An Intimate Moment With Lee Holmes & Daughter Tamsin

Our General Manager, Trudi Jaye, sat down with Lee Holmes (founder of Supercharged Food, Holistic Nutritionist, 9 x Bestselling Cookbook Author) and her beautiful daughter Tamsin to take a look at the challenges Lee has faced throughout her life, how she juggles work-life balance and gain insight into their special mother-daughter relationship.

Q: Lee, you’ve always been a beacon of positivity and hope for your community. I know you’ve experienced your own personal health troubles in the past, and overcome some great struggles with a constant sense of hope and light.

How did you work through them, and how did you stay so serene and joyous throughout this journey? 

I worked through my health struggles one step at a time.  There were days when I felt like I was taking one step forward and two steps back but I always knew deep down inside that I was on the right path. It was a gradual journey to feeling well and having more energy and get up and go, and it was really a process of trial and error. The positive thing is that I have learned so much along the way.

When I look back on my life nine years ago, when I was forced to make a complete career change after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (Crohns), I had no idea where that journey would take me. I think starting my blog www.superchargedfood.com was a way to connect with others going through similar experiences. I started sharing recipes with friends and family and the easiest way to do this was through the internet so I created a website to enable my friends to find the recipes whenever they needed them. The website became more and more popular and then friends of friends were sharing the recipes and it just grew from there! I finally found this amazing community of like minded people who I could really relate to and that gave me, and still gives me, so much joy.

Q: Your personal story was what led you to a career in the wellness industry. Can you tell us a bit about your wellness and nutrition journey from a professional point of view? 
­

I gave up my job in the music industry and decided to pursue my dream of becoming an advocate for a natural health and a whole foods lifestyle. I had previously studied an advanced certificate of nutrition over thirty years ago, and over the last nine years I have also completed my holistic health coaching certificate (IIN). I’ve qualified as an Ayurvedic and wholefoods chef and I’m in my fourth and final year of an Advanced Diploma in Integrative Nutritional Therapeutics. I’m also a qualified Hatha yoga and meditation teacher... I guess you could say I love to study!

I think parenting is a juggling act on all fronts. Some of the most challenging aspects of motherhood have been the ability to move from business owner to employer and back to mum again, all within a flick of a switch sometimes. It does become a delicate balancing act most days. I want to do a good job as a mum, an employer and a business owner but some days the inevitable emergencies happen and you feel like you are in damage control.

There’s a certain amount of guilt you have as a working parent too, so the key is to keep it in check, take time to process your emotions and remember to breathe! Being aware of the times when it's important to show your professional side and the other times when you need to be a role model and be on mum duties too, I find helps the switch from one persona to the other.

Q: How old was Tamsin when you first became unwell? How did it affect your parenting in terms of how you approached her diet and nutrition and the self-care you both implement?

She was 14 when I first became unwell. She was still in primary school and I remember that I was very run down and fatigued, it was hard to leave the house and do everyday tasks. I always managed to cook though, so I made sure that she was eating well and her nutrition was covered. She was always a good student, I am really lucky and she is self-motivated so that helped a lot.

Q: Tamsin, you now work for your Mum’s company. Have you gone down the path of nutritional education too? What are your passions in life? 

No, I studied Philosophy but I love working in nutrition with mum. My passions are to keep my options open. Music really energises me and I love anything in the creative field and performance art so I plan to fuse that altogether and see where it leads me.

Q: What do you love to do most as mother and daughter? 

We are super close. We spend a lot of time together and enjoy hanging out and walking the dog and doing simple things. We also love to cook and eat, most days we have dinner together.

Q: Do you have any skincare care and self-care rituals that you practice together regularly? 

Yes we love to do face masks together and we love our Retreatment oils. We also do yoga together and watch movies that we both like.

 
Q: What is your idea of the perfect Mother-Daughter day out (or in, given the current situation)? 

The perfect mother daughter day out is actually a perfect day in right now. We love to do things at home together like cook but we also like give each other space too then meet up in the afternoon for a cup of tea and a chat.

Q: Tamsin, what is the best advice your Mum has given you regarding health, beauty and wellness? And for life in general? 

Balance in all things!

Q: Lee, what has being a Mum to Tamsin taught you about love, life and happiness? 

Being a mum to Tamsin is a wonderful thing, it’s taught me patience (ha ha) and also to think of others and not be focused on myself. Having a close relationship with her makes me very happy and content.