Foodie Friday: Louise Bell from Table Tonic

Being on Gerson Therapy means that I spend pretty much all my time at home. A side effect of this has been an obsession with making my home environment as aesthetically pleasing as possible. Enter, an obsession with home décor blogs. My favourite being Table Tonic, the creative outlet of Louise Bell. Lou’s blog is the perfect mix of home décor, modern wisdom, and health and wellness bits and pieces. I noticed Lou started blogging more and more about wellness, cleansing and awesome healthy food a little while back – which has made my visits to her site even more regular. It’s also why she is the perfect candidate for Foodie Friday!

Louise is the former Creative Director of Cosmopolitan, Cleo and Dolly magazine here in Australia. These days she is a foodie, a fashionista, a frustrated interior decorator, a magazine addict, the wife of an architect and the mother of Jasper (7), Anoushka (4) and Audrey the Italian Greyhound.

What was the catalyst that turned you into a healthy foodie?

Gosh. Where to start. My eating habits had slowly been getting worse and worse – I convinced myself I was too busy for proper meals, I chose quick over healthy and a large takeaway coffee every morning meant breakfast was easily skipped. Plus, having two kids means a pantry with a bit of sugar here and there, so after dinner, I’d hit it hard! I started feeling a little bit down on life in general, and I can’t say there was ONE catalyst, but Elaine Hollingsworth’s book Take Control of Your Health and Escape the Sickness Industry was a huge part of it (I discovered it through Miranda Kerr’s Kora blog). I’ll never forget my amazement when I discovered that what we put into our mouths so strongly affects how we feel emotionally. It’s just astonishing.

What are your non-negotiables when it comes to your diet?

I always start the day with a litre (2 x 500ml jars) of green smoothie or green juice. I’ve got to the point where I just HAVE to. If I don’t, I feel parched and dry and… incomplete (like I’ve forgotten to put on a bra or brush my teeth or something!). On the rare occasion that it isn’t feasible, I always make one later in the day – even if it means it’s my dinner.

If you were trying to convert someone to your dietary philosophy, what would you make for them?

Definitely a green juice or a green smoothie. I don’t think people realise how delicious and refreshing they can be – especially given how choc-full of goodness they are!

How do you stay healthy while travelling?

I’ve yet to travel overseas with my (relatively new) healthy outlook on life, but I when I do, I would certainly follow Sarah Britton’s lead and “always stay somewhere with a kitchen and cook for myself as much as possible.”

What are your go-to meals and snacks when you are super busy?

Green smoothies are so great for breakfast or lunch, as they only take a few minutes from start to finish. Most days, I’ll whip up a chopped salad with nuts for lunch – it really doesn’t take long, especially if you have a yummy salad dressing ready to go! For snacks, I love organic corn thins with organic butter, a Boiled (organic) egg or some Tamari almonds. Oh, and carrot sticks (or fruit) dipped in almond butter and sprinkled with sea salt is amazing!

Juices or smoothies: Which do you prefer? What’s your favourite combination?

I have to say juices – Green juice made from 1 bunch of spinach or kale, 1 apple, 1 peeled lemon, a few celery stalks, a cucumber and a big knob of ginger is my idea of heaven! I’ve been a juice convert ever since I read Kris Carr’s best-selling book Crazy Sexy Diet – one of the top 3 health books I’ve ever read.

What’s the biggest nutrition misconception you are always having to clear up for people?

I think a lot of people don’t realise how detrimental it is to your health to consume fruit for dessert/after a meal. I loved your post about “internal traffic jams”, for me it was a huge eye opener. Fruit is great for you, yes. But eat it after a meal and it sits on top of your steak for hours – fermenting, acidifying, creating gas… To the point where you were better off without it!

If you could prepare a meal for anyone (dead or alive) who would it be and what would you make?

Oooooh! Tough! It would be a toss up between Kris Carr and Kimberly Snyder (two super hot, super healthy American bloggers/wellness warriors). What would I make? One of my killer raw salads!

What does being a Wellness Warrior mean to you?

Being a Wellness Warrior means educating myself, constantly. Always learning, always improving and always inspiring.

A Recipe from Louise:

Rice Salad with Edamame Beans

This rice salad is an absolute treat, either as a substantial lunch, or as a light, but satisfying dinner. And the dressing is my ultimate salad dressing – it goes with any and every salad!

1 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup cooked red rice (or wild rice)
1 red apple, chopped
1 bunch of asparagus
1 red capsicum, chopped
1 packet frozen edamame beans
Large handful of walnuts, chopped

Dressing:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely grated
1 tablespoon honey
pinch sea salt

Blanche the asparagus in boiling water for 30 seconds, then refresh under cold water and drain. Set aside.
Cook the edamame according to packet instructions and pop them out of their pods. Set aside.
Combine the rice, apple, asparagus, capsicum, edamame and walnuts in a large serving bowl. Toss well.
For the dressing, combine ingredients in a jar and shake well. Pour over the salad just prior to serving.
Serves 2-4

Get more from Louise …

On her blog: www.tabletonic.blogspot.com.au
At her online shop: TableTonic.com.au
On Facebook: Table Tonic
On Twitter: @Table_Tonic

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