Just a quick note to let you know I’m sharing my I Quit Sugar message at the Low Carb Down Under Sydney event this Saturday, if you’re keen to hear me harp on a little more about it all! Other speakers include David Gillespie, wholistic dentist Dr Ron Ehrlich, and Aaron MacKenzie from Origin Of Energy, who has worked with me at his studio (and serves a mean choc coconut smoothie!) There will also be a panel session, where you’ll be able to ask questions on low carb and paleo nutrition – so come prepared.

The event is being held at the Wesley Conference Centre on Pitt Street.

You can find the provisional program for Saturday below, and more information, and tickets(!) here

1. Jimmy Moore—Update on low carb around the world
2. David Gillespie—“Sweet Poison and Big Fat Lies”
3. Sarah Wilson—“I Quit Sugar”
4. Costa Georgiadis—“Product Not Produce”
5. Dr Rod Tayler—“Doctors, Health, Weight and Carbohydrates”
6. Dr Ron Ehrlich—“Lessons from the Past”
7. Christine Cronau—”Saturated Fat is Good For You!”
8. Dr Simon Thornley—“Has Dietary Research Helped Us With Our Food Choices?”
9. Aaron McKenzie from Origin of Energy—”Combining Fitness and Nutrition”
10. Vicki Poulter – “Why grass fed animal foods are good for the planet” (as a tribute to Bruce Ward)—“
11. Rob Blomfield—”A farmer’s  journey to primal health”
12. Suzanne Crawt – Paleo in Australia
13. Panel discussion session MC’d by Jimmy Moore—ask the experts!

I rather love Copenhagen.  Marija – the lovely lady who photographed my I Quit Sugar ecookbook; that’s her below – and I spent a week here, mostly shooting the cover and some fun shots for my new book.

We rode around on bikes…here I’m pushing Marija on a rickshaw as we scoot around the city shooting.

There is so much to include in a guide, but I’ll keep to a list of ten reasons to visit. The best overarching theme I could think of was the happiness factor – indeed the Danes are reputedly the happiest people on the planet. They are satisfied with their lives, the various studies, say, they feel heard and there is equality (free eduction! free health!). I loved being here wrapping my head around why this might be so, observing, asking questions of locals. And a few royals. Yes, I was invited to stay at a palace in Copenhagen and a dinner was organised in our honour. The next-in-line-for-the-French-throne-if-there-were-still-a-monarchy was there, six or seven princes and princesses and a few counts…all of whom shared some great insights! A very bizarre and wonderful evening. I cooked two I Quit Sugar meals, too. Strange things happen when you travel…

PS if you’re after exact location details, follow my instagram feed!

10 Reasons why Copenhagen is a happy place to visit

1. The hygge.

I’ve written about hygge before. It’s a very specifically Danish word that is pronounced “hoo-gah” and it defines the core of Danishness as “chic” defines the French. One definition I’ve found says it’s the art of creating intimacy. So it’s an act as well as a feel – a verb and an adjective. Hygge is also something you consciously strive for…it’s about connecting in a cosy, elegant, unfussy way. It’s about weaving friendship and intimacy with ease. When the Danes suggest a place or experience, they always describe it as “cosy”. If it’s cosy, it’s good. Indeed everything they do has a cosy, feel-good, homely vibe. It makes the city just feel like a place you want to stay a while in and get snugly with.

2. The ease.

It’s so easy being a tourist here. Marija and I couldn’t quite believe how smooth it was to get stuff done. We had to create an entire shoot – organise hair, makeup, food, props, lighting equipment etc – in a foreign country. It could’ve been hell, but it was a synch in the end. The Danes are very reserved. But if you reach out first they respond with so much help and advice. And trust. We borrowed plates and bowls and photographic gear from strangers all over town and everyone was so cool with it.

3. It also helped staying at The Avenue Hotel

I want to make special mention of this place because the staff (special shout out to Jens, the handsome kid below) were so helpful and open and happy. Here’s why it made us happy staying here:

Southern Europe so far: je marche, Je mange. That’s pretty much been the picture for the past five weeks. I don’t really do museums or galleries. I travel to eat. I hike to eat. I eat to hike.

At Mercado de San Miguel in Madrid: oysters and alborino

If you’ve been following me on Instagram and Twitter you might have noticed that I’ve been eating a lot. Like, more than ever. And I’ve done so on a paleo(ish), gluten-free, sugar-free regime with a healthful, robust, full