Punch Foods superseeds are revolutionising healthy snacking and behind this wonderful brand is the equally wonderful Alexandra a immensely driven and motivated young woman with a clear goal…..changing the way we think about food one superseed at a time. Alexandra took a moment out of her hectic schedule to catch up with The Nutritionista about how Punch Foods started, her healthy eating tips and exercise regime along with some amazing advice for all you budding entrepreneurs out there. We hope you enjoy what she has too say :)

1. Can you describe how the idea of Punch Foods came about?

Ever since I can remember I have loved being in the kitchen. Still today I find messing about and experimenting with ingredients the most enjoyable and therapeutic activity. Nothing makes me happier than whipping up a tasty new creation. My recipes have all been gluten free since my early teens as I suffered from quite a few digestive issues. My diet is free from dairy, wheat and gluten and I try to keep refined sugar to a minimum.

Having lived in London all my life my lifestyle has been very much on the go, even more so during my student years. As a Fine Art Student I tried to see every show I could get to and that meant a lot of whizzing around London. Sadly my ‘on the go’ snack options were limited and it was near impossible to find truly tasty as well as healthy snack devoid of wheat flour, processed sugars or nasty additives.
It was during these years that I decided I wanted to bring some ‘punch’ to the snack food market. In my eyes ‘optimum nutrition should never result in a compromise on taste.’ There were things out there claiming to be healthy but a lot of them didn’t taste great. I wanted to change that and so came about Punch Foods.

2. What makes Punch Foods different from the other healthy snacks available on the market?

Punch Foods aims to take the healthy snack market to the next level. Something that I wanted to do with the Superseeds was to create a snack that truly was reliable; something that tasted good, nourished your body and was convenient on the go. The packaging of the Superseeds serves a function as well as adding some style. I used to carry around ziplock bags of seeds before I made the Superseeds and I constantly would find a mess of seeds in my hand bag. With the Superseeds you don’t have to worry about spillages. The idea is that you can go back to them, have some now, have some later. They are compact enough that they aren’t a burden to carry around but the quantity is enough that you can return to them. I sometimes carry mine around with me for a week. I love the fact that I don’t have to worry about being caught without a snack. I still eat other snacks but the Superseeds are a constant, a bit like an accessory. They are great for boosting meals too and adding a bit of flair.

3. Can you describe what you typically eat in a day?

I start the day without fail by having a cup of hot water and lemon. This really sets me up for the day and helps to flush out any toxins. I eat a very plant based life style and don’t really eat meat. I get my proteins from oily fish, organic tofu and eggs. Lunch is always a big colorful raw salad and I use fresh herbs with everything. I’m also practically addicted to beetroot so you’ll normally find that in there along with some avocado. I mix my proteins up so one day it will be tofu, the next some salmon and I’ll sometimes add some lentils, chickpeas, quinoa in. For dinner I prefer to eat steamed vegetables as opposed to raw as it is easier on the digestion. My fail safe dinner is a huge bowl of steamed vegetables with lots of fresh herbs, coconut oil (my favorite is Lucy Bee) and two poached eggs all topped with some mega omega Superseeds. My snacks are pretty simple, I don’t eat a lot of fruit so I will often have carrot sticks with home made nut butter (sounds crazy but it’s delicious), I eat Superseeds every day and am on the go more now than ever before so they help me out a lot. I have a serious penchant for dark raw chocolate and make my own and most evenings I’ll present some new raw cake or pudding I have created to my boyfriend for us to try. I’m not one for denying yourself anything and there are days where my diet isn’t quite as clean. I hate to say it but I do have a bit of a love for peanut m and m’s and about four times a year I will treat myself to a big bag of those whilst indulging in a film at the cinema.

4. What’s your favourite food? Do you have any cooking tips?

I love grilled vegetables. I eat raw a lot of the time but I adore simply grilled aubergine with fresh herbs and lemon. I cook all my food in coconut oil and that would probably be my tip. A lot of people think it wont work as well as other oils as at room temperature it is solid but it’s really very simple. If you are roasting some vegetables just whack some coconut oil in the pan and into the oven whilst the oven heats up. It wont need long before it turns to liquid and then you can just toss your vegetables in as normal. Coconut oil is full of essential fats and has a much higher smoking point than most oils so is great to cook with. Another top tip especially for eating healthily is always prepare. Sunday nights are great for weekly food prep. I normally roast up a batch of veggies, boil some fresh beetroot (which is far nicer than buying it shop bought and vacuum packed) and make a big healthy quinoa or chickpea salad. Cold sweet potatoes are also delicious and a great fibre addition to a meal.

5. What are your favourite healthy eating spots in London?

I eat in a lot as I love to cook but one of my favourite places would have to be JAKS. You can get a wonderful plate of deliciously substantial salads and everything is prepared fresh throughout the day. It’s also great value which is ideal when you are young.

6. Do you have an exercise routine?

Exercise makes me feel good so I try to do something every day. My days are always jam packed so I like to do my work-outs at about 6.30/ 7.00 am. That way I am all set for the day and bursting with happy endorphins. I also practice yoga at home and do this most days along with meditating.

7. Do you go to any exercise classes in London and if so are there any which you would recommend?

I love to mix it up so I do a lot of different classes in London. The power yoga company in Parsons Green is one of the best yoga studios I have been to. Every time I do a class there feel revitalised, calm and strong. I aim to go once or twice a week but I also try to practice daily at home. I will also get one gym session in, one LOMAX Blast class and either a Paola’s Bodybarre or Barrecore class. I have recently discovered Psycle and am a huge fan. It is so much more than a work out and is great for the mind as well as being a lot of fun.

8. Do you have any advice for young entrepreneurs like yourself who want to set up their own business?

Talk to everyone that you can. No conversation, meeting or encounter is a waste of time and you learn something from everyone. Be patient and don’t expect things to take off in an instant. Always be kind to people and help others as you would like to be helped. We really are all in this together and together we are stronger. Lastly be kind to yourself. I am definitely one for beating myself up about not being better, further or quicker than I am but thankfully I have a great network of friends who are extremely supportive. Don’t give up and stay true to what you believe in.

Check out Punch Foods Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for more on this wonderful brand, oh and some amazing food pictures!