McKel Kooienga, MS, RDN, LDN
Founder of Nutrition Stripped® and the Mindful Nutrition Method™
Happy Friday everyone! Today I’ve got another amazing interview in the NS Kitchen Series, a fun take on the standard fridge tour to explore and embrace the differences in kitchens across the globe! Today I’m sharing my interview with Tess Masters who really does it all. She’s an actor, cook, and author of several books including her latest, The Perfect Blend, which I’m giving away at the bottom of this post! I personally practice a dairy-free and gluten-free lifestyle because my body doesn’t jive with the two, and Tess is in the same boat so we eat a pretty similar whole foods diet. She’s a huge fan of blended foods like smoothies and soups, hence the name “The Blender Girl”, but I’ll let her take it away from here!
“In this series, I’m sharing the in’s and out’s of kitchens across the globe from fellow registered dietitians, bloggers, and friends. The mission behind the NS Kitchen is to embrace differences and help shine a light on the behind the scenes of wellness. We all have different ways of eating well, and it’s here on NS that they’ll be celebrated!”
“
What are your 5 must-have items in your fridge at all times?
- leafy greens
- fresh herbs
- cucumber
- cultured vegetables
- coconut water kefir
What are your 5 must-have items in your freezer at all times?
- flavored Ice – frozen almond milk or lemon juice
- bananas
- berries – strawberries, raspberries, blueberries,
- cauliflower
- ginger and turmeric juice
What about your pantry?
- coconut oil
- extra-virgin olive oil
- raw nuts and seeds
- sea vegetables
- sea salt
What’s the “weirdest/non-traditional” food item we’d find in your kitchen?
Kala Namak – black salt
What’s 1 word that describes your kitchen at home?
Busy
What’s your philosophy on cooking?
Use whole, fresh, and natural ingredients, and have fun creating interesting colors, textures, and flavors to nourish yourself.
What’s your fondest or most special memory that took place in the kitchen?
My sister and I were little, and we were determined to bake a chocolate cake on our own to celebrate my dad’s 40th birthday. Unfortunately, we picked up the wrong glass jar in the pantry, and used 1 cup of salt instead of 1 cup of sugar, and the cake was a salty mess. My mum discovered out mistake while she was cutting the cake for the 100 guests all eagerly anticipating the lovely cake. We were so upset we burst into tears, and my dad, being the loving dad he was, took a fork to the cake right in the kitchen, and ate a huge slice as the entire party sang happy birthday.
If you were on 1 cooking/TV show, what would it be and why?
Jamie Oliver – because he throws simply dishes together with no fuss, and uses fresh ingredients. He’s also lots of fun, and remains committed to educating children about the power of fresh fruits and vegetables.
What does nourishment mean to you?
Being satiated and nurtured with high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients that look gorgeous and taste amazing.
You come home from a long day at work/etc.; what’s the first food you reach for in your kitchen?
An avocado
Fill in the blank:
My kitchen is full of fresh produce.
My kitchen is full of fresh produce.
If you were to describe your philosophy about cooking and healthy food in a movie title, what would it be?
Find Your Perfect Blend.
QUICK-FIRE ROUND:
Coffee or tea: Herbal tea
Green juice or smoothie: Green smoothie
Warm cereal or cold: Raw grain-free cold cereal with homemade almond milk
Spicy or sweet: Spicy
Go to snack: Diced avocado, cucumber, and tomato with olive oil and sea salt.
“
What about you?
Do you have any of the same go-tos’ as Tess? Is there something you think is a necessity for a well-stocked kitchen that we’re missing? Share in the comments so we can chat! And check out Tess’s new cookbook, The Perfect Blend. It’s a great resource for my fellow blender fanatics!
xx McKel
Giveaway is now closed!
