Malin tells us how healthy eating and cooking have positively impacted her everyday life…Well, I used to have terrible digestion after having gone through some stressful life changes and a bout of bad food poisoning from shell fish. The way I ate completely changed this and I live a life more or less free from pain and bloating today and it impacts my day immensely. The digestion issues I had seemed to affect my immune system and I was ill a lot over a year or so, more than just stomach aches and other issues that come with digestion issues, and it kept me from doing a lot of things that I wanted to. It turned out I was intolerant to quite a few foods I ate often like dairy and eggs as well as gluten and I decided to go plant based and gluten free. That’s a lot at once but when I got the handle on it I learned to cook in a much more creative and intuitive way with ingredients I barely ate before. I also got my digestive health back. Since going plant based and ditching the gluten most of the time I’ve rarely been ill, enjoyed a new found energy and very seldom have stomach aches and those other nasty digestion problems. That way I have been able to live my life with more spark and instead of often be lying around due to pain or illness I’ve been out in the world enjoying myself and working at what’s meaningful to me.

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Our Interview with Malin

What does “healthy” mean to you?

Healthy to me is a combination of feeling well physically and mentally. It’s also being connected and having a support system and community. It’s about feeling that what you do and put out into the world is meaningful and that what you get back makes sense and fuels you to move forward in some way. It’s being able to see the positive things in your life and being grateful for them. And sometimes it’s being able to admit to yourself that you need help when you’re struggling. It’s kindness and understanding. It’s peace and love.

Share a morning or afternoon routine that keeps you on track.

Lately I’ve been using the pomodoro method when I work at my desk which usually happens both in the mornings between meals and the afternoons, especially now as I’m studying. The method is basically a timer which you set that allows you  to work for 25 minutes followed by a 5 minute break. In those breaks I get up and walk around, sometimes walk up and down the stairs a few times or do some stretches to open the front body after hunching at the desk. Sometimes I make myself a cup of tea or snack. Other times I fold some laundry or tidy up a little. It helps me to stay active throughout the day and gives my eyes a break from the screen. It also allows me to take care of myself and remember to do those little things that make you feel better at the end of the working day.

Of all your recipes, which is your “go-to”?

That’s a tricky one as I love all of them, and I hope your readers will too, but it must be the super noodle salad with tahini dressing. It’s quick and easy but still jam packed with fresh vegetable goodness. Noodles are such a great thing to keep around for those moments when you just need a quick fix and you could prepare a big batch of the salad and sauce to keep on hand in separate containers to make this meal into lunches or dinners throughout the week in minutes.

Clue us into your current or upcoming project.

At the moment I’m studying to become a nutrition adviser and health coach. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time and I’m so excited to be back studying and learning. In the future I’m hoping to be able to help people on a more intimate basis to find a more healthy way of life that makes them feel good. I also hope it will help me spread the message about plant based eating in a more well informed and practical way. On the side it’s also helping me understand the importance of movement and getting and staying active, I’ve actually just started going to aerobics/dance classes believe it or not.

Define your ‘food philosophy’.

My food philosophy goes a little something like this: listen to your body and mind and try in the best way you can to give them what they need, don’t sweat the small stuff and eat a lot of whole plant foods that will vitalise and nourish you.

What’s a great piece of advice to help others on the road to healthy living?

Take it easy, be kind to yourself, find a community that supports you and remember that the little step you take is better than that big step that feels to daunting to ever happen.