Clean Living with Model Blogger Eddie Mitsou

I first came across Model and Vegan Blogger Eddie Mitsou Pettersson a few years back at the height of my Scandinavian obsession. Eddie has committed herself to live a clean lifestyle both in terms of what she puts into her body but also in relation to how she interacts with this planet and other people.
The very fact that she has taken time out of her busy schedule to take part in this interview demonstrates just how incredibly endearing this lady is. Her amazing new blog eddiemitsou.com is a great place to start if you are looking to become more health-conscious or simply to find some marvellous vegan recipes.

1. How do you balance the demands of modelling with the practice of clean eating/living?
My works actually makes it pretty easy for me to be a clean eater. Since it’s almost like freelance work I can usually plan my time how I want and get lunch where I feel like. If I have a casting day it’s almost always that they run from example 10 am to 2 pm and then I can schedule a vegan lunch at noon without a problem. When I work I always bring snacks.
When it comes to the demands of modelling and a vegan lifestyle I realized through out the year that the only thing that is a little bit difficult is all the sugars I eat… Fresh fruits, dried fruits, energy bars and healthy super-food smoothies. All though it’s natural and almost only good for you – it is still sugar! The hardest thing for me is to find “sugar-free” raw food snack options and so on… Except for that my clean diet is pretty exceptional if you want to stay in good shape!

2. Your Blog often features family members, clean eating seems to be very much a family affair, is it something you have always practised?
I grew up in Sweden and I was raised eating wholesome home-cooked food. My dad was a gourmet chef so he always cooked amazing dinners. When I became gluten-free vegan my whole family was very supportive and began making special dishes for me if I came over for dinner. My dad makes the best vegan mushroom “quinoasotto”!!

I always loved healthy food and vegetables have always been on my top list of favourite foods since I was a little girl. I always loved foods from nature!

3. Do you also champion organic cosmetics and skincare?
Yes, I do. I use very few products though. The only things I really use are almond- and coconut oil for my body and rose oil for my face. Those are of course organic. But I have to admit that my mascara is a good old classic Dior – probably not the most ethical one…

4. With the steady rise in food prices eating clean can sometimes be quite costly, any suggestions to keep costs to a minimum?
To be completely honest, when people around me say that they can’t afford to be healthy and vegan, I just think it’s a lousy excuse. There are tons of cheaper products you can use! Canned beans, whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables. I promise you if you switched over from being a meat eater you would save money. Just keep it simple! You don’t really need all the super-food products that I use, you can make delicious organic vegan food anyways.

5. What is your go-to store cupboard item?
Quinoa! It contains protein, fibres, and antioxidants are low in carbs and high in essential amino acids. A super nutritious food! You can create so many things with it; baked veggie patties, creamy soups, make a nice stew and serve with quinoa, a filling salad, sweet morning porridge or just eat it simple as it is flavoured with different spices.

6. For someone toying with the idea of switching to a clean eating / vegan diet, what would you say is the single greatest benefit?
The energy and feeling of being alive from only living and super healthy foods! You can eat much more – and more often – since you only put things that are good for you into your body. Everything I eat has some magnificent benefits! When I changed into the gluten-free vegan diet I got stronger hair and nails, my body got more toned (mainly from cutting out gluten I suppose) and people told me how fresh I looked. I still get that comment from people – that I have a certain “glow”! That comment always makes me glow even more! 😉

7. Do you ever find yourself experiencing less than clean food cravings and if so would you ever give in to them?
No, I actually don’t because I can create everything I crave. If I crave ice cream, I’ll buy a naturally sweetened coconut ice cream that’s so irresistible you can’t believe it. If I crave salty chips, I’ll go for either a crunchy kale version or a good old black bean- and quinoa chips. If I want cheese, I’ll go for creamy aged cashew cheese. Do I want bread? OK, let’s bake fluffy brown rice- and garbanzo flour rosemary bread. Everything is possible!!
One of my latest guilty food craves actually happened this summer. I was at the Way out West music festival in Gothenburg, Sweden and I really wanted a grilled cheese sandwich. Believe it or not – I found this food truck that made a gluten-free toast with two kinds of vegan cheese. It tasted exactly as I remembered it… The cheese was melting and the bread was perfectly warm.. *drooling*
8. And finally…Le fashion, who is your favourite designer?
I’ve always loved the design from Belgium – like Ann Demeulemeester, Margiela and Dries van Noten. But I can’t say I really have a favourite designer at the moment. Since I became more aware of taking care of our mother earth I’ve mainly only been buying vintage. I love finding unique pieces at thrift stores or flea markets!

All images courtesy of Mitsou Inc