A food coach, isn't that just a nutritionist? And content creator about food, isn't that just a food blogger? Let me prove you wrong. I interviewed foodie, entrepreneur, go-getter and food coach Dalí. Because what exactly does a food coach do and what can we learn from Dalí?(Spoiler: a lot)
Healthy eating is not boring at all! And more about Dalí
Her name is as unique as her profession. Dalí is the owner of Zonderzooi, which stands for food, coach and lifestyle. She is a food coach and content creator. As such, she shares recipes and tips for a healthier lifestyle, but also blogs about sustainability. "I love healthy food, especially that eating healthy makes you feel so good about yourself. This is something I want to convey to others. Eating healthy is not boring at all! I help people lose weight without the mess and thus get more comfortable in their skin."
From International Lifestyle Studies student to coach, how so? "During that study I learned an awful lot about concept development and trend watching. Unfortunately I did not finish the study, but I learned a lot about marketing. Then I completed the Wellness & Lifestyle study and obtained my BGN diploma as a weight consultant. I love it when I can help people. That's why coaching suits me so well."
What does a food coach do?
We now know who Dalí is and what she does, but still not so much about a food coach. What does a food coach do in a normal workday? "I often start my day with an hour of yoga and meditation. Just clearing my head and sweating a little before the busy day begins. After that, I often have clients in Tilburg that I coach from 9 a.m. onwards. We have personal coaching sessions and I visit people at home. I love it, that way you don't have to sit still all day. In the afternoon from 1 p.m. I often work on my blog and photograph recipes and type up blogs. In the evening from 19.00 to about 21.30 I have online coaching with people who do not live in Tilburg. After that I often do some things for my blog."
Do some math with me: so she works about 14 hours a day. Maybe 12 minus breaks. I like working hard, but I already get tired of the idea of working 12 hours every day... "Yes, I make fairly long days, but it doesn't feel like work. I enjoy my job immensely, so I don't even realize I'm working that long."
"That personal touch is very important to me."
But okay, back on the subject of food coach. Because there are so many weight coaches, what is so different about Dalí? Well, her mindset. "My vision is mainly pure and without any mess. Of course, there are many weight consultants who really stick to the five-slice pie chart. For me, it's all about eating as much pure, natural products as possible. My clients also just get to eat peanut butter, whereas many weight consultants think this is bad. In addition, through my positive vibe, I make sure that everyone starts enjoying food immensely instead of seeing it as a 'thing.'"
And when might you turn to Dalí? "When you need a stick, I'm there for you. I make sure you stay motivated, but I'm also there for you when you need to let your hair down. Then I offer a listening ear and I'm there for you. That personal touch is very important to me."
For Dalí, there is always room for improvement
In the interviews, I try to highlight roughly two clients: life as a coach and life as an entrepreneur. We just finished the coach part and I personally found it very informative. Now comes the piece on entrepreneurs.
Dalí just started out that way as an entrepreneur, even though she had no idea what was involved. "Just by just starting out, I learned an awful lot. Entrepreneurship is trial and error. I have now been working as a food coach for almost two years and I look back with great satisfaction. My blog has been around a bit longer, four years now. I keep discovering new things there too. So you see, there is always room for improvement."
Sorry, I know I had just said we had closed the coach part. But I still want to return for a moment to the long working days. Isn't Dalí afraid of burnout? "No, I hardly have any stress and take my rest well. This is mainly due to yoga and meditation. You asked me to name a normal working day, but of course there are also days when I go out for lunch with my girlfriends or have an event. That's just the nice thing, no day is the same. I love my job, so it doesn't feel like work. That's why I'm not really afraid of burnout."
"Done is better than perfect."
Well, I ran into that for a while. What I also ran into: perfectionism. Dalí is also a perfectionist, even though she knows it's really not always necessary. "Done is better than perfect. As an entrepreneur, you shouldn't be too perfectionist. Sometimes something just can't be perfect and entrepreneurship is a process you learn from. Not everything has to be perfect!"
And what makes her get up every day like: YES, I'm an entrepreneur? "It's so cool to see that doing my own thing just works. People have something to show for it. I love being able to do my own thing and create whatever I feel like. For example, I have already created several e-books and I keep coming up with new ideas."
Sounds inspiring, right? But there's more. How I would describe her now: enthusiastic, perfectionist, social and persistent. And that's exactly what makes her a true entrepreneur. "My business is my passion and I radiate that, which makes people believe in it. Perfectionism - I just said it, you shouldn't go overboard with it. But a healthy balance makes for quality work. Finally, perseverance, which I also mentioned. Entrepreneurship is trial and error, and above all, don't give up when things don't work out. It never works out at once, but you learn from it."
This is how you too will become a good entrepreneur
Actually, I've learned quite a lot already. Find a balance in your perfectionism, make sure you love what you do so you never actually work and add a personal touch to your work. But Dalí continues to surprise. I asked her for her three best entrepreneurial tips.
"1. Do yoga or meditation. An hour sounds like a lot and it is if you are just starting out. Just start with five minutes a day and try to incorporate it into your schedule. You'll see that it's great for your productivity. It genuinely helps me find peace and avoid stress.
2. Make a to-do list every day with a tight schedule. That way you avoid doing everything at once and nothing is actually completely finished.
3. Exclude yourself from social media like Instagram for a few days every now and then. Instagram is super fun, but it can be depressing when you compare yourself to other entrepreneurs. For example, I sometimes compare myself to bloggers on Instagram and then I see that they have landed a certain job and I haven't. A solitary moment like that allows me to fully focus on my goal again and create fun content."
The future of Untossed
Dalí sometimes thinks about hiring an intern, because sometimes it is a lot. But not so she can chill out more often. "How cool would it be if Zonderzooi employed employees, allowing the company to really grow? Then they could help with blog writing and photography, as well as coaching. Then I can take on more people to coach. I don't know what the future holds for me. Maybe working in Bali, like you did? Healthy restaurants, friendly people, beautiful nature, yoga ... and then coaching online. We'll see, as long as I can keep coaching. Because making people happy and helping them to make them happier is the most beautiful and rewarding thing there is."
