tessa kitchener
I am a mum of 2 girls, Daisy (10) and Isla (8), and I’m passionate about health, wellness and delicious food.
I’m originally from the UK and I have been a Physiotherapist and Pilates instructor for over 20 years. Being a foodie, I found myself constantly thinking about food and together with my interest in health and wellness, I decided to study Nutritional Therapy. This has given me a great understanding of the body from the inside and outside and allows me to look at the big picture to optimise health using a holistic, whole body approach.
I’m passionate about finding ways to help busy families eat real food, cook easy meals from scratch and I love inspiring people to transform their health.
I understand the pressures of being a busy parent, unpaid chef, peacekeeper, and taxi driver, so I know how important it is to keep things real and achievable and I have lots of meal prep and time saving tips to help feel organised and less overwhelmed with life.
my food philosophy
I have never believed in diets. I believe in eating real food and making this a lifestyle choice (80% of the time!).
It’s not realistic (or fun) to have a ‘perfect’ diet. Food is not only fuel for our bodies, but it is also a way to celebrate with our families and community.
I don’t believe we should feel guilt or shame after eating. There is nothing like enjoying the odd ice cream with your kids on a hot day or some dark chocolate and red wine with friends! It is however, about finding the right balance, as there are a lot of hot days in Melbourne!
We should try not to use food as a reward or punishment for ourselves or our kids. (this can be hard, as the promise of an ice cream will get my kids to do anything!)
In today’s world, with body issues becoming a bigger and bigger problem, we need to tread lightly on how we talk to our kids about food. It is so important to connect what we eat to how we feel, rather than how we look, to ensure they have a positive relationship with food.