In A Day With... Danielle Egbars — In A Day Naturopathy

Firstly, are you able to tell us a little about you; where is your hometown, where are you living at the moment and what do you do ?

I was raised in the coastal suburb of Palm Beach on the Gold Coast in Australia and after sometime travelling with my partner in our early 20’s we moved down the coast a little further to Northern NSW. We moved into an old renovated cottage in the Byron Shire on a 180 acre farm, where we learnt a whole new way of life and fell in love with the concepts of growing our own organic food, the practice of permaculture and the space and peace of a lifestyle deeper in nature. We then brought our dream home we live now in Upper Burringbar nearby and have been happily here for 5 years.

I am a mother to my beautiful 2-year-old son River and am currently pregnant carrying our second baby. If I’m not in mum mode I and working 2 days a week as a Registered Nurse in a hospital up the coast in a ward specialising in woman’s health, I have been nursing for a little over 10 years now, it’s hard work on many levels but somehow I love it.

How do you usually start your day ?

My days are almost always started by hearing my son call out “mama, mama!” from his bed at around 6 in the morning, and I’m up for the day and meeting my son’s needs. He has been requesting to make our morning cold press juice for the family for the last few months so I cut up all the fruit and veg and set him up to juice away- it usually takes him around 15 minutes. I like to sneak in a few minutes of gentle stretches and yoga to warm and wake up my body and mind and a quick moment to sungaze to reset my circadian rhythm. At some point of the morning I will sip away at a big glass of spring water with either ACV or a good squeeze of lemon while playing with my son. He usually requests putting music on and a dance then we cook up and enjoy a big hot savoury breakfast together.

What does your dream day look like ?

Watching the sunrise with my family at our local beach, a swim in the ocean, a stretch in the sun and a run on the shore before heading home and cooking up a big breakfast and enjoying it on our deck. Then probably taking a day trip down the coast, eating our favourite foods, swimming under a waterfall or in the ocean, having an afternoon nap and a sunset picnic dinner before heading home, snuggling up in bed and watching a quality film.

What is your beauty routine ? Do you have any favourite natural products or skincare rituals ?

My skin care is always simple, quick and most days I can fit in a quick morning and night routine. I’ve been using products from a local brand “Eco by Sonya Driver” at the moment, from using their cleanser and exfoliator to moisturiser, glory oil and face mask. I’m really enjoying how gentle and natural they are but with powerful results.

I like to dry brush my body most days for ultimate lymphatic drainage, detoxification and to increase circulation. I very rarely ever wear make-up but for years have used the “LaMav” organic BB crème and love it and also swear by taking a good quality collagen powder everyday, I’ve always used the “Nutra Organics” collagen beauty.

Do you have a favourite scent ? If so, where does it take you ?

I’ve got so many favourite scents, the first that comes to mind is lavender essential oil. It takes me back to when I discovered essential oils as a teen and most recently to being deep in labour with my son. And of course I can’t not mention the scent of newborn babies.

Are there any food or health philosophies that guide how you and your family eat ?

My partner and I spend a lot of time and energy growing our own organic fruit and veg in our backyard. I believe it creates a deeper connection and appreciation between us and our life force and love teaching our son this practice. From a very young age I remember being very conscious of what I ate and was raised by parents who valued healthy homemade foods.

Every day is different and I like to believe my family and I eat intuitively- taking a few moments and really asking what, how much or how little our body is desiring and thrive off eating whole foods, mainly organic, local and seasonal produce. I have been a pescatarian for around 15 years but most recently listening in to my body, I have been incorporating some organic chicken breasts and kangaroo mince for the last few months and feel a real benefit in the extra heme iron and energy while pregnant.

I spend a lot of time in my kitchen and love to share my love for how satisfying and fulfilling healthy food is in a positive and fun way with my son, who along with my partner are my biggest fans when it comes to what I create in the kitchen.

This in turn only drives my love for cooking and healthy food deeper.

Has becoming a mother changed your views on health and “wellness” at all?

