1. Tell us a little about Qnola and why you started it?

Qnola is a range of quinoa based breakfast goods free from gluten, grains, dairy and refined sugars. I started making Qnola for myself as a healthier alternative to shop-bought granolas, and as something quick and easy to take to shoots with me. It then developed into a worldwide brand, one department store and health food shop at a time, as I noticed there was a high demand for the product in the UK. I really wanted to create a more honest and reliable breakfast option that was ready-to-eat to give people a more functional start to the day, and to provide more sustainable energy and set the tone for the rest of the day.

The delicious Qnola Almond & Vanilla Granola

2. What's one thing everyone should know about quinoa?

It’s high in protein, fibre and healthy fats (which have incredible benefits for skin, hair and nails), and it comes in many forms; the whole grain / seed, flakes, puffs, flour and even oil (quinoa seed oil is in some of my favourite moisturisers).

3. Why is making natural food choices important to you?

I was always addicted to junk food, sugary snacks and anything unhealthy, and moving away from home and pursuing my career as a model I became more aware of how food influenced the way I look and feel. I am incredibly inspired by natural ingredients and the power they have to transform skin, hair, nails, weight and body shape, and also internal processes. Making more natural food choices is important to me as I truly believe natures ingredients have the power to heal; I have far more energy, better brain function and concentration, clearer skin and feel more confident in my body when I eat natural, healthful foods.

Yum yum! Qnola granola

4. What's your favourite recipe to make?

Oh, that’s a hard one as I’m always experimenting with new recipes! One of my favourites is sweetcorn fritters from my book, and if I have people over for dinner I love the sweet potato gratin. Snacks I always make in bulk and keep in the freezer are raw tamari and avocado brownies, which are one of the most popular recipes from my blog.

5. What is your skin care regime like and what do you look for when buying skin care?

I have always had a very simple, stripped back routine when it comes to skin care and make up. I cleanse and moisturise daily, use natural and essential oils, exfoliate a few times a week, have a face massage ritual I do some mornings when I have time, and always always remove my make up, not matter how tired I am. I always look for natural and essential oils in skincare products, and buy as much as possible without synthetics or artificial ingredients. I have combination skin but it gets dry in the winter, so I try to avoid water-based products and look for those with more nourishing components, like oils and natural butters.

6. As a model, is there one skin care hack you could share with our readers

A de-puffing tool like a jade roller or even teaspoons chilled in the fridge or freezer is something I’ve been doing since I can remember. Another hack would be natural, pure oils. I love using coconut, sweet almond or jojoba oil or shea butter on my face and body - as, I believe, nature intended.

7. What does 2018 have in store for you?

I’m holding my first retreat abroad later this year at The BodyHoliday, and am planning a lot of events in the UK too, alongside working on a lot of new content for my website. We are also making some huge changes at Qnola and I'm super excited to be embarking on a few new projects and evolving the brand to inspire even more people to Wake Up Well.

The Qnola range in all its glory

Start your day right with a delicious, nutritious breakfast! And why not follow Danielle's lead and switch to natural and organic skincare to really feed your skin. Discover our plant-based skincare and see how the organic virgin coconut oil, organic sweet almond oil and organic jojoba oil we use can nourish, hydrate and rejuvenate your skin. We can't promise you'll have Danielle's model skin, but you will be giving your skin the very highest quality, organic plant-based ingredients that are free from anything hidden, synthetic or artificial. Worth a look.

Interview by Sarah, CEO, BY SARAH LONDON

 

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