe drive home! 🙂

  30. Courtney @ Bread & Bokeh on September 6, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    I miss Whole Foods so much!!! While, there are some good natural foods stores in El Paso, none have a hot bar…or even a salad bar for that matter!!!

  31. Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) on September 6, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    “Looking for something to cook up for today’s Labor Day feast??”–that would be a resounding hell no! haha! Looking to do as little work as humanly possible LOL 🙂

    I still love that you tack on “in bed” to the end of all fortunes. That is just classic.

    I have all the episodes of Kardashians AND Real HWs of D.C. on my DVR and havent watched them yet. I am sooo behind on my tv watching. I need to get on that soon!!

    Safe travels back home!

    xo

  32. Courtney @ Bread & Bokeh on September 6, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Oh man, I miss whole foods so much!!! None of the natural foods stores here in El Paso have a hot bar…

  33. Joslyn (missfitbliss) on September 6, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    Loving the banana. Hilarious.

  34. Ilene on September 6, 2010 at 1:43 pm

    My Big Fat Greek Wedding on TBS last night? I was all over that 🙂

  35. Sana on September 6, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    I am officially in love with you “in bed” fortune game 🙂

  36. kate on September 6, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    Whole foods to the rescue!

  37. Stehanie on September 6, 2010 at 2:21 pm

    I love that the Pilot is so supportive of your healthy eats! 🙂

  38. Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun on September 6, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    I love Whole Foods’ hot bar! On my last trip to Whole Foods with my Mom I actually spent over $15 at the hot bar alone. My Mom was not happy. LOL! 😉 How much to you usually spend at the hot bar because I (clearly) need help with that.

  39. Leslie on September 6, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    i wish there were more hot bars here in vancouver =(

  40. Lauren @ BIOCHEMISTA on September 6, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    Is it me or are the Kardashians BORING this season??? Kendall and Kylie are cute and all but I want the drama!!!! HA!

    • Fitnessista on September 6, 2010 at 8:15 pm

      yes!!! i’m kind of disappointed

  41. Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat on September 6, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    I had Whole Foods’ hot bar/salad bar for the first time last week and OMG it was the BEST lunch I’ve ever had!! They didn’t have yucca at the time though. I tried it at home a few weeks ago and didn’t like it very much but I’m sure WF’s version probably tastes great!

  42. Amber on September 6, 2010 at 4:48 pm

    yum! I wish we had a whole foods near me!

  43. Faith @ lovelyascharged on September 6, 2010 at 7:15 pm

    Hells yes! Love the hot bar and those Madras veggies!!!

  44. Jessica@tastyandtrim on September 6, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    Whole Food’s hot bar is the best. Mine may or may not have costed $18 last time 😉

    • Fitnessista on September 6, 2010 at 8:15 pm

      haha! my record is $21. crazy, right?! it was after a half marathon though

  45. Jessica (Fit and Clean) on September 6, 2010 at 8:22 pm

    Mmmmm! Whole Paycheck hot bar! What a great decision 🙂 My kids love to go and have lunch there too…one of them may or may not be in love with the mac and cheese, LOL!

  46. Wendy @ Seriously Sassy on September 6, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    Oh yumish. I have yet to try the WF hot bar. Soon, I hope!

  47. Amanda (modernation) on September 6, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    I totally hit up the hot bar and salad bar at WF last night for dinner. Didn’t feel like cooking and was in post-pool glory, so WF it was. And it didn’t disappoint!

  48. Katherine @ Left Coast Contessa on September 7, 2010 at 1:12 am

    Nothing like a whole foods hot bar!

  49. Jocelyn on September 7, 2010 at 2:35 am

    Just wanted to say I absolutely love your blog! and oh my goodness… so happy to see people just as obsessed with the hot bar as I am! I am one of those people who considers whole foods much more than a grocery store, it doubles as a pretty fabulous restaurant too!

  50. Naomi(onefitfoodie) on September 7, 2010 at 6:18 am

    hahah that same thing went through me nad my boyfriends mind yesterday for lunch and we ended up at whole foods 🙂 its just so darn delicious! they opened up a GINORMOUS one near me and it has a make your own trail mix bar!! omg its insane!

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