Ask the Author: Clare Zivanovic
Answered Questions (3)
Clare Zivanovic
Hi, Clare here, author of Superhero Foods. I'd love to share with you how a green & yellow box inspired me to create this healthy food ABC book for kids.
Let's rewind the clock a little....
As a child, a medium-sized, green & yellow box with a hinged lid seemed to follow me everywhere. If I fell off the monkey bars, it was there. When I had a tummy ache, it was there. Days when I came home from school upset, this reliable green & yellow box was there.
Radiating nurturing energy, this box was filled with all kinds of plant medicines. It felt like the solution to every complaint I could think of lived inside this box. I remember wondering how sucking on tiny sugar pills, or swallowing plant juice, could (and did) make me feel better.
Looking back, I realise it wasn't only the healing herbs that made me feel better. It was that my remedy was served with a nourishing, home-made piece of Zucchini Slice. Still to this day hearing my Grandma say "John, get the Arnica" and the aroma of warm Zucchini Slice makes me smile :)
The Career Move
These childhood experiences sparked my interest in natural medicine. My destiny was further sealed after medical issues during my teenage years were only helped with a concoction of herbs and a gluten free diet.
Certain that plant medicine and nutrition needed to be part of my future, I enrolled in Brisbane's Australian College of Natural Medicine. Five and a half years later, I proudly graduated as a Naturopath, Nutritionist and Medical Herbalist.
Since then I've shared my knowledge with television programs, supplement manufacturers, pharmacies, health food stores and wellbeing magazines. My time as the Co-Editor and Writer of Options magazine was one of my all-time favourite jobs, as it allowed me to combine my love of health and inspiring others, with my adoration of words. It also helped me realise the power of sharing health info via books.
Fast forward a few years...
The day I started writing Superhero Foods, I hadn't intended to create a book. Far from it. I was actually sitting in my car taking a moment to warm up after being in the chilly winter wind. I remember my mind was clear, all I wanted was to be warm. Then, suddenly, inspiration hit and I felt a deep, inner desire to create a healthy food book for kids.
Energy flowed through every fibre of my being as I scrambled through my glovebox searching for paper and pen. Fortunately, I found an empty book and a blunt pencil that lasted just long enough for me to scribble all the fun & healthy A-Z info that popped into my head.
Now, 10 years later, and after many rewrites and loads of research, it's my pleasure to share Superhero Foods with you and your children. It's filled with good vibes and positive intentions that will inspire your little ones (maybe you too) to get excited about making healthy food choices.
Happy Reading, Clare
Let's rewind the clock a little....
As a child, a medium-sized, green & yellow box with a hinged lid seemed to follow me everywhere. If I fell off the monkey bars, it was there. When I had a tummy ache, it was there. Days when I came home from school upset, this reliable green & yellow box was there.
Radiating nurturing energy, this box was filled with all kinds of plant medicines. It felt like the solution to every complaint I could think of lived inside this box. I remember wondering how sucking on tiny sugar pills, or swallowing plant juice, could (and did) make me feel better.
Looking back, I realise it wasn't only the healing herbs that made me feel better. It was that my remedy was served with a nourishing, home-made piece of Zucchini Slice. Still to this day hearing my Grandma say "John, get the Arnica" and the aroma of warm Zucchini Slice makes me smile :)
The Career Move
These childhood experiences sparked my interest in natural medicine. My destiny was further sealed after medical issues during my teenage years were only helped with a concoction of herbs and a gluten free diet.
Certain that plant medicine and nutrition needed to be part of my future, I enrolled in Brisbane's Australian College of Natural Medicine. Five and a half years later, I proudly graduated as a Naturopath, Nutritionist and Medical Herbalist.
Since then I've shared my knowledge with television programs, supplement manufacturers, pharmacies, health food stores and wellbeing magazines. My time as the Co-Editor and Writer of Options magazine was one of my all-time favourite jobs, as it allowed me to combine my love of health and inspiring others, with my adoration of words. It also helped me realise the power of sharing health info via books.
Fast forward a few years...
The day I started writing Superhero Foods, I hadn't intended to create a book. Far from it. I was actually sitting in my car taking a moment to warm up after being in the chilly winter wind. I remember my mind was clear, all I wanted was to be warm. Then, suddenly, inspiration hit and I felt a deep, inner desire to create a healthy food book for kids.
Energy flowed through every fibre of my being as I scrambled through my glovebox searching for paper and pen. Fortunately, I found an empty book and a blunt pencil that lasted just long enough for me to scribble all the fun & healthy A-Z info that popped into my head.
Now, 10 years later, and after many rewrites and loads of research, it's my pleasure to share Superhero Foods with you and your children. It's filled with good vibes and positive intentions that will inspire your little ones (maybe you too) to get excited about making healthy food choices.
Happy Reading, Clare
Clare Zivanovic
Inspiration finds me. I prefer to feel the call to write, otherwise formulating a project takes longer than it needs to. Of course, there are times when I need to write, regardless of the situation. When this happens, I simply breathe and focus on my intention.
Clare Zivanovic
Being able to share my imagination, knowledge and experiences using the magical world of words.
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