From homemade kombucha to the most beautiful locally sourced produce – Magdalena Roze is passionate about all the right things. She’s an Australian meteoreologist, weather presenter and journalist, plus she blogs at magdalenaroze.com and has just released her first cookbook, Happy & Whole, full of seasonal and nourishing recipes! We love her wholesome approach to life and food – cake and cookies made with love for afternoon tea? It’s a yes from us! Read on to find out her delicious Day on a Plate…
- Tell us a little bit about yourself – who you are and what you do.
I’m a mum to my 16 month old baby Archie, and we made the sea change to Byron Bay about 3 years ago so my partner could realise him dream of opening a restaurant on a farm. I’m also journalist and meteorologist with a massive passion for food! I’ve just released my first cook book Happy & Whole where I share my favourite wholefood recipes and tips for living a more natural life. So much of this has been inspired by my beautiful home and community in Byron Bay. I also have a food podcast “The Pass” where I interview top chefs and food personalities who take me on a journey to their favourite place. So we get their little black book of the best places to eat and find out what makes them tick throughout the food they eat.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSzi2RUF-mB/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
- What was the ‘uh ha’ moment that inspired you to get in to health and wellbeing?
I think it’s been a gradual evolution and I’m always learning more every day. Eating wholesome food is something that I grew up with. My parents are eastern European so we ate sourdough bread and fermented foods like kraut and kombucha before they were trendy! I’ve always gravitated towards a simpler, more natural lifestyle but moving to Byron Bay was a game changer. This area renowned for its focus on ethical farming and wellness and I’ve learned so much about food and health from living here. Being surrounded by amazing produce and farms has deepened my connection with the land and food.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSnDG-tFqol/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
- Talk us through a typical day in your life…
My days can be quite different depending on what work commitments I have on but when but when I’m not travelling or doing something like a photo shoot or podcast recording, I wake up when my baby wakes which is usually about 6am. I make a cup of peppermint tea and then breakfast which is usually porridge with almond butter, a little cinnamon and apple or banana. My partner Darren, Archie and I then go to one of our local cafes for a flat white and do the crossword. It’s super nerdy but it’s our morning ritual. We then get back home by 9am to put the baby down for his morning nap and that’s when I get as much work done as I can with emails, phone calls, cooking, photo shoots, whatever it might be. When I was writing my cook book, I did it all during his naps and then at night after he went to sleep.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPqiCBGA3Mn/?taken-by=magdalena_roze&hl=en
When Archie wakes up, we have a snack which might be fruit, cheese, yoghurt or veggies depending in what we feel like that day. Lunch depends on what we’bve picked up at the farmer’s market or what’s in season but it might be spelt pasta with pesto, feta and greens like broccoli and zuchinni and we have it together. Basically, I cook for both of us to save time but I think I put in a bit more effort because I want to give Archie as many nutrients as possible. So I might cook the pasta or veggies in bone broth and then I drink the rest.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS1vlBaFcCx/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
In the afternoon, we’ll visit Darren in the restaurant or I’ll meet up with other mums by the river or at the beach while the kids play. We usually bake something together or Archie plays on the kitchen floor with the pots and utensils, while I put on a slow cooked dinner like a wild rice and chicken pilaf or stew. It’s super easy to prepare and I just let it go for a few hours and then it’s ready.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BR5NfDHFuof/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
When Archie goes down for his second afternoon nap around 2pm I pick up on work again. Sometimes, I’ll take five to have a cup of tea and whatever we’ve baked such as a scone or cookie. Most of what I make is wholesome but I don’t mind an old fashioned home made cake now and then, especially if it’s made with beautiful local butter and eggs. It’s good for the soul!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPq2JLEghru/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
We try and fit in a beach walk as family in the late afternoon. We have dinner around 5-5.30pm, give Archie a bath and then he’s in bed around 6.30-7pm. That’s when Darren and I will have a glass of red wine and unwind and sometimes we’ll save our dinner for after the baby is asleep. We top it off with a cup of camomile tea. Some nights, I catch up on work for the podcast or other projects as it’s my main opportunity to do things uninterrupted but we try and put the tools down in the evening as much as we can.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTBkSbOlWMd/?taken-by=magdalena_roze&hl=en
- Coffee or tea?
Hmmm, this is tough! I absolutely love the coffee, the smell, everything and it’s such an enjoyable part of the morning. I used to do breakfast TV without it but since having a baby, I literally can’t wait for it for it! I have one a day and enjoy herbal teas for the remainder of the day like peppermint, camomile and rosehip. I really enjoy making my own herbal teas and I’ve shared how you can do it in my book.
- What is your indulgence of choice?
I love cheese, red wine and good quality sourdough with butter. Oh, and a piece of cake and cup of tea in the afternoon on the deck. But I must admit that I don’t see these as indulgences but a necessary part of being happy and whole!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPx6dXOAQZS/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
- Three foods you can’t live without?
Cheese, pesto and eggs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRedWcPFEyk/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
- What’s your go-to snack for those days on the run?
Bananas are often a saviour and I also make my jumbo breakfast cookies and energy balls (in my book) on the weekend so I have something nourishing on hand when it gets a bit hectic.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSZ55AoFCqC/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
- … And any last words of advice or tips for those starting out on their health journey?
Try and keep it simple. Healthy living is about enjoying real food as close to it’s natural state as possible. So it’s things like eggs from chickens that roam and forage on pasture and vegetables grown without the use of chemicals. Try and cook more and don’t be afraid to make mistakes in the kitchen- this is where the magic happens! Take baby steps and start with one thing like soaking your grains and just do that until it becomes habit. Then you can master roasting pumpkin and move on to making your own kombucha or pesto. If it’s not a major overhaul, you’ll enjoy it and it will be more sustainable. Nourish and nurture yourself and don’t feel guilty. Eating cake doesn’t make you a bad person, and drinking green juice doesn’t make you good! But eating wholesome, real food will make you feel good 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/p/BPZlZ3DAskY/?taken-by=magdalena_roze
To see more of Magdalena’s divine creations, follow her on Instagram!
