Vegans in Valdosta?

Hey guys! Itโ€™s INDIAN FOOD WEDNESDAY! Whoโ€™s celebrating? I see a trip to the Indian buffet in the very near futureโ€ฆ.

roti

So last night, some friends at I met at Bleu Pub for dinner since the guys were working late. (Except for my pilot love, who stayed home sick yesterday)

Jeni and I split the Greek salad (no cheese on my half)

salad

and for my entree, I chose the black bean and bulgar burger (no bun) + sweet potater fries

burger

Awesome note about Blue Pub: they have a separate vegan grill for the black bean burgers! There are VEGANS in Valdosta??!! Iโ€™m just being facetious, but it was a lovely surprise ๐Ÿ™‚

The fries were foodgasmicโ€ฆ. so salty, so crunchy. I die.

This morning, I woke up with my throat killing me (is the sickness back? Is that even possible?) and made some fresh almond milk to go with my cereal.

al milk

Every few days, I make almond milk for bfast cookie and smoothie purposes. Itโ€™s super easy and tastes so much better than the stuff in the carton

Raw Almond Milk

-1 C raw almonds (soaked overnight in water)

-4 C water

-pinch sea salt

-1 t vanilla

-1/2 lecithin (optional- you can use soy lecithin or sunflower; it acts as an emulsifier to combine the almond mixture with the water and give it a smooth texture)

-Blend on high in the Vita-mixalicious

-Strain through a fine mesh sieve

I always dehydrate the almond pulp for macaroons and raw cookies, too ๐Ÿ™‚

almond pulp

B-fast was the usual B-fast cookie dough cereal (I canโ€™t get enough!!)

cereal

Plan for the day is:

-Snooze and pray that I feel better before work

-Conference call (with a sore throat. Baller)

-Indian buffet

-Training appointments

-Workout? Weโ€™ll see how Iโ€™m feelinโ€™

See ya later today! <3

Gina

Something to do: Get thee a copy a Operation Beautiful! As you guys know, the beautiful Caitlin worked her booty off for the past year + on this book. Itโ€™s finally THE week — her book was released yesterday and sheโ€™s promoting OB on the Today Show tomorrow morning at 8:30 (set your DVRs!).

When I first saw Caitlinโ€™s Operation Beautiful movement, I thought it was a cute idea. I could see how it would brighten someoneโ€™s day to find an uplifting note, but always kind of thought that if I saw a note on my car, Iโ€™d probably be looking for the creeper who put it there. It wasnโ€™t until I held the actual book in my hands at Borderโ€™s past weekend that I truly understood what itโ€™s all about.

Operation Beautiful is SO much more than random acts of kindness via positive post-it messages. Itโ€™s about changing the way girls and women view themselves and promoting a healthy body image.

If I would have had the chance to read this book as a younginโ€™, I would have breathed a HUGE sigh of relief and maybe cut myself some slack. Iโ€™m sure you guys have picked up on my Type A personality, but it was about a thousand times worse when I was younger โ€“ I put SO much pressure on myself. I didnโ€™t get my first โ€œB’โ€ until college (and cried and cried over it), and it wasnโ€™t just the grades thing- I danced, sang, played the violin and pianoโ€ฆ and was convinced that I had to be the *best* at all of them. On top of that, I read a lot of teen magazines and wanted so badly to look like the magazine models, and the girls on TVโ€ฆ even just typing this all out makes me realize how overwhelmed I was.

If I would have read this book when I was younger, it would have helped me to realize that I was ok, just the way I was. And I really was! Looking back on pictures of performances I did, or when my mom embarrasses me and plays CDs for the pilot, Iโ€™m proud of myself, even though at the time, it wasnโ€™t good enough for me. It took me a long time, well until I was in college, to become fully confident in myself.

So I guess what Iโ€™m saying is, even if you donโ€™t buy the book for yourself (which I highly recommend- it has so many wonderful stories, advice and information- a great warm fuzzy on a blah day), buy it for a younger girl in your life, like a niece, cousin or daughter. It might benefit her way more than you know.

<3

Something *else* to do: Please send some Readerโ€™s Requests ideas my way (fitnessista at gmail dot com) or leave them in the comments section- RR post will be up tomorrow morning ๐Ÿ˜€

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93 Comments

  1. Teri [a foodie stays fit] on August 4, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    I feel ya with the teenage pressure. I remember when I got my first A- in college and I FREAKED out. I graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA with all AP courses and couldn’t handle not having the perfect GPA. I’m a lot harder on myself in the looks/body category now than I was as a teenager, which is a blessing and a curse, I suppose. It breaks my heart to see beautiful teenage girls being so hard on themselves!

  2. jessica @ how sweet on August 4, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    Gah! Sick again?? I hope you feel better!

