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About

Hi, I’m Gina. Here’s the short version of me:

About the food blog, Running to the Kitchen

I like food. A lot. I hate the term “foodie”. Don’t call me that.

Weimaraners are the coolest. I’d have a pack of 10 if I wasn’t so crazy about a clean house and didn’t have allergies.

Married 15 years, don’t want kids, never have. My mom still hasn’t accepted this.

Grew up a sports junkie, stopped playing sports & gained weight in college, got my act together in my late 20s, started to eat healthy, got hooked on running (here’s my running story) and lost the weight.

Now, I’m a CrossFit and weight-lifting junkie who runs occasionally.

I live for a rare steak and a dark, chewy glass of red.

If I could hop on a plane to anywhere tomorrow it’d be Machu Picchu, Peru.

*Update! Crossed that trip off in 2018, it was pretty amazing. Next on the bucket list – somewhere in Asia.

If you don’t “do” sarcasm, we can’t be friends.

About Running to the Kitchen

About Running to the Kitchen

Still want to know more? Here’s the long(er) version:

I live in the suburbs of New York City with my husband, Ulysses (he may or may not be Greek).

I started this site in May 2011 after realizing I was spending way too much time reading about other people’s lives through food and fitness blogs and finally getting the motivation to start my own.

Gina Matsoukas, the food blogger of Running to the Kitchen

My love for food goes way back. 

I was the kid that never turned down anything edible. In fact, I can’t actually think of a food I don’t like. Except maybe papaya (it totally smells and tastes like feet to me).

I had a very active life through high school, playing soccer since I was the age of 4. It completely consumed all my free time through school, club, and state teams and because of it, I don’t ever remember thinking twice about what I ate back then.

In fact, I won the “fastest off the bus to McDonald’s after a game” award during our varsity basketball dinner. I’m not even kidding (#2, super-sized, 2 apple-pies – it was my go-to order).

Ah, the good ‘ole days.

After I stopped playing soccer in college, of course that incredibly high metabolism stopped as well.

For the next 10 years through college and the start of my professional life, my eating and exercise habits varied. From low carb diets after the “sophomore 10″ (which was really more like 20), to intense tennis matches with coworkers & friends, to a brief stint with running when we lived in Florida, and then even starting to play soccer again in a local league.

Nothing exercise wise was consistent though, and I was still eating like I had been in high school. Needless to say, I ended up about 20 pounds heavier than my 5’7 frame should’ve been by the summer of 2009.  

A family beach trip that year ended up being my aha moment. I felt completely uncomfortable in my bathing suit and clothes, and hated every picture of myself that entire trip.

By the last day of vacation I had made up my mind to do something about it.

Meet Gina Matsoukas, food blogger behind Running to the Kitchen

This is the point where my relationship with food changed from just loving and eating all of it to really caring about the quality, sourcing and health benefits of it.

I slowly began the process of completely restocking our pantry and fridge, started buying “super-foods” like quinoa (and proceeded to pronounce it like ‘kin-o-a’ for about 3 months), chia seeds and whole-grains while swapping out most of our “white” foods for their healthier alternatives.

My mentality shifted to an intuitive approach of eating wholesome, real, local and seasonal as much as possible – (check out my guides section for seasonal eating tips/recipes) foods and while it wasn’t overnight by any means, the combination of this nutrition approach and embracing exercise through running, those extra 20 pounds came off.

About the food and fit-minded blog, Running to the Kitchen

Since then, it has been an amazingly positive cycle.

Running enabled me to re-identify myself as an athlete after a decade long hiatus and eating real, nourishing foods allowed me the body and health to continuously improve in it, feeding my competitive soul.

Strength-training has since taken running’s place as my exercise of choice but the cycle continues nonetheless.

Today, this blog is not only my full-time job but also an outlet to express what makes me happy in life: food.

Learn about the food blog and healthy recipe site, Running to the Kitchen

My philosophy is that the best recipes are those made with fresh, simple, seasonal and when possible, local ingredients. 

Running to the Kitchen is where I share those kinds of meals with you all.

There’s a bit of everything on this site from a passed down family recipe of butter-laden apricot brandy cake (seriously a killer holiday dessert, don’t underestimate it) to an easy sriracha lime chicken skillet and everything in between whether it’s paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan or, none of the above.

All are welcome in my kitchen!

Sarah

Saturday 22nd of October 2022

I am busy cooking all of your great looking squash recipes! Thank you very much!

Disappointed reader

Thursday 13th of October 2022

Gina,

I was really interested in your blog, but found it pretty offensive in your miso maple chicken recipe that you write that miso soup tastes like “dirty sock water.” Considering that you are using ingredients that are outside your culture and ethnicity. Please consider not insulting the ingredients of another culture, especially if using for your recipes and putting it on your blog.

Trish B

Friday 21st of October 2022

@Gina Matsoukas,

Way to go Gina! Like you mentioned in you bio: "If you don’t “do” sarcasm, we can’t be friends." Also, loved thge "woke reply" back to disappointed reader! Just stating the fact.

Gina Matsoukas

Friday 14th of October 2022

Sorry you're so easily offended. There is nothing insulting to a culture or the ingredients by stating my personal opinion on how a dish TASTES TO ME. Would you feel the same if I said I didn't like how chicken parmesan tastes? Would you feel it necessary to comment about the "offensiveness" of the Italian culture? I'm guessing probably not. Here's another one that may blow your mind, I also think matzo ball soup is gross. I'm half Jewish though so does that make my opinion about the soup ok then? Thanks so much for your unsolicited woke opinions on my recipes.

Eilish

Monday 11th of October 2021

Hi Gina -

I tried your Crispy Air Fryer Eggplant recipe. Followed all your instructions including salting the eggplant.

The finished product was crispy-ish (a little mushy in the center but edible) but too salty.

I wiped off the salt on the eggplant with a paper towel before adding avocado oil and spices.

What else should/could I have done to reduce saltiness?

Thanks v m

Gina Matsoukas

Tuesday 12th of October 2021

Hi there - just use less salt to salt the eggplant with. You can also always rinse it off briefly (just make sure to pat dry well) after salting.

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