Soup + salad

Hi friends! How’s the day going? Hope you’re having a great morning! First things first: huge congrats to the winner of the coconut scrub giveaway! Liz S., check your email so I can get your goodies on the way. For friends who’d like to pick some up, the FITNESSISTA30 code will work until June 15 to get 30% off your order..

In an effort to step up my salad game, and help a sad post-vacation fridge, Liv and I ventured to Trader Joe’s for essentials. 

How to eat fresh vegetables: wash and chop, instead of letting them sit in the fridge to slowly wilt to their death. (<— what has been happening way too often lately)

Food prep has been hit or miss, but I realized that if I devote 20 minutes to chop, wash, and get some salad stuff together, we’ll all eat more fresh food during the week. Liv snacked on veggies with hummus while I chopped some veggies for salad, sliced some for dipping,

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made a balsamic dressing

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(1 part balsamic, 2 parts olive oil, a teaspoon of Dijon, 2 minced garlic cloves, salt, pepper, onion powder, oregano and dried basil) 

and put together lunch: a glorious salad with chopped spinach, kale, veggies, turkey (pan-seared to heat up), 1/2 avocado, balsamic and the secret ingredient.

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These mushrooms from Trader Joe’s are fantastic on salads. They’re just the right amount of vinegar + garlic. 

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Oh, and meal prep includes the brownies, yes? 😉

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Spin was particularly awesome last night. It’s amazing what fresh songs will do, and I try to download at least a few new ones each week to rotate into the hundred or so that I love for spin. Last night it was “Hey Mama” for a moderate climb, “Fight Song” for a cool down, and “What Kind of Man” for a heavy climb with tempo work. So good.

 

Dinner was a random mix of goodies; it kind of felt like our house was Soup Plantation (which is a good thing, because it’s Liv’s favorite restaurant haha). The Pilot grilled some chicken drumsticks, we roasted some veggies, and I was really craving tomato soup, so I put together a dairy-free version.

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Here’s the easy recipe: saute a chopped onion with 3 cloves of minced garlic until fragrant, and blend in the Vitamix with 1 1/2 cups cashews (raw, soaked for at least an hour in water), and two large (28 oz) cans of drained San Marzano whole tomatoes.

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After the mixture is smooth, pour into a large pot, and heat on medium low, stirring occasionally. Season well with salt, pepper, dried basil, onion powder, and a pinch of sugar. 

Can’t wait to have this for lunch later today with a manchego quesadilla.

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(When you try to be artistic with a basil oil drizzle… and that happens. Haha)

For now, it’s off to a doc appointment!

See ya later today on the Family page.

xoxo

Gina

Last week to check in for your April workouts! I’m surprising a lucky winner with a new lulu tank and “HIIT It!”

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25 Comments

  1. Annalisa on April 28, 2015 at 7:14 am

    I’m going to have to try that soup recipe, I’ve been having a hankering for soup! I need to grocery shop today and I want to make it a goal to prep some veggies, thanks for the reminder, it really does help during the week!

  2. Jessica @ Fit Talker on April 28, 2015 at 7:19 am

    My favorite song for spin (or running) right now is the new Usher and Martin Garrix, Don’t Look Down.

    https://open.spotify.com/track/5M9jOReAKGZ2AttVefFjTY

  3. Britt@MyOwnBalance on April 28, 2015 at 7:35 am

    I really really need to get on board with food prep. I end up just grabbing quick snacks because I don’t have enough healthy options prepped!

  4. Erin @ Her Heartland Soul on April 28, 2015 at 7:41 am

    Mm that salad looks so good! And I love a gooey brownie! 😀

  5. Stephanie on April 28, 2015 at 7:41 am

    Were you certified through Spinning for your instructor certification? How did you like it? I’m looking into getting certified. I didn’t realize there were so many certification options out there. Thanks!

  6. Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat on April 28, 2015 at 7:41 am

    I definitely need to get better with food prep. It certainly would make life so much easier!

  7. Morgan @ Managing Mommyhood on April 28, 2015 at 7:41 am

    You totally have me craving a huge salad now! I love marinated mushrooms,I think a stop at the antipasto bar is a necessity now 😉

  8. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on April 28, 2015 at 7:42 am

    I would be a mess if I didn’t meal prep on the weekends. The week is just too busy with working and commutes. Props to you for being able to eat healthy and not do it!

  9. Em on April 28, 2015 at 8:19 am

    That salad looks SO delicious. You really can’t go wrong with ingredients from Trader Joe’s. 😀 That Florence + The Machine song is also on my running playlist. Keeps you going!

  10. Lindsay on April 28, 2015 at 8:40 am

    That salad dressing container looks awesome! What’s the brand and where did you get it?

  11. Alex @ True Femme on April 28, 2015 at 8:45 am

    I really need to do the same thing with my veggies when I get home. It takes just a little more effort upfront but then I don’t end up throwing away all this stuff that has gone bad. Oh and brownies are definitely on the meal prep list for today too! 😉

  12. Anita on April 28, 2015 at 8:53 am

    I love the idea of prepping veggies ahead of time — it’s insane how much convenience influences my eating! Anything that’s ready to go usually ends up being what I reach for. 🙂

    Always, Anita

  13. Lauren on April 28, 2015 at 8:55 am

    This looks delicious,m totally craving salad right now! 🙂

    http://www.lozzieknows.com/

  14. Kaila @healthyhelperblog! on April 28, 2015 at 9:07 am

    San Marzano tomatoes are the best!!! They make any dish or soup or sauce automatically more flavorful!

  15. Amanda @ Slimplify Life on April 28, 2015 at 9:10 am

    When I try to pour a smoothie neatly into a mason jar and it is a hot mess.

    A+ on the balsamic glaze ;).

  16. Shannon P on April 28, 2015 at 9:35 am

    I’d love to win this giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity, Gina!

  17. India on April 28, 2015 at 9:40 am

    I took a spin class last night and the instructor was horrible. I thought “If Gina was here, she’d be so fabulous”. Wish I could take one of your classes!

    Thanks for the realistic side of meal prep. I try, but sometimes it’s hard to make it happen.

  18. Stacy @ Sweating TulipZ on April 28, 2015 at 10:35 am

    Loving that soup! It looks fantastic…and who doesn’t love a tomato soup? As long as you meal prep brownies, your meal prep is complete! 😉

  19. Bets on April 28, 2015 at 10:50 am

    Those mushrooms looked so good, I had to walk to TJ’s on my lunch to get them. Darn pregnancy cravings, once I see something that sounds good I have to have it!

  20. Catherine on April 28, 2015 at 10:58 am

    Mmm…both the soup and the salad sound yummy. I am going to try the soup recipe soon!

  21. Amanda on April 28, 2015 at 12:01 pm

    I think your olive oil looks great!

  22. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment on April 28, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    Those brownies! I so want one right now 🙂

  23. Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed on April 29, 2015 at 7:52 am

    I’m obsessed with those mushrooms!

  24. Dakota C. on May 7, 2015 at 3:14 pm

    I made this soup for dinner the other night and it was SO GOOD! My husband even said it was the best tomato soup he has ever had! I was skeptical about the cashews working out, but it really was delicious! I also topped it with a drizzle of EVOO and a sprinkle of Manchego cheese! Yum! Thank you!

    • Fitnessista on May 7, 2015 at 3:38 pm

      so happy you both enjoyed it!! i can’t wait to make it again 🙂

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