Well hello there!!
I’m Teffy, a 20-something Brazilian, former Londoner, currently travelling the world.
I’m a lover of whole and delicious foods and all the amazing benefits they have on us, both inside and out. I don’t classify myself into a particular food category (ie vegan, raw, …) because to me that would be too limiting, and, well, I rather just not put a label on it!
It wasn’t always like this, as this blog has transitioned and developed with me (if you dig deep, you can find some old recipes in there!), and now I focus helping people feel amazing both inside and out!
This is not about deprivation and self-hatred. Feed your body, it needs delicious and wholesome foods for fuel & life! Put down that calorie counter and eat for nutrients, as not every calorie is created equal. A calorie is not a calorie, and you can bet your ass that your body will find a way to compensate for you not giving it what it needs. It cares about staying alive, not about how much you want to fit into those skinny jeans!
So ladies (and gents!), let’s put our life in high gear and take all that it has to offer. Love your body, clear your mind, and let’s get going!
I like to take a no-stress approach to food!
Now, it’s oh so so sooo important to not over-stress and over-think this! Stress is horrible for your body, and we’re staying away from that! You don’t have to eat this way 100% of the time! So what if you went out and had a drink or a burger? As long as you’re treating yourself with care most of the time, your body will be able to handle the occasional mishap! Just don’t stress it, enjoy that burger, and move on!
Was I always a healthy, mindful eater? Heck no!
If you knew me a couple years ago, you would never have guessed that I would someday come to write a wellness blog. I loved parties and alcohol, was a huge sugar-monster (hello cookies and ice cream!), and my idea of exercise was, well, non-existent.
I would over-eat in the late hours. As soon as people went to sleep, out came the snacks. Of course it was always followed by guilt, as it was absolutely unnecessary and I always felt horribly full and bloated afterwards. Not good. I did enjoy the occasional cooking, but meals were usually made based on calories and budget.
As a kid I looooved chocolate (and still do. I mean, who doesn’t?) and my mother had a really hard time getting me to moderate how much went down my gob. Reeses peanut butter cups, bonbons, chocolate covered biscuits, kitkats, I loved it all. Oh and don’t even get me started on ice cream. I use to go through a tub on my own, and of those Neapolitan flavours as well, where there is no real strawberry in the strawberry flavour. The epitome of health huh!
I had horrible bloating and digestion, and it would honestly stress me out as to why it just wouldn’t work like everybody else’s! I’d just always assumed that my digestion was just ‘lazy’, and that was the way I was born and the way it would be forever. I was always so envious of people who were regular, and always put it down to luck! I had no idea that it was my body telling me it couldn’t cope with what I was feeding it, and that it needed more of the good stuff.
Once at University the bloating got so bad I had to go home. I still remember that train journey, hunched over in pain, wishing my stop would come soon so I could just curl up in bed, feeling like a pregnant woman my tummy was so huge! And the worst part was that those episodes weren’t uncommon. I’d just learned that it was just the ‘way my body was’, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Oh and boy could I sleep. My brothers often teased me for being able to hibernate and sleep hours and hours on end! I think my record thus far was sleeping approximately 14 hours, waking up for some food, and then proceeding to sleep another 10. Definitely not the life of the party. Early risers always amazed, they were mythical creatures that just did not make sense to me!
One of amazing benefits that I hadn’t even made a connection until recently was how my excessive sweating had gone! Now, if you’ve suffered from hyperhidrosis you know how horrible it can be. I’d be casually sitting in a room, at a normal temperature, and my underarms would be sweating Niagara Falls. I had to swear off coloured tops for many years and even tried things like taping tissues to my underarms.
The craziest, and worst, part is, I was so sure I had a normal and healthy diet. I ate cereal and skim milk for breakfast and a packaged granola bar as a snack. The wrapper said it was healthy, so how could it not be?
So how did I get to where I am now?
It was a combination of things really. Inspiring people in my life and a want to know about how our body works. I also had a not-so-happy catalyst – my dad was diagnosed with cancer. Thank god it was caught early through a routine check-up and he is still with us today, and had it not been we might not have been so lucky.
The doctors then said that all his children should get checked, for cancer runs in our family and it seems that our genes are more susceptible. Yay. Did that mean that I was destined to have cancer at some point in my life, no matter what I did? Were my genes simply in control no matter what I did? So I started doing some research and found that no, actually, genes didn’t have that much control, that it depended mostly on my environment to activate those genes (what I ate, how much I exercised, how stressed I was, etc…).
I then quit my job and went travelling. I read countless books and took in as much information as humanely possible. If it worked for people who were already battling cancer, surely it could also work for someone who was desperately trying to avoid it. While on the go I started to notice how different foods affected me. While travelling (or at anytime really) the last thing you want is to be bloated, constipated, or have diarrhoea! To feel on top of the world, I ate in terms of nutrition, not calories.
It’s still a journey, and I’m constantly learning and growing. It’s been fascinating and exhilarating and emotional, but I’ve never felt better! Through working on a wholesome life I have discovered more about myself and am more in touch with my true needs than ever. It’s amazing!
My diet now is largely plant based, but I do also have animal products when I feel my body is asking for them, essentially in the form of wild fish, seafood, and organic & free range eggs and chicken. It’s amazing how much your body thanks you and loves you back when you treat it the way it deserves. I’ve never felt better and more alive!
How come most your recipes don’t contain gluten? Are you intolerant?
I’ve never been tested for gluten intolerance, nor do I intend to. I generally avoid it in my diet but do not exclude it completely, as I still enjoy things like rye sourdough and spelt bread on occasions.
My favourite forms of exercise:
I try and make sure to get in some exercise every.single.day. Now, that doesn’t mean I go gym-crazy every day, it just means I move my body every day. You should aim for a minimum of 30 minutes every day. I love to walk, do yoga, pilates, cycle, swim, dance around my house, and do HIIT workouts to break a sweat at least once a week. Honestly, just get moving!
Can I take recipes and posts from your blog?
I love that you want to share what I’ve posted, but I do have a few rules, which I believe are fair enough!
How do I get in contact with you?
If you’ve got a question I haven’t answered, want to do a collaboration, or just simply want to say hello just drop me an e-mail on hello[at]www.sprinkleofgreen.com
If you want to peek further into my life, you can do so here:
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Hi, I'm Teffy, a qualified Nutritionist and avid foodie. This blog is all about inspiring a balanced life through delicious and wholesome foods, with not a diet in sight. Healthy eating shouldn't be hard and stressful, it should be easy and fun - Working with my clients they are constantly amazed that yes, food can taste great AND be good for you!