I believe becoming a mother steered me to learn more profoundly into the philosophy of childhood health and also highlighted its highest priority in our family values and opened up how we are going to navigate, transpire and teach such a significant part of our life to our children. While also highlighting the importance of keeping myself well and nourished to be there to nourish my children. Along with how important it is to make time to myself, time in my own energy and space to check back in and recalibrate, this usually happens when my sons in bed for the night, napping or he’s out with his dad or grandma. I really soak up those moments for myself, and relish in whatever my body needs.

Was the transition into motherhood easy for you ? Or do you feel like there was something you wish someone had told you about being a mother?

I wouldn’t say it was an easy transition into motherhood, although it was fairly smooth. It is raw, real and abundant with challenges but something I’ve always desired and dreamt of in this life so I was content in all that it brought with it, and brought up in me that I questioned and learnt even deeper into myself.

As hard as some moments are, the love and learning is beyond words. Having lost my own mother 6 months before my son was born to metastasised breast cancer it wasn’t how I imagined transitioning into motherhood. As painful as it was, I will always believe that such great pain and allowing our whole bodies to grieve and for it to fully move through our whole being, grows great strength and expansion in one’s soul. My mother was a powerful, incredible and conscious woman and my best friend. She was always very open about what it is to be a mother and I feel this really helped in my transition. Although it still brings a tear to my eyes writing that, I see my son as her last and greatest gift to us, and his birth and presence in our lives has enriched and filled my heart with a love just as great as hers, and I see her in him every day.

What is your favourite way to move your body ? Does movement play a part in your everyday routine ?

Although I’m coming to the end of my pregnancy and slowing down a lot, I like to think every day I move my body. Not necessary in structured exercise, but my son keeps me very active… swimming in the ocean or waterholes, yoga and stretching in the mornings, gardening or taking a walk in nature, and of course the never ending housework gets me moving.

When do you feel your most beautiful and happy ?

Swimming freely in the clear waters of the ocean.

Are there any old-school natural remedies that you always have on hand for you and your family ?

We have a lot of Aloe Vera plants around our home, so if one gets sunburnt we smother that over us and even when not sunburnt we use it for general skin hydration. Also Tea Tree oil for antibacterial properties & arnica and comfrey creams for bruising, swelling and strains. We grow our own ginger and turmeric for ultimate anti-inflammatory properties and I love a calming chamomile tea before bed every night.

If there was one piece of advice that you could teach/instil in your children, what would it be ?

Probably around open communication. I think a lot of strength and growth in a relationship is based on being able to communicate your true feelings and freely express your emotions; in turn allow myself as a mother to listen, understand greater and share my support or advice where I can.

If you were to choose 5 ingredients to have in your kitchen, what would they be ? (Practical or impractical !)

Avocados

Sweet potato’s

Sourdough bread

Sauerkraut

Eggs

To part, are you able to leave us with a favourite recipe of yours ?

One of my favourite salads I’ve been making most recently, I’ll call it the ‘Spiced chickpea, roast pumpkin and halloumi salad’..

Serves around 2 – 3

Ingredients:

Salad-

- Around 5-6 Large curly kale leaves chopped

- Quarter of a medium pumpkin cut into small cubes

- 200g of halloumi sliced

- Tin of chickpeas

- Hand full of pepitas

- Teaspoon of garlic powder

- Teaspoon of sweet paprika

- Salt/pepper

- Olive oil

Dressing -

- Juice of half a lemon

- 3 TBS of Olive oil

- 2 TBS of maple/honey or any substitute

- Pinch of salt

METHOD

Roast Pumpkin in oven until golden and cooked and allow to cool.

Mix in a bowl the drained chickpeas with garlic and paprika powder, pepitas, pinch of salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil in a large fry pan and add in sliced halloumi and cook both sides, and pour in chickpea mix next to halloumi in the pan and cook for around 5 minutes on a medium heat, then allow to slightly cool.

Place kale into a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil and give the kale a quick massage.

Place pumpkin, halloumi and chickpea mix over the top.

Mix dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, maple and a pinch of salt in a cup and pour over the top. Enjoy.