G’day. I’m Tansy.
I’m an author, qualified nutritionist and mindfulness blogger inspiring you to break free from food rules and diet mentality to experience the joy of eating without overthinking, guilt or shame. On this site, I share my books, food philosophy and recipes. Enjoy! Learn more about me and Joyful Eating.
Blogs to inspire joy with food and your body
Joy differs from pleasure in that pleasure is derived from an external source while joy arises from within when we...
Read MoreWhy in 2022 I am taking the approach of having an affair with creativity, rather than treating writing and publishing...
Read MoreIf you find yourself yet again setting New Year's resolutions you suspect you’ll break before you even start, read on....
Read MoreThinking the 'diet starts tomorrow' can lead to overeating in anticipation of future restriction, whether it's the New Year or...
Read MoreWe can feel like the distance between the body we have and the body we want is an impassable canyon...
Read MoreThe popular media would have us believe that there is such a thing as superfoods: certain foods that possess some...
Read MoreMy journey from a kid who “needs constant practice in reading and story writing” to now write and publish books....
Read MoreHow did I shift from being an obsessive over-exerciser to the balanced and intuitive approach of joyful movement? It coincided...
Read MoreI practice yoga or some form of movement, be it walking or dance, most days with the intention to feel...
Read MoreI almost can’t believe it myself—I ate and taught the raw food diet for nearly six years. I write this...
Read MoreFor those of us who face childlessness by consequence, potentially after years of trying to have children, reorientating ourselves to...
Read MoreSugar has been labelled a dietary villain and cause of many of our health concerns. Yet, is it possible to...
Read MoreYou just have to open a diet book or fitness magazine to discover that the calories in the alcoholic drinks...
Read MoreA Joyful Eating moment is when our full attention is on the food before us, and all self-deprecating thoughts, food...
Read MoreJoyful Eating is essentially my food and nutrition philosophy. It underpins my book and approach as a nutritionist, writer and...
Read MoreHow do we stop the cycle of emotional eating when it feels out-of-control? What is emotional eating? Emotional eating is...
Read MoreThe media are warning of the risk of gaining weight during lockdown. However, concerning yourself with your weight at this...
Read MoreIs it time to ditch the scales for good? Consider this, say you’ve started a diet… you’ve been good… oh...
Read MoreMindful eating can be misinterpreted and has been hijacked by the diet industry. Allow me to share 4 reasons why...
Read MoreHow the goal of weight loss can undermine health—considerations and resources for health practitioners Weight is undeniably correlated to an...
Read MoreThose of us trying to get pregnant can fall prey to people and programs with promises that we'll get pregnant...
Read MoreToday I had my first-morning walk in the streets surrounding our home since lockdown was announced here in New Zealand....
Read MoreWhen the food rules of a diet are so strict that people wonder, ‘is this food legal’, it's too restrictive....
Read MoreI originally wrote this for New World Supermarkets in Christchurch, New Zealand at the start of lockdown, 2020. Whether you're...
Read MoreWe can choose to place high expectation and stress on ourselves for an unknown outcome, with no guarantees. Or we...
Read MoreAre you afraid that you'd let yourself go and gain weight if you stopped dieting? At the beginning of each...
Read MoreMany people embark on a diet to lose weight under the pretence that they’re doing so for their health. It...
Read MoreIn the book, Joyful Eating, I dedicate an entire chapter to the impact that stress has on our bodies, our food...
Read MoreIn June 2019 I released the cover design for Joyful Eating, which was then redesigned in 2021. Here I share the...
Read More11 Lessons I've learnt on how to write a book through writing the book, Joyful Eating The week that I...
Read MoreWarning: This blog intends to express how gender norms influence food choice, not to portray gender as binary. Apologies for...
Read MoreAlthough many healthy lifestyle programs state, ‘it’s not a diet’, the belief that being overweight is unhealthy remains. It promises...
Read MoreIn the associated article published in the Yoga Journal, I demystify myths about dieting. Read it here: Dieting to lose...
Read MoreA fear of judgement can influence our relationship with our body and food. In the book, Joyful Eating, I dedicate an...
Read MoreGoing on a cleanse can be appealing in the New Year. It can symbolise renewal and a fresh start to...
Read MoreIn my pursuit to help people embrace a nonrestrictive and enjoyable way of eating, I frequently explain why diets don’t...
Read MoreAn increasingly popular theory is that food is addictive. Some popular diet and health proponents declare that sugar acts as...
Read MoreSardinian’s robust health is not only the result of the foods they eat—cereals, vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, olive oil, wine,...
Read MoreIt's no wonder that we are uncertain whether we can trust nutritional science given the bombardment of information about what...
Read MoreMany self-help gurus talk about the value of a gratitude practice. They suggest that if we express gratitude for the...
Read MoreNote: this blog was originally published 12th March 2018 while I was working on the first draft of Joyful Eating,...
Read MoreI want to share with you my journey to accepting my childlessness, which was not by choice. I hope that...
