Can you tell us about yourself and your work? How did it start?
I’m a mum, wife, holistic nutritionist, yoga teacher, health coach, wholefoods chef and author of the number-one selling books Supercharged Food: Eat Your Way to Health, Supercharged Food: Eat Yourself Beautiful, Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian, Eat Right for your Shape, Supercharged food For Kids, Heal your Gut and most recently, Fast Your Way to Wellness. I also run a four-week online ‘Heal Your Gut’ program, a bi-weekly online ‘Heal Your Gut’ program, and have my very own ‘Heal Your Gut Powder’ and ‘Supercharged Food, Earth Mask & Scrub’.
My work day is always different! I could be working on a new healthy recipe, giving a talk, writing away at a new book, health coaching, brainstorming new projects, doing photoshoots or teaching yoga.
Like many others, my health journey and work started out of a place of desperation. I was working a fast-paced job for the ABC in Sydney when I suddenly became ill. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and fibromyalgia. At the time, I didn’t realise how weak my gut was and didn’t see how it was effecting everything that I was doing. I was constantly exhausted, on a cocktail of drugs and felt alone through this process.
I decided to take my health into my own hands and simplify my diet, decreasing foods that weren’t good for me, like sugar and gluten and increasing my intake of whole foods. I started to create recipes in my kitchen and that’s what started my blog www.superchargedfood.com. I began to document my process, discoveries and recipes to share it with people who had been having similar issues with their health.
I’ve gone on to publish seven best-selling books filled with delicious recipes. My goal was, and still is, to make healthy cooking and living simple enough for everyone, with a key interest in gut health.
What is your healthy lifestyle philosophy?
The gut is the epicentre to health. Looking after the gut can improve our overall health. Did you know the immune system is connected to the gut? Eating is a lot more than just chomping down on some food and having it come out the other end. What we consume fuels our bodies and therefore, the rest of our lives.
What's your best business tip?
It’s going to sound cliché but I can’t stress it enough: be yourself! I know that I’m super daggy and I embrace it! In your personal life, you’re not going to connect with everyone that you meet and that’s the same in the business world. If you have a strong sense of who you are and a passion for what you do, you’ll go far.
5 things we will always find in your fridge?
Hmm let me think…
Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale and rocket are nutrient-dense and can help fight chronic diseases, increase energy. I like adding greens to my salads, smoothies and even ice-creams!
Bone broths made using fish, lamb, chicken or beef bones are usually siting in my fridge. I like to make a big batch on a Sunday so I can eat it throughout the week. Bone broths contain immune-boosting properties and are extremely good for our gut health.
Berries are one of my favourite fruits because they’re high in antioxidants and low in fructose, so they don’t spike our blood sugar levels. I like to eat lots of different types of berries to reap the antioxidant benefits!
Salmon is one of my favourite fish, as it’s high in omega-3 fatty acids and so, great to reduce inflammation. Foods high in omega-3 like our fishy friend have proven to be great for protecting us from gastrointestinal diseases. They’re also great for our skin!
I always like to end with dessert so the last thing you’ll find in my fridge is my turmeric fudge! It’s made with the anti-inflammatory powder turmeric, the healthy saturated fats coconut oil and tahini, flu-fighting ginger, sweet rice malt syrup and heal your gut powder! It’s a quick treat that can help in weight loss, promote heart health oh, and did I mention it’s delicious?
What does a typical day on your plate look like?
I start the day off with my heal your gut powder followed by breakfast. I love having eggs and avocado but when I wake up craving something sweeter, I may have some green pikelets (they’re way tastier than they sound.).
I’m a little addicted to dandelion tea and chai tea so I’ll usually have one of those around mid-morning.
For lunch, I like to eat lots of veggies, with a protein and healthy fat, like a salad with salmon and avocado. You can also often see me eating left-overs from the night before.
In the afternoon, I like to treat myself to something a bit sweeter, and another cup of tea! I sometimes snack on bananas, a slice of coconut banana bread or maybe a bliss ball.
Seeing as we’re going into Winter here in Aus, I like to end the day with something warm and nourishing like stir fry, soup or a stew. I’m loving my Rosemary and Thyme Chicken Stew at the moment. I sometimes just throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning and come home to the delicious smell wafting through the air and yum food ready to go!
Who / what inspires you?
I find that looking at my past inspires me to do better in the future. By reflecting on what I’ve been through and experienced, I find I’m able to have a clearer vision of what I want to achieve and help people with!
A favourite affirmation or quote?
"The grass is greener where you water it." – Neil Barringham
Connect with Lee:
Instagram @leesupercharged
Facebook Supercharged Food
Website www.superchargedfood.com
