Nona Diaries is a series featuring some inspirational women and their period stories. Today’s feature is about Rachel Olsen, aka @rachel.h.olsen.
Rachel is a passionate Nutritionist eager to make Indonesia a healthier place! She loves sharing the importance of adopting a plant-based lifestyle, not only for physical health but also mental health.
Hi! Let's start with your name...
Rachel Olsen from @rachel.h.olsen
Could you tell us a bit about what you do and how you got into your current career? What do you like most about it?
I'm a full-time nutritionist working at a Multivitamin Start-up company called YOUVIT. I'm also studying my masters degree, studying Nutrition at University College Dublin, Ireland. I love this career path because it’s what I really care about and sharing knowledge, helping people is what motivates me to keep on doing what i'm doing! Especially with @rachel.h.olsen where all of my followers are so amazing and inspire me to do better for everyone out there!
What are your favorite ways to work out? Do you have a typical fitness routine?
I workout in the morning on most days. Even if i can only spare 10 minutes of my time because of my busy schedule, a little workout is better than none! I love doing yoga, and pilates. I sit for a long period of time when I'm working and doing university work so pilates really helps my posture. I also looove surfing! I moved to Bali so I surf on the weekends. The best workout is when you're having fun, so it doesn't feel like you're actually working out HAHA
What is your food philosophy like?
Everything is bad for you, if you over consume it. Even when it's something good. Like water. You need to drink water everyday but too much of it can also drain you from important electrolytes.
What’s a typical day of eating like for you?
I eat breakfast in the morning, usually oats with fruits and yogurt or soy milk. I always try to eat fruits first thing in the morning because whatever you consume first thing on an empty stomach is what gets absorbed the most.
Then I would eat a snack before lunch which would usually be fresh juice or coconut water and flesh.
Then I would have lunch. I love Indonesian food so I eat at the warteq in Bali which is very clean and healthy. I choose tempe, tahu, red rice, and 2 types of vegetables to get plenty of prebiotics for my healthy gut bacteria.
Then afternoon snack is when I'm usually unhealthy when I feel like it hehe, it's all about balance! I love eating some cookies with some tea. I love fennel tea. It's great for your digestive system. It helps digest the flour from the cookie that i eat
Then for dinner I would order some vegan food online! I love buddha bowls or chickpea curry with lots of veggies. Eating soups make you feel so satisfied and full because of extra water and nutrients in them!
Then if I get hungry before bed time I would eat more fruits!
What are your kitchen/pantry staple foods?
Nuts, seeds, lots of different types of teas! Tea is life! Haha and loads of colorful fruits, aren't we lucky to live in Indonesia! So many amazing delicious fruits.
Describe your period in 3 emojis.
❤️🤤🍫
What feelings do you have towards your period?
I get sooo emotional, sometimes I feel less motivated to do my task but I know that it's because of my hormones so I will push through it and rest when I'm done with my day!
Do you get any womanly intuition or signs when your period is coming?
I just feel extra emotional and need more love haha
Are there any habits that you incorporate into your lifestyle to honor your period?
Absolutely! I will go for a walk, I will go to the beach, I will eat ice cream, and enjoy all of the simple pleasures. Of course I also consume foods rich in iron like cashews, tofu, and beetroot to give thanks to my body and nourish it with the foods that it needs.
Do you remember the first time you got your first period?
Yes, I was at the cinema! It was at Town Square Cilandak and I was 13.
If you could give your younger self advice when you first got your period, what would you say?
Eat lots of iron rich foods with vitamin C! Haha I guess this is what you get for being a nutritionist. Female adolescents actually are anemic due to lack of iron and vitamin C therefore they should supplement with iron during their period to prevent any harmful health issues.
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Read more about other inspirational women in our Nona Diaries series. Want to nominate any other women for this series? Email us or let us know here!
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