  3. Jessica @ Rawtumn on August 4, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    Gah, it has been far too long since I’ve had sweet potato fries! We need a reunion! I’m still waiting on my Operation Beautiful book to arrive but I already have the feeling I’m going to be buying it for a number of people this year. It’s just such a great message that needs to be shared. <3

  4. KellyB on August 4, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    Excellent promo for Caitlin’s book! You have convinced me to buy it for my 14-year-old step daughter. Thank you!

  5. laura on August 4, 2010 at 3:49 pm

    The fries look AMAZING!xx

  6. April on August 4, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Hi Gina~
    I made almond milk last night and accidentally used 2 cups of almonds with 4 cups of water, yikes. It was tasty though:=
    I wondered how many cups you usually get from a batch? I don’t seem to get a whole lot so i was just curious if you measured.
    Thanks!

    • Fitnessista on August 4, 2010 at 4:39 pm

      i usually get about 2-3 C depending on how well the almond pulp drains.

      • April on August 4, 2010 at 4:54 pm

        Thank you!

  7. Anna on August 4, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    Ah! I came looking for Fitnessista inspiration for a slow-cooker recipe and then realized it’s Indian Food Wednesday! Eggplant curry it is. Fate. The extra OB inspiration didn’t hurt either.

    • Fitnessista on August 4, 2010 at 4:37 pm

      whoo hoo! enjoy ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Lian on August 4, 2010 at 4:55 pm

    quite excited about your agreement of posting a workout/dvd review !!! ๐Ÿ˜€ can’t wait to use your expert advice to help me choose ! xx

  9. rebecca lustig on August 4, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    It’s an incredible book filled with such remarkable insight from people worldwide. It’s something like this that makes me feel so good.

  10. Jess on August 4, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    Yeah, I hear you on the teenage pressureโ€”I was another of those straight A-musical instrument-theater-sports kids…insane. I mellowed out eventually and even thought I was cured for a while…until grad school. Turns out it takes a lot of work to talk that inner Type A self down from the ledge. I think it’s worth it, though. I’m so much happier when I’m able to avoid buying into all the hype and just do the things that make me happyโ€”those tend to be the things we’re best at, anyway : )

  11. Christen on August 4, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    I have been seeing comments about Caitlin’s book on so many websites, but you were the first one to give me the idea to buy it for my nieces. I see them picking themselves apart and they are only 16. I hope the book makes a difference for them (…on my way to pick it up now.) Thanks!

  12. Hailey on August 4, 2010 at 6:47 pm

    Just wondered if you could let us know what other books you find interesting about health and fitness….

    • Fitnessista on August 4, 2010 at 6:51 pm

      ani phyo ani’s raw kitchen
      raw food detox diet
      women’s health book of exercises

      • Hailey on August 5, 2010 at 7:02 pm

        awesome thank you!

  13. LisaG on August 4, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    I had that burger/fries the other day: very good. The mgr there will talk your ears off. I need to buy Op.Beautiful for my daughter & a few other girlies.

  14. Pure2Raw Twins on August 4, 2010 at 11:04 pm

    Yay for vegans in Valdosta that is so cute ๐Ÿ™‚

    This reminds that I need to start making my own almond milk again. ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. Alissa on August 5, 2010 at 9:24 am

    Hi! I love making my own almond milk! I live in Australia and there’s not very much variety here when it comes to almond milk. I was just wondering how long your almond milk usually lasts when you make it? And how do you tell when it has gone bad? Thanks!!!

    • Fitnessista on August 5, 2010 at 10:06 am

      when i worked at the restaurant, we would throw it out on the 3rd day– i think you’ll be able to tell when it’s bad though… it gets a little tangy ๐Ÿ™‚

  16. Jos on August 11, 2010 at 11:40 am

    Where can I get soy lecithin? I also make my own raw almond milk, but after settle, the almond extract and the water separates. Thanks

    • Fitnessista on August 11, 2010 at 11:41 am

      most health food stores will have it by the supplements

  17. Lauren on May 11, 2012 at 11:55 am

    Hi Gina, I’m wondering if you know of a substitute for the lecithin in your almond milk recipe? Also, do you think baking the almond pulp at a low temp would do the same as dehydrating it? Thanks!

    • Fitnessista on May 11, 2012 at 11:59 am

      you can skip it- you’ll just have to shake up the milk before you drink it because there will be a little separation between the water and almond
      and yes, you can totally put it in the oven to dry out the almond pulp

  18. Tedd on October 10, 2015 at 12:59 am

    Not sure who told you, but as a former employee and regular customer, The Bleu Pub in Valdostsa is the best, but definitely does not have a separate grill for vegan food. It’s an open kitchen and the grill is visible from the bar. It’s the only one.

  19. Summer Hendrix on January 14, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    I visit Valdosta weekly due to my boyfriend being located there for baseball! Do you have any other restaurant suggestions for a vegan/plant based eater?

    • Fitnessista on January 14, 2016 at 3:34 pm

      is main squeeze still there?? i heard whisked is good too

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