Trained chef, food writer, cookery teacher Tess Ward is a lady with many talents. Tess is a fantastic cook I am always lusting over her delicious looking dishes she puts up on Instagram and on her blog The Yes Chef and it looks like I’m not the only one as Tess is releasing her first cookbook ‘The Naked Diet’ soon so congratulations Tess. I love her approach to food, you know what else I love her Date Night Dinners column for Grazia, its amazing go check it out! So after recently meeting Tess and realising what a talented and passionate young lady she was I decided I needed to learn a bit more about her, so thats exactly what I have done. I hope you enjoy hearing about Tess’s journey as much as I did :)

1. How did your journey into health and nutrition evolve?

When I was 18 I spend a month travelling in India and returned with a parasite. I could eat barely anything without awful cramps and nausea. Eating healthy and cooking from scratch with no processed food significantly reduced my symptoms. Initially cooking healthily was a way to manage my symptoms but it quickly developed into a passion. The love of good food and the enjoyment of cooking is something I hope to share.

2. What inspired you to start The Yes Chef?

So often chefs make cooking very serious. The yes chef epitomises positivity in the kitchen. It is supposed to be a fun and fresh approach to cooking.

3. Can you tell us more about the cooking programmes you offer?

Although there are guides for each programme, For each student it varies greatly.
My main focus is making each series of classes unique, targeting specific skill sets and recipes that each student will use again and again. The focus of each is healthy vibes. Some of which being reinvented classics and recipes from my cookbook (out in April 2015)

4. Whats the best thing about your job?

The chance to create and share recipes to encourage and inspire others everyday.
Also being fortunate enough to try so many wonderful restaurant and get inspired by the food I eat on my grazia date night dinner reviews.

5. What’s your favourite recipe (s)?

My favourites from the cookbook are my lamb meatballs with rhubarb and pistachio and my heritage tomato salad with smoked almonds, on the blog I love all the wickedly healthy chocolately treats like my raw choc fudge truffles and chilli chocolate brownies

6. What’s a typical day in the life of Tess Ward?

Sometime I wish there was a typical day but no day is the same. Next week I’m filming cooking at river cottage, going to Cornwall to stay at st moritz hotel and eat at rick steins for the blog and have to get back in time to dine at bob bob Ricard for a grazia review. I am blessed but it is often slightly hectic madness!

7. How would you describe your approach to living a healthy lifestyle?

Balanced. Being overly meticulous about diet and fitness in the search for perfection is as bad for mental health as poor diet is for bodily health.

8. Do you have any cooking tips and tricks?

Yes I have plenty. Lots of which are shared in the blog section of www.tessward.com

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

East: Andina, shoreditch
West: The shed, notting hill
Central: Koya, frith st
South: The Trinity, clapham

10. How do you keep fit and healthy?

A smoothie or juice with greens and organic burst superfoods at least 3-4 times a week
Yoga – I aim for once a week
Running – there is nothing like a jog on a crisp morning down by the putney river to clear cobwebs!
I also take uber probiotics – the damage to my gut from the parasite is still healing and they really help my digestion!
I go back to my mums yogi, hippy house in Oxford at least once a month for quiet. Healthy food is all well and good but ultimate relaxation and wellness requires happiness and love.
11. Do you have any advice for young career women who want to lead a healthy lifestyle?

Being healthy isn’t a way of life. It is a way to support your life and make it better. So think twice before making radical lifestyle changes!
Also don’t feel guilty if you don’t like yoga ;) it’s not for everyone.

Check out Tess Wards blog, Instagram, twitter and her Date Night Dinner column for Grazia