Congratulations on your book The Lunchbox Revolution, can you tell us a little more about it?
The Lunchbox Revolution was written for families, to help them understand why we need to get our kids in the kitchen, cooking and discovering how amazing fresh whole foods can be. Food needs to be interesting, it needs to look great and most of all it needs to taste great. Mix all that together and you have ingredients for recipes that kids will love to eat everyday.

Do you have a favourite recipe among the collection?
It’s difficult to pick a favourite recipe from the book, but the most popular section is definitely the balls. The reason is they are fun, bite sized, tasty and super easy for everyone to make! Kids love finger food so it makes sense to create healthy snacks that are the perfect snack size.

You also run healthy cooking classes for adults in your spare time, what can people expect from one of your Healthy Cooking Workshops?
The Healthy Cooking Workshops I run with the support of the City of the Gold Coast’s Active & Healthy program of events, give the community an opportunity to engage in positive, healthy cooking demonstrations that cover a wide range of topics. Happy to say these classes are always booked out with a waiting list. It seems everyone is keen to add a new healthy recipe to their cooking repertoire!

As a naturopath, is there anything that the majority of people don’t know that they might benefit from knowing?
As a Naturopath, I would love for people to have a better understanding of the connection between what they consume and how it affects their health. People need to start listening to what their bodies are telling them when they eat something that doesn’t agree with them and not repeat it. We need to learn to eat from nature because our bodies know exactly what to do with whole foods. Put the good stuff in and your body will reward you with good health!

What inspires you?
The power of community and how when we come together for a good cause, we can create the change we want to see in the world. Jamie Oliver is great example of this and I hope to meet him one day. His contribution to the world as far as awareness of healthy eating should be applauded.

What keeps you motivated?
The public, they are the ones who motivate me to continue the work I do. Getting emails, letters, phone calls and visits from people telling me about the positive changes that continue to happen since embracing a healthier lifestyle for them and their children. That makes it all worthwhile.

What’s your ideal meal for a quick pick-me-up?
If I am on the run I will make a smoothie! I always have frozen bananas, berries and mangoes in the freezer ready to make a tasty smoothie. Add some coconut water, a quality protein powder and I am good to go! As far as a meal goes, I am a salad nut, I love all sorts of salads and literally crave them. It is usually a mix of greens, avocado, toasted seeds, fresh sprouts, roasted sweet potato and a homemade dressing. I have one everyday!

What’s your idea of complete happiness?
Knowing my children are healthy, happy adults living their dream and following their passions – and then all coming together around the dinner table where we can chat, eat, laugh and share for hours!

What has been your biggest learning when it comes to food?
Children keep things in perspective so creating recipes with healthy ingredients that fussy eaters will love to eat has been my biggest learning curve. They soon let you know if you have got it right! I’m happy to say I have a high strike rate!

What was the best advice you’ve received?
The best advice I ever received is to follow your own truth, create a life where your passion and work combine and you will never work a day in your life.

What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
A well-spent weekend for me is to have some time to myself. I spend a lot of time talking, so a quiet walk to the beach, a swim in the sea and some sunshine on my skin always takes me to my happy place.

Any secrets on where to get amazing produce on the coast?
At every workshop I talk about how we need to change our shopping habits. We need to support our local farmers and that means visiting your local farmer’s markets. Not only will you get fresh produce, but it’s a social outing talking to local innovative suppliers of amazing health products, catching up with friends, listening to live music, all the ingredients to nourish the body and the soul!

Any exciting plans for 2015?
2015 is shaping up to be another busy year. I am spending more time on the speakers circuit, corporate talks for stressed executives and school workshops. I would like to do more on YouTube, I love that social engagement, I would like to write another book, a follow up to The Lunchbox Revolution and I also have a desire to create a television show for families and kids. Nothing competitive, just great home cooking embracing all cultures in Australia. Stay tuned!

Only a Gold Coast local would know … how lucky we really are to live in such a beautiful place. We should count our blessings everyday.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … Any of the amazing health cafes on the Coast, I just moved to Nobby Beach, so I’m loving the vibe there!
Relax … Without a doubt, the beach. There is nothing better than time in the sand, surf and sun. I’m definitely a beach baby at heart!
Indulge … I’m loving the raw food movement in desserts! It’s the perfect way to have the most incredible treat that is also healthy but feel perfectly indulgent at the same time.
Dine … Anywhere with family and friends! Sharing food with people you love is the best way to dine.
Be inspired… At one of my workshops! And the Miami Marketta on a Saturday night, the eclectic mix of people, food and music inspires me to embrace individuality, live passionately and love life!