Read More‘Drink to health’ is a saying that is centuries old. Yet for some they are no longer clink glasses filled...
Read MoreHow did I stop eating like it was the last slice of tiramisu I'd ever have, that is overeating when...
Read MoreThe pursuit of finding the 'right' diet and to eat 'healthy' can become unhealthy if it becomes an obsession and...
Read MoreChildren intuitively know what and how to eat. Yet we lose the curiosity and intuition with food by adulthood due...
Read MoreWhere did she come from? How did she get here? She is not who you want to be seen with....
Read MoreWanting to eat it all or not feeling satisfied until we're stuffed is the result of restriction and deprivation of...
Read MoreFor years I've wanted to experience dining in the dark I wanted to experience how food smelt, tasted and felt...
Read MoreDrinking wine requires the engagement of more senses than simply your taste buds. It requires the engagement of sight; to...
Read MoreMindless eating seems to be a common issue in our modern society. We mindlessly eat as we rush out the...
Read MoreHave you justified your eating to your dining companions, waiting staff or complete strangers because you feel guilty or ashamed...
Read MoreHave you ever decided or declared that the diet starts on Monday, to then find yourself justifying having a second...
Read MoreHow did I break through perfection and finally publish my own book? After reading the immensely enjoyable and inspiring Big Magic:...
Read MoreDo you feel insatiable hunger when on a diet? You're not alone. The way most diets work is through requiring...
Read MoreIf we consider our relationship with food as a diet seesaw, what is most enjoyable is when we achieve a...
Read MoreThere are many reasons we may resist support based on our beliefs and past experiences. Keep looking for those health...
Read MoreLast week after a round of email ping pong with a client I explained to her that I could not...
Read MoreCan we arrange foods in our diet in a similar way to flower arranging? That is, by allowing our senes...
Read MoreHow can we achieve balance in our diet and end the diet restriction? Diets are devised either to restrict calories...
Read MoreIn our busy lives, fast food and eating on the run is such common and accepted behaviour. We consider food...
Read MoreI wrote this poem, The Birds Calling, as a reminder to be present now and enjoy each moment of your...
Read MoreRecently my husband had me in fits of laughter as he confessed to me his secret eating. Not that it...
Read MoreI envisage striving for weight loss goals like trying to obtain the elusive pot at gold at the end of...
Read MoreImagine a diet free culture where we could enjoy time out with friends and family without justifying our food choices...
Read MoreIt's possible that we're eating when we're not hungry due to external influences. How do we honour our hunger in...
Read MorePlate up your food and eat away from distractions to savour the sight, smell, taste, sound and feel of eating...
Read MoreA vegan dark chocolate recipe that is so easy, it means that chocolate is only ever a recipe away! Since...
Read MoreCan mindfulness be applied to any activity, including sipping a latte in a cafe? Mindfulness in a meditation class While...
Read MoreThe New Year is three months in, yet unlike past years when people jump on their New Year’s resolutions with...
Read MoreMy sister used to joke, when we'd indulge in something that's perceived as unhealthy, that we needed to call the...
Read MoreI am not good enough. I am not worthy. I am nobody special. What do I have to offer that...
Read MoreIf we've had struggles with our weight or wellbeing, we can wonder whether there is something wrong with our bodies...
Read MoreBreak free of diet rules and eat in a way that honours your body. I recall a time I went...
Read MoreIn 2016 I had little time to nurture my passion for Joyful Eating, as I was completing other endeavours. I...
Read MoreRecipes to joyfully nourish your body
A zesty salsa, delicious with BBQ meats, tempeh or salmon. Kiwifruit salsa is a quick and easy side dish that...
Read MoreA light potato salad with a satisfying creamy tanginess from the combination of olive oil, vinegar and herbs. Potato salad...
Read MoreBrown rice is one of the food characters in the book, The Superheroes on Your Plate, illustrated as a bear....
Read MoreTry stovetop popcorn straight-up or flavour it with this recipe for Cinnamon Maple Caramel Popcorn made with tahini and maple...
Read MoreGazpacho is an easy, flavoursome, cold summer soup based on deliciously ripe tomatoes. Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup from...
Read MoreA refreshing dairy-free, naturally caramel-flavoured frappe recipe that can be whipped up in minutes. Now, I admit that this recipe...
Read MoreEnjoy creamy, fresh homemade guacamole without onion or garlic that still has plenty of flavour. Guacamole is so easy to...
Read MoreTry a lighter potato salad with loads of flavour and a combination of prebiotics and probiotics to support healthy gut...
Read MoreA carrot salad recipe that has chomp and a sweet tartness with the additions of cranberries. If you're looking for...
Read MoreThese cranberry fruit and nut energy balls are suitable for an everyday snack and can be upgraded to create rum...
Read MoreAn easy to make pineapple salsa that will give a fresh, sharp flavour to complement your favourite Mexican dishes. I...
Read MoreEasy bean salad is a simple and fulfilling salad that is based on pantry staples of a few cans of...
Read MoreA vibrantly coloured, easy and versatile stewed rhubarb recipe that can be enjoyed with yogurt, custard or ice cream. Or...
Read MoreSundried tomato hummus is a creamy dip or spread that balances the sweet-tart flavour of sundried tomatoes with the earthiness...
Read MoreA recipe for banana pancakes that contains no flour! These pancakes are made with three simple ingredients: banana, oats and...
Read MoreA hash browns recipe that combines the delicately sweet and nutty flavour of parsnips with potato. A delicious breakfast, brunch...
Read MoreIn the FREE eBook, A Hug in a Bowl, I share a selection of my favourite simple vegan soup recipes...
Read MoreMaple roasted parsnips are sweet, soft and sticky with an earthy, peppery and toffee-like flavour. They’re a delicious side dish...
Read MoreBarley, Beetroot and Feta Salad is flavoursome and satisfying as a side dish or on its own as a complete...
Read MoreAn easy, satisfying, tummy-warming porridge recipe made with steel-cut oats. Serve with your favourite toppings such as yogurt, nuts, seeds...
Read MoreBaked polenta chips are a great addition to a platter or alongside soup, dips or burgers when you desire something...
Read MoreI've made chocolate avocado mousse too many times to count. Yet I always come back to it for a rich...
Read MoreIf you love satay and pineapple, you’re in for a treat with this recipe for Satay Pineapple Fried Rice. I...
Read MoreA moist flourless chocolate beetroot brownies recipe that begs the question as to whether a food can be healthy and...
Read MoreA homemade chocolate frosting that is low in sugars as it’s based on dates, and wait for it…wholesome sweet potato....
Read MoreBlack sticky rice pudding with coconut milk is an easy to make sweet and nutty dessert or snack, delicious with...
Read MoreA sweet and mildly spicy salad recipe that combines orange, sultanas, quinoa and roasted cauliflower for a satisfying main meal...
Read MoreVegetarian Spaghetti Squash Lasagne Boats are a scrumptious vegetable-packed lasagna-like dish with layers of marinara sauce, spinach, feta and sweet...
Read MoreAwaken your senses and sustain your energy throughout the morning with the different taste sensations of baked oatmeal for breakfast....
Read MoreEasy Vegetarian Quesadillas are a quick nourishing and satisfying meal that can be made with food staples in minutes. Thus,...
Read MoreCurried Vegan Cream of Broccoli Soup is a thick, creamy, warming soup, great for the winter months when broccoli is...
Read MoreCrispy Chickpea Croutons are a great addition to a soup or salad for added texture and flavour. Or you can...
Read MoreSimple Fried Rice for One is a nutritious and quick to make meal mostly made with food staples—rice and frozen...
Read MoreA deliciously moist and dense banana bread that is free of added sugar as it is naturally sweetened by dates....
Read MoreUncomplicate breakfast with a super simple and nutritious homemade muesli. I’m all for eating in a way that nourishes your...
Read MoreA fudgy muesli-like slice that is vegan, and free of gluten, dairy, nuts and refined sugar. An Oat-Free 'Muesli' Slice...
Read MoreA flavoursome chia seed pudding recipe with the addition of cinnamon, ginger and whole nuts for a scrumptious breakfast option...
Read MoreA creamy, high-fibre vegetarian risotto made with nutritious, nutty, chewy barley and sweet roasted pumpkin. Barley is often reserved for...
Read MoreIn this side salad recipe, the lemon juice and crunch of almonds gives standard green beans and peas a real...
Read More Snuggle up with a warm aromatic feijoa crumble flavoured with orange and cinnamon. Or enjoy it cold. [A dairy,...
Read MoreA baked eggplant dish with a Sicilian flair of citrus, pinenuts and capers that you can enjoy as a side...
Read MoreA simple vegan and pasta-free minestrone soup, packed with fibre-dense barley and nutritious vegetables for a satisfying and nourishing complete...
Read MorePumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies are a soft, chewy cookie that contain no refined sugar and are low in natural sugars....
Read MoreVegan Cauliflower Gratin is a 'cheesy' delight for those who choose to eat vegan or avoid dairy. Enjoy it as...
Read MoreCarrot & Potato Fritters can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch or as an easy dinner. They can easily be made...
Read MoreA vegan dark chocolate recipe that is so easy, it means that chocolate is only ever a recipe away! Since...
Read MoreA simple dairy-free 'cheese' sauce ideal for vegan mac and cheese or cauliflower gratin. Try it drizzled over baked or...
Read MoreA cheese flavoured vegan sprinkle, vegan parmesan 'cheese', is delicious over roast vegetables, soups, risotto, pasta, meatballs, vegan pizza, cauliflower...
Read MoreBeetroot hummus makes for a great everyday snack or addition to a platter with veggie sticks, wholegrain crackers and cheeses....
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