In June 2016 The Health Bloggers Community hosted their first ever awards ceremony titled the ‘HBC Blog Awards’. The event was in collaboration with That Protein and sponsored by ourselves along with other great brands such as; Linwoods, Protein Haus and The Soil Association. The awards were a friendly and fun celebration of the fast-growing community of health bloggers which continues to grow and evolve each day.
Here at SuperFoodLx we have chosen to interview a few of the winners and finalists from the HBC Awards. Each interview provides a mini insight into each blogger but what SuperFoodLx liked the most about the interviews was learning about what makes a great health blog and each health blogger’s favourite health tips.
Today we will be interviewing UK vegan food blogger Monique Cormack from Nourish Everyday who was a finalist at the Health Blog Awards 2016. When you get the chance, reach out and follow, like and subscribe to her respective channels on social media as they are a great way to stay informed on the health community.
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Monique Cormack and I’m a trainee nutritionist (I’m studying a Bachelor of Health Science) and I also work as a lawyer. In between all of that I blog over at nourisheveryday.com!
What inspired you to start your blog?
My love for good, healthy food and my passion to help people understand how to nourish their bodies in simple, practical ways. A nutritious diet is such an important aspect of primary disease prevention.
What do you enjoy most about blogging?
Planning and testing out new recipes and writing my nutrition articles! I’m always learning. I’m also super grateful for all the brilliant people I’ve met through my blog.
Do you have a favourite blog post and if so what is it and why?
I quite like my 4 part “What’s for Breakfast” series of blog posts which give you lots of inspiration and ideas for making healthy, simple brekkies perfect for a busy lifestyle. They really sum up what my food ethos is all about – eating nourishing food that’s accessible and practical.
You can check out the posts here:
Part 1 – http://nourisheveryday.com/whats-breakfast-part-one/
Part 2 – http://nourisheveryday.com/whats-breakfast-part-two/
Part 3 – http://nourisheveryday.com/whats-breakfast-part-three/
Part 4 – http://nourisheveryday.com/whats-breakfast-part-four/
What plans do you have for the future of your blog?
For now, I’d just like to keep blogging and growing my repertoire of recipes and nutrition tips. I’m still completing my degree and managing quite a few different things, so just getting up a blog post or two per week is enough! But as I progress my nutrition career perhaps my blog will change.
If you had to choose one meal to eat every day for one year, what would it be?
I could happily have a baked sweet potato topped with broccolini and poached eggs each and every day.
What do you do to relax and de stress?
I like to do energetic vinyasa yoga classes to stretch and soothe the system; I find the flowy, fluid style of vinyasa takes my mind off everything else. And also some cuddle time on the lounge with my husband is pretty awesome!
What is your least favourite health fad and why?
Ah ha! I am not really in to any health fads. Something I find particularly frustrating are the amount of “detoxes” and “cleanses” on offer; they can be restrictive, are often unnecessary and don’t actually help support the liver with essential nutrients at all (and given our liver is our biggest detoxing organ, it’s pretty important to boost liver function when detoxing!)
What is your favourite superfood?
I’m not really in to “superfoods” in terms of special powders or single ingredients – the best super food diet you can eat is a colourful, varied diet. Some of my favourite mega nutritious foods within that diet are broccoli, blueberries and eggs – I think they all qualify as superfoods!
What is your most trusted natural remedy or keep healthy tip?
Soaking in a bath of Epsom salts and/or using magnesium oil spray is such a gentle, simple way to relieve and relax sore and tired muscles. Also, a little apple cider vinegar in warm water is great to stimulate digestion!
Do you have a tip (recipe, natural treatment) for keeping yourself healthy?
Start your day by honouring your body with a healthy, replenishing breakfast. You will be motivated to stay on that same path for the rest of the day! My favourite breakfast on the go is my Green Vegetable Smoothie Bowl – I blend it up in advance and just take it in my blender cup with some granola and seeds sprinkled on top. So many greens first thing in the morning! You can get the recipe here: http://nourisheveryday.com/recipe/green-vegetable-smoothie-bowl-no-fruit/
If you could offer one piece of advice (about anything) what would it be?
Don’t give up on a dream because of the time that it will take. The time will pass anyway. (Currently my mantra because my work commitments mean my nutrition studies are stretching out a bit, but I am so passionate I believe that I am going to get there and the journey is going to be great, too).