Fiona Caddies White Zebra Interview

Fiona Caddies White Zebra Interview

Founder of White Zebra, Fiona Caddies discusses our -craving carousel'- foods we naturally turn to when we feel -flat.' We're all guilty of food cravings. That mid-afternoon low, or that after dinner TV time, our thoughts can linger on a particular food until our temptation is relinquished. For those out there with excellent willpower, a small distraction can be enough to divert palpitate thoughts elsewhere, but for the majority, a sweet craving cannot be put to rest until something is consumed.

Get your natural highs and satisfy food craving with a few simple food alternatives:

Water Fuel
Wake up to a glass of water with lemon & a probiotic, which sets up the digestive tract for balance throughout the day.

Fruit is clean fuel for the body
Our sweet tooth often becomes present when we're in an energy slump. Substituting a piece of fruit for that bar of chocolate will not only save you from consuming refined carbohydrates and excess calories, but will provide you with an easy way to increase your fibre intake and give you an energy boost until your next meal. Berry Botox- Berries are a high-fibre powerhouse high in antioxidants. Boasting a berry- a concentration of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C and bone-building vitamin K, berries will take the edge off the sugar craving and provide you with berry beneficial delights for digestion. The darker the berry, the greater it's phytochemical content and the more likely its reputed health benefits.

Make a Smoothie
Superfoods are super powered and can be adjusted to everybody's taste and dietary requirements; a beverage that contain as little or many nutrients and calories that your body requires. Adding a natural sweetener such as honey or maple syrup can really help to kick those sweet cravings at any time of the day.

For a delicious craving-kicking snack, combine in a blender ¾ cup unsweetened almond milk, a banana, handful of raspberries and a teaspoon of each LSA mix and your choice of sweetener( dairy/gluten/FODMAP friendly) in place of your regular -treat' snack. Enjoy!

Protein Power Breakfast
Change your daily habit and replace your bowl of sugar-laden muesli with something packing some protein punch. A good breakfast consists of a protein and fat source (i.e. eggs & avocado or meat & nuts). This will set you up for the day, feeling motivated and focused whilst maintaining satiety right through to lunch. Whilst it's optional to add some vegies to boost your vitamin and minerals in to your mix, the main focus for brekky is to keep your carbohydrate portion down at this time so aim for mainly herbs and greens like spinach or rocket.

Prevent jumping straight on the blood glucose rollercoaster first thing in the morning. This will have you reaching straight for the caramel latte and muffin by 10am! Rather live by this...

Protein and fat brekky = stable blood glucose by day, irritability and tiredness kept at bay.

The Food You Crave
You may want to read that again just in case you didn't believe me the first time; but believe it or not, having a small amount of food that you crave will benefit your feelings of deprivation. Depriving yourself of something can sometimes prolong cravings and result in an unhealthy binge. When consuming your desired food make sure you are only consuming a small amount and combine it with a healthier snack, such as some nuts or veggie sticks to keep you fuller for longer and help you avoid the guilt trip.

A Cup of Coffee

So we have already established that cravings are most likely to hit when the body is in a bit of an energy downfall. Having the occasional cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer!) never hurt anyone and it will provide a caffeine hit that will keep you upbeat until your next meal. Coffee is also a great excuse to be social, which is a pick me up in itself!

Australia's burgeoning wholesome living scene has inspired the launch of WHITE ZEBRA.COM (www.whitezebra.com), an educational lifestyle website designed for health enthusiasts who want to deepen and enhance their individual fitness and wellbeing. Inspired by the distinctive stripes of a Zebra, (each cloaked in their own -personal barcode'), WHITE ZEBRA.COM sports a concentration of TOP TIPS, scientific content and intelligence from esteemed Doctors, Nutritionists, Fitness Coaches and -Organic Lovers.' Heralded as an online -health and fitness conference' for the -hyperactively healthy' community, Australians are invited to join the WHITE ZEBRA MOVEMENT to help shape and/or re-shape holistic wellbeing at the click of a button.

The premise of WHITE ZEBRA.COM is to amplify the interest of those who are already health conscious, as opposed to shifting individual mindsets. Featuring a suite of medical and nutrition experts, industry leaders, fitness ambassadors and celebrities, WHITE ZEBRA.COM provides a wealth of information for Australians who want to advance their knowledge and improve their physical and mental harmony across life's primary areas: Mindset (Spiritual and Conscious Motivation), Beauty & Health (Nutrition/Hormones), Movement (Training/Yoga/Activity), Food (Recipes), Love and Spirituality. -It's a destination to deepen your understanding of health, destroy buzz words typically associated with -health and lifestyle,' and build a sustainable formula that's right for your independent needs,' says co-founder Fiona Caddies.

Ask Us a Question, we'll tell you no lies. WHITE ZEBRA.COM's suite of contributors provide expert advice on eating; food and fitness; as well as general health advice. The selection of panel experts have been appointed to give you the power and tools to help you personally customise your own program whatever your stripe. Some Zebras will want to commit to one school of thought, whilst others may add a dash of -this with that' – it's totally up to you!

Honest to goodness! WHITE ZEBRA.COM's organic e-store endorses a selection of mega benefits"from alkalising and antioxidant boosting berry and green powders, clean and lean, organic protein powders to fat busting and disease fighting shakes, teas and superfoods. WHITE ZEBRA.COM's online health-haven honours a commitment to non-damaging products and works to enhance rather than hinder your health.

