marieclaire.com.au 161“Only the intensity
of my exerciseroutine has changed
during pregnancy.
I don’t push
myself as hard”RACHAEL’S GO-TO DISH
chicken and pesto zoodles
Serves 12 zucchinis
olive oil for frying
1 organic chicken breast fillet
1 large handful rocket
shaved parmesan cheese to servepesto
1 cup tightly packed basil leaves
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup pine nuts
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic
juice of half a lemon- To make pesto, place the basil,
olive oil, pine nuts, grated
parmesan, garlic and lemon juice
into a blender and blitz until just
combined, adding a little water if
needed. 2. Run the zucchini
through a “zoodle” machine (or,
peel zucchini into fettuccine-
shaped strands). 3. Heat ½
tablespoon of olive oil in a frypan
over a medium-high heat. Add the
chicken and cook for 4 min each
side, or until golden brown and
cooked through. Cut into bite-
sized pieces. 4. Add a pinch of salt
to a saucepan filled with water and
bring to the boil. Add the zucchini
noodles (zoodles) and cook for^
30 seconds; remove, strain and
transfer to a serving bowl. 5. Pour
pesto over the zoodles, add chicken
and rocket; stir through. Serve
topped with shaved parmesan.
“I love meditation, but I refer to it as ‘tuning
in’. A couple of years ago, I was talking to my
dad about meditation. I said, ‘I find I’m so still
and enjoy every moment of my day.’ And Dad’s
like, ‘Meditation? Yeah, I tune in every day.’
It wasn’t like he was there in a cross-legged
position with palms facing up. ‘I stand here, I
water the garden, I watch the water drops fall
on the leaves, listening to the cars go by and
the dogs barking,’ he explained. Dad made me
realise you can mediate anytime, anywhere.”MY FOOD
“Figuring out what’s good for you
is a journey of self-discovery. As a
teenager, I worked at a fast-food
chain, indulging in burgers and
thick shakes. I think it’s normal for
young people to not be inquisitive
about nutrition. I competed for
the state in athletics – my goal was
to be in the Olympics – and was
very focused on training, but
wasn’t educated from a nutritional
point of view. Then, as a model,
I switched. I became so strict
with my diet and fitness, I stopped
menstruating for months. I cut
carbs; the weight came off
straightaway. I was vague, moody,
lacked energy and constantly
craved sweets. Your body needs
carbohydrates to survive.
“But I grew up and became
more respectful towards my body,
understanding how to fuel it
properly. Listening to your body
is key – particularly during
pregnancy. If I want four pieces of
fruit a day instead of two, I’ll have
them. If I’m pouring Violet milk
and think it looks nourishing, I’ll
pour myself a glass. I would never
normally drink a random glass of
milk! I give my body what it needs.”MY PHILOSOPHY
Wellness