Meet: The Amazing Deliciously EllaBy Angelica Malin
It’s about time you met Deliciously Ella. In the last two years, one young foodie’s quest for health and happiness has turned into the UK’s most loved healthy food blog.
Attracting between one and two million users a month (yes, million), the blog has proven to inspire and educate readers all over the world to take up a healthier and more creative diet. From sweet potato brownies to almond milk, the blog proves that restrictive diets needed not be restrictive, at all.
Ella’s success seems to know no doubts – a former model turned foodie, Ella is a one-woman powerhouse of passion and creativity – she’s just launched the Deliciously Ella app, which hit Number 1 in ITunes charts after a week with over 5,000 downloads, and her cookery classes sell out like hot (vegan) cakes. What’s more, she’s just signed a book deal on her first cookbook. If that isn’t an advert for spirulina, I don’t know what is. I caught up with Ella to find out more…
First off, congratulations! You’ve had an amazing year – how does it feel?
Ella: Crazy. Exciting, but crazy. My days are really full – I split my time between training as a nutritionalist, teaching classes, developing recipes and working on the app. It’s funny because what started as a personal journey has become this beautiful thing that so many people follow. I’ve just confirmed my first book deal, which I’ve been working on since December, so that’s really exciting!
Did you expect the blog to do so well?
Ella: Not really! It was never my intention. Sometimes I find it strange to imagine all these people around the world using my recipes. When I click ‘post’ from my kitchen (near Borough Market – its amazing for fresh produce) and it’s read in Australia, Asia, Europe… It’s madness. I get lovely emails from people around the world asking for more tips (some strange ones too though) – it’s exciting that people are waking up to the benefits of healthy living! Although I do find it a tad odd when people write ‘I love you Ella’ under my Instragram pictures.
Ella on: Time
You’re really very busy. If there’s one thing you wish you could spend more time on, what would it be?
Ella: The problem is I’m always working alone – and when you work for yourself you never really know when to stop. Because Deliciously Ella is my own project, it’s your job to keep it going – it’s different when you’re working for someone else, on someone else’s time. I’m always working to push myself that tiny bit harder, to do that one more thing – I’ve basically lost the concept of a weekend now. You’ve got to find a balance. You need to learn to switch off – and social media doesn’t help… Instagram doesn’t stop on the weekends now, does it.
Ella on: Work
Have you ever had a boss?
Ella: No! Well I started the blog because I got really, really ill in my second year of university and medication didn’t work. That was during university and it all took off – so I didn’t really get a chance to do the whole ‘office’ thing. I’ve never been in an office environment; I don’t think I would take to it. I’m so lucky that I spend all my days cooking and in the kitchen and get I to call it ‘work’.
Did your concept of time change when you took up this new, healthy lifestyle?
Ella: The main thing I realised when I started eating healthily was the importance of taking time for yourself. I used to be totally normal student; I was living in Paris and modelling, and you know student life, you think you’re invincible. Then I got ill and medicine didn’t work, so I started a healthy lifestyle – the more into it I got, the more I realised that taking time for yourself, even 20 minutes a day, is important. I never used to do small things, now I try hardest to prioritise them. Even if it’s just treating myself to a hot bath.
What advice can you give Londoners on getting the most out of their time?
Ella: Divide your time more and feel OK saying no to things. It’s important not to guilt yourself; learning to manage your time is a real journey – we all tend to do so much, and often don’t take enough time for ourselves. Yesterday I took 3 hours off studying to go for a walk around Clapham Common with my girlfriends – it was the difference between an average and a good Sunday!
Your diet is quite complex – do you think it’s difficult for the average Londoner to keep up your kind of lifestyle?
Ella: Not at all! We’re conditioned as Londoners to be always moving – office, work, drinks, gym – all go, go, go. Everyone is constantly doing something and you think you have to also. Being healthy isn’t difficult physically: it’s more difficult mentally. We’re used to rushing – and you’ve got to take some time to make healthy recipes.
On a Sunday, I’ll spend 2 hours making stuff – quinoa, curries, stews, brown rice, buy avocados. It then takes me 5 minutes in the morning to make lunch, I throw in a few cold things, like olives or tomatoes, and I’m done. It seems like it would take forever – but it’s just getting your head around making the change. Everyone sees my food and says ‘wow, that must have taken ages!’ but it’s not true! It’s just a question of priorities.
Ella on: Dining Out
Do you think this is why ‘healthy food’ costs so much when you buy it out?
Ella: Yes! It’s crazy – this weekend I had a smoothie in Portobello that was £6. You can buy a bag of organic carrots in Waitrose for around 60p, some ginger and apple – you’ll spend about £2 and it will make 5 juices. It’s also much better for you. It’s a mentality – because it’s ‘different’ and new, we presume healthy costs a lot. That’s why smoothie bars and healthy restaurants can charge so much, because not enough people are making them at home. Smoothies are so easy; literally peel a banana, add some frozen berries and a few other items, and it’s done.
Is there anywhere healthy you like to eat out in London?
Ella: Vantra near Tottenham Court Road station is my new discovery. For £5.50 you can fill a huge box with delicious, healthy food – it’s all organic and freshly made. Lentil curries, aubergine bakes. Choice of 15 dishes. It’s not like that at Whole Foods – the boxes are so expensive and half of it is rocket!
Ella on: Foodie Picks
Are there any food brands you love?
Ella: I like to make most things from scratch. But Biona is great – their products are always pure and I love Coyo. Oh and Organic burst, their superfood powders for smoothies are great – spirulina makes me feel great.
What’s your secret ingredient?
Ella: I love Tahini – I use it in literally everything. It’s got a great texture and really adds to creaminess and depth to a dish. I add it into grains and it instantly changes the texture and adds flavour. I also use it in all my dressings… It’s really good for your skin too. I dabble in brands; Sainsbury’s own
Where’s the best smoothie you’ve ever had in the world – where and why
Ella: Well, obviously at home. But outside the UK, I had an amazing one in South Africa at Orchard Juice Bar. It was 90p a smoothie and they had the hugest selection! Mine had about 10 things in, including oats, dates and spirulina, amazing!
Finally, the theme of our launch month is ‘Lost and Found’. What’s something people are finding anew?
Ella: People are getting into home cooking again, which is amazing. Kale is really on the rise too – it disappeared for ages and now there’s a 400% rise in sales in supermarkets. Kale chips are everywhere! I suspect people might get over it, quite soon, though. We’ll see.