What's more, the WHITE ZEBRA.COM apothecary features a diverse carousel of products handpicked to share its passion for -pure and natural.' Each represent a commitment to quality with a sourcing policy that looks beyond the elimination of chemicals so you can safely navigate yourself around the organic landscape. -Each week we open our home to celebrate and socialise our favourite organic and eco-friendly products. If we don't personally use them, we won't endorse them', says co-founder Bjorn Miller. Just FACE IT - all ingredients of products sold on the website have been listed to ensure you are purchasing the very best in living organics- now, that's beautiful!

Beauty goes beyond the blush brush, as WHITE ZEBRA.COM sets to whet your appetite with a delicious range of recipes and recipe plans for those who are vegetarian, gluten, lactose intolerant, or those who simply love lashings of everything! Whether you're craving a stress-busting smoothie, Nutty Noodles or want to join the Kale Brigade, WZ food experts will help you prepare and explore the kitchen using simple and wholesome ingredients. Now, that's clean eating!

WHITE ZEBRA.COM is committed to providing health and fitness enthusiasts with a high concentration of current news and practical ideas; meal and exercise plans and expert opinions from a team of industry leaders. The WHITE ZEBRA.COM movement banishes the -one size fits all' mentality and helps you work towards achieving optimal holistic health using evidence based knowledge. Click on and set your own stripe!

Interview with Fiona Caddies

Question: What inspired the creation of White Zebra?

Fiona Caddies: Australia's burgeoning wholesome living scene has inspired the launch of WHITE ZEBRA.COM (www.whitezebra.com), The premise of WHITE ZEBRA.COM is to amplify the interest of those who are already health conscious, as opposed to shifting individual mindsets. WHITE ZEBRA.COM provides a wealth of information for Australians who want to advance their knowledge and improve their physical and mental harmony across life's primary areas: Mindset (Spiritual and Conscious Motivation), Beauty & Health (Nutrition/Hormones), Movement (Training/Yoga/Activity), Food (Recipes), Love and Spirituality. -It's a destination to deepen your understanding of health, destroy buzz words typically associated with -health and lifestyle,' and build a sustainable formula that's right for your independent needs,' says co-founder Fiona Caddies.


Question: What is White Zebra?

Fiona Caddies: White Zebra is an educational lifestyle website designed for health enthusiasts who want to deepen and enhance their individual fitness and wellbeing. Inspired by the distinctive stripes of a Zebra, (each cloaked in their own -personal barcode'), WHITE ZEBRA.COM sports a concentration of TOP TIPS, scientific content and intelligence from esteemed Doctors, Nutritionists, Fitness Coaches and -Organic Lovers.' Heralded as an online -health and fitness conference' for the -hyperactively healthy' community, Australians are invited to join the WHITE ZEBRA MOVEMENT to help shape and/or re-shape holistic wellbeing at the click of a button.


Question: What foods do you find you crave and how do you diminish these cravings?

Fiona Caddies: My guilty pleasure is dark chocolate and believe in moderation- so treat myself every now and again. To combat these cravings I take Magnesium and if I need something sweet I snack on a small serve of dried fruit.


Question: Why do you believe it's okay just to have the food we crave, sometimes?

Fiona Caddies: I believe life is supposed to be lived and enjoyed. Life would be dull if we didn't get to enjoy some yummy goodness from time to time.


Question: Could our cravings be telling us something?

Fiona Caddies: It's important to listen to your cravings as this is the way our body is telling us that we may have potential deficiencies and learn how to control and satisfy them without bingeing on the closest block of chocolate.

If you crave sweets you may be experiencing blood sugar fluctuations- when your blood sugar drops, your body may be try¬ing to get you to give it more fuel to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

Cravings for salty foods often indicate stress hormone fluctuations in the body, whilst cravings for cheese or creamy foods indicate a fatty acid de¬ficiency. Eating foods such as nuts, salmon and mackerel will help to reduce these cravings.


Question: Can you tell us why fruit is great for us?
Fiona Caddies: Berries are the best happy balance for eating fruit. They're the lowest in sugar out of fruit but packed full of antioxidants. Fruit contains stacks of vitamins and minerals so it's great to include it in our daily nutrition.

Points to remember…
a) The thinner the skin of the fruit, the better it is for you.
b) No diet is good if it is not balanced.
c) A bit of fruit is great for you.
d) Always ensure you have protein in your daily intake to prevent feeling hungry super quickly after eating just fruit alone.


Question: Do you have a food philosophy; can you share it with us?

Fiona Caddies: Balance, Balance, Balance. Eat whole, real food to nourish your body and don't be too restrictive on what you can and can't eat as you'll lead a deprived lifestyle. Food provides us with energy and helps us socialise and celebrate- it nourishes our body and our mind.


Question: Can you share with us your favourite smoothie recipe?

Fiona Caddies: I personally love the Red Velvet Cake Beet Smoothie which features velvety red beetroot, flavorful red cherry juice and beautiful red strawberries which all have amazing health benefits that are owed to their lovely hue. You can find this and a collection of WZ smoothies at www.whitezebra.com.au


Question: How do you relax?

Fiona Caddies: Yoga!


Question: Can you tell us 5 things required for a happy healthy and enjoyable life?

Fiona Caddies: Sunshine
Family / Friends
Timeout
My dog – unconditional love
Movement!


Interview by Brooke Hunter