I started my blog, seven years ago, just before moving to Australia. It was also the starting point of my health journey and personal transformation.
At the time, I was 22 and still living with my mum. I didn’t have my own kitchen yet but I already loved cooking for others, especially my boyfriend (who is now my husband).
Back then, I considered myself to be overweight. I had body-image issues, which I had struggled with for most of my life. I just didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin.
I didn’t know much about nutrition either, besides the fact that veggies are good for you and over-processed food is not. In practice, I didn’t know what to eat or what to avoid. I had never been the sporty type anyway (or that’s what I kept telling myself anyway). All in all, I just had no idea what to do to change, both mentally and physically; and felt so confused.
I didn’t know much about nutrition either, besides the fact that veggies are good for you and over-processed food is not. In practice, I didn’t know what to eat or what to avoid.
The idea of starting my blog came after I spent a summer in the US, working on a project involving food bloggers. It was a brand new world to me. A few months later, I began my own blog focusing on easy and healthy recipes – it was something that just felt natural to me.
Thanks to my interest in cooking and my blog, and a desire to change, I learnt how to listen to my body and understand what it needs over time. I discovered I am actually a fitness fanatic, and that I can push my mind and body further than I ever thought I could be capable of.
My blog is now my full-time job. My typical reader is someone similar to me: a young active woman in her 20s or 30s, who’s looking to cook healthy, nutritious meals that are not only delicious but make her feel at her best.
These days, I live in Israel. I moved here a year ago. From my experience, it’s pretty easy to eat healthy in Israel because there’s an abundance of delicious, fresh fruits and vegetables grown locally. There are not a lot of health brands or products around, but eating well goes back to basics: consuming tasty fruits and veggies, spices, grains, meat and dairy.
There are plenty of amazing restaurants in Tel Aviv, making magic with very basic ingredients.
Israel is also very vegan-friendly, and
I learnt how to listen to my body and understand what it needs over time.
'Clean eating': what it means to me
The basics of clean eating involves not having processed food and eating real ingredients: fruits, veggies, nuts, spices, healthy fats, a bit of grains, a bit of dairy and a bit of meat. The more nutritious: the better.
Personally, I eat a little bit of everything, but I go easy on some grains because it [often] leaves me sluggish. I might also not have a lot of dairy because it sometimes leaves me with bad skin. But does that mean I never eat pasta or pizza? Hell, no! And trust me, I do love cheese. The key is listening to my body. I’ve now learned to recognise which food is best for me and in what quantity.
I don’t believe in ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to healthy eating and what it means exactly on an individual level. For instance, I don’t believe grains are unhealthy per se, but some people do better without them. While some people thrive on a plant-based diet, others feel good on a Paleo diet.
You are unique and what’s ideal for you might be very different than the person next to you.
...the best advice I can give other women about eating well is to learn how to listen to your body and decode the messages it’s sending you, so that you know what’s optimal health is for you.
The main thing is to never compare yourself with others – this is particularly hard to do in the current era of social media. You’ll see all these fantastic influencers and ‘inspo’ accounts showcasing the most beautiful and healthy meals. Don’t forget that these accounts are meant for inspiration, and not comparison. If they make you feel bad about yourself, un-follow them.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you had one too many slices of pizza last night, don’t beat yourself up for it. Your mental health is as important as your physical health. Move on and jump back on the health bandwagon straight away.
But the best advice I can give other women about eating well is to learn how to listen to your body and decode the messages it’s sending you, so that you know what’s optimal health is for you.
Understanding your body is a process of trials and errors. It might take some time and that’s okay. As cliché as it may sound, healthy eating and wellness is indeed a journey – not a destination.
