Foodie Friday: Sherilyn Palmer

Posted May 18, 2012

 

Mother, wife, fertility nurse / midwife, holistic health coach – Sherilyn Palmer is one busy lady. However, that doesn’t stop her from making sure she and her family eat the best quality, amazing tasting food. And you can tell just by looking at her food blog, Wholepromise, that Sherilyn loves supplying it. Her food is wholesome, hearty, healthy, and so tasty looking that you just want to reach out and lick the screen (well, not my screen – it’s gross dirty).

I met Sherilyn when she tapped me on the shoulder at our local organic supermarket one day, and I have been hooked on her blog ever since.

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

A diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in 2003 at the age of 27 was a driving factor for me. Spurred on by the fear of fertility issues and other long-term health consequences, I started looking very closely at the food I was consuming by reading labels and ingredient lists. Discovering the food I thought was healthy was laden with hidden sugar and additives I quickly took control and got back into kitchen and started cooking my own food. Thankfully I come from a long line of women who loved to cook so getting in the kitchen and preparing food from scratch was something that was familiar to me and something I found really enjoyable. It proved good practice because now I have two hungry and active boys to feed so whipping up quick and healthy meals in the kitchen is a must.

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

Lots of vegetables are my foundation and keeping sugar to a minimum is also important. More recently I have moved toward a gluten and grain free diet. A big factor in PCOS is insulin resistance – a defect in the way the body processes sugar and this can interfere with the balance of hormones not to mention the functioning of the ovaries and the menstrual cycle. Needless to say, any highly refined and processed food is out of the question for me. Going to the farmer’s markets is my most favourite thing to do on the weekend and living on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland means I have access to some really amazing organic and local produce. It is here that I do the bulk of my weekly shopping.

How do you stay healthy while travelling?

I drink lots of water as I find I dehydrate really easily and I pack lots of homemade snacks as my blood sugar levels become quite erratic if I let myself get to hungry. My family and I tend to prefer fairly active holiday destinations and when travelling for work my running shoes always travel too, as does a skipping rope in case the weather is bad.

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

A lots of my snack and meal ideas I share on my blog Wholepromise. Aside from managing my PCOS, my kids are another big reason why I cook so if it doesn’t taste good, they won’t eat it. They also love variety and so do I so we tend to mix things up a lot.

Of late we have been eating:

Raw Macadamia Nut Cheese and Vegetable Sticks
Dairy Free Banana and Coconut Custard
Hazelnut Cacao Balls
Sweet Potato and Millet Cakes and my two boys have recently been indulging in some Raw Chocolate which is super easy to make, is very tasty and minus all the extra additives of regular chocolate.

 

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

I love both, especially if a smoothie is made on nut milk. The thing I love about a juice is the clean feeling drinking it brings. My favourite combination would have to be: apple, mint, ginger, beetroot and kale

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

That fat is good for them provided it is the right type and quantity. As a fertility nurse and health counsellor, I talk to a lot of woman and eating fat scares many of them but when they understand their body needs fat to make hormones and facilitate ovulation they are more receptive to eating it and their skin appreciates it as well.

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

It would definitely be my belated grandmother, Hilda. I have such fond memories of many a Sunday afternoon cooking in her country house kitchen. She made everything and I would give anything to show her my appreciation for fostering my love of cooking. I would cook for her a meal that she would have once cooked for me with a few adaptations. Absolutely traditional to say the least but it is a meal that would be ladled with comfort, lots of banter, plenty of laughter and possibly a hint of sarcasm thrown in. If only I had her wood-fired stove to cook it in – organic roast chicken with real gravy and roasted vegetables with a gluten free apple crumble and homemade custard.

What does being a Wellness Warrior mean to you?

As a fertility nurse, mum, PCOS sufferer, blogger, health counsellor and soon-to-be certified natural fertility teacher, I want to inspire woman in all stages of life to nurture their reproductive health and wellbeing by showing them how to cook healthy food that will nourish their body giving it what it needs to do great things with.

 

A Recipe From Sherilyn:

 

Pinenut and Caper Aioli with Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips

 

Pinenut and Caper Aioli
Makes approx 1 ½ cups

1 cup pine nuts soaked in cold filtered water for 1 hour
3 Tbs cold pressed olive oil
3 Tbs lemon juice
1Tbs water
1 clove of garlic
1 Tbs capers, drained
¼ tsp sea salt

Place all the ingredients in a vitamix or other high-powered blender and whiz until smooth.
Adjust the taste to your liking.

Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips

I – 2 large sweet potatoes (depending on how many you have to feed)
Olive oil to coat
Sea salt and cracked black pepper to coat

Preheat oven to 225 degrees celcius
Peel the sweet potato and cut into long chip like pieces or flat discs if you prefer
Place the chips in a bowl and coat with olive oil
Spread the chips out on a baking sheet lined with foil
Bake in the oven for 15 mins, remove and turn over baking for another 15 mins or until crispy and browned.

 

Check out Sherilyn’s blog at wholepromise.blogspot.com.au

 

Positive affirmation for the day: I trust that everything is working out for my greater good.

 

 

 

MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR PLATE: HOW TO END YOUR TORTURED RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD.

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