Celebrity Foodie Friday: Phoebe Tonkin

Posted September 7, 2012

I’m so excited to share the very first installment of ‘Celebrity Foodie Friday’ with you. This week’s foodie is the beautiful and so sweet Phoebe Tonkin – an LA-based Australian actress and model most famous for her roles on The Vampire Diaries, The Secret Circle and Home and Away.

Phoebe is also an avid healthy foodie and is currently working on an exciting online wellness project with her best friend and fellow actress Teresa Palmer (who you will see here on Foodie Friday soon).

Meet Phoebe …

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

I was lucky enough to be brought up healthy. I remember being 5 years old and my mum giving my little sister and I carob as a treat. Even now, I prefer carob over chocolate. She always packed us healthy school lunches, and so it’s second nature to me now. She even cooks quinoa on Christmas day. She also loves this site!!! Hi Mum!

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

I try to eat a lot of greens. And If I’m running around and can’t sit down to a big salad, Ill have a vegetable juice and pack in as many veggies as I can. I’m also a creature of habit, during the day I eat a lot of hummus, salmon, blueberries and obviously, Carob
I don’t eat fast food, anything processed, and I stay away from dairy and anything that claims to be ‘low fat’ or artificially sweetened.

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

I would try create a healthier version of their favourite not so healthy meals. For example, one of my close friends loves fries and ketchup, so I suggested cutting up Sweet potato in thin strips and baking in coconut oil, and I found her ketchup that was made with agave instead of corn syrup.

How do you stay healthy while travelling?

I travel a lot, and I always bring my own food for the plane, I have a Princess lunch box I bring everywhere. I’m a toddler at heart. I pack mini packets of raw almond butter and green tea, a home made salad, and also b-12 supplements.

 

Phoebe with BFF Teresa Palmer – pic via Just Jared Jr

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

Raw almond butter, blueberries, green juices, coconut water and gluten free quinoa crackers with manuka honey.

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

I love smoothies, with coconut water, berries, chia, rice protein, maca and cacao powder. I put it in a bowl, sprinkle raw granola on top and eat it like a pudding with a spoon!

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

That healthy food doesn’t taste good! I was on a set with a few girls who were Southern and not used to eating healthy, and by the end of the show, they were toting raw Kombucha and drinking green juices every morning. It’s all about being open to new tastes and trying out new things.

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

Right now, I live pretty far away from my family. I would love to cook a yummy quinoa and beet salad with sweet potato fries and sauteed spinach for my mum, to show how much I learnt living out of home!!
What does being a Wellness Warrior mean to you?
To me it means taking control and responsibility for your own body. Your health is the most precious thing you have, and so you should make looking after yourself your biggest priority. Do some research, experiment with recipes and become aware of where your food is coming from and why you should eat it

A Recipe From Phoebe:

Zucchini Pasta

I make the best zucchini pasta. I am not great with exact measurements, because I end up just adjusting as I go along.

+ I have a spiralizer that converts zucchini into pasta, and I cover it in pesto, sun dried tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes and walnuts. I like anything hot, so I also use cayenne pepper.

+ I serve it with a salad of spinach, avocado and some tahini and olive oil as a dressing. I also like to sprinkle some chia seeds on the top. Sometimes I cook beets to add on top too. I try to use all organic ingredients when I can.

+ You can see the fresh figs we had as dessert in the picture above. Yum!

Follow Phoebe on Twitter and Facebook.

Positive affirmation for the day: I approach all situations with curiosity and an open mind.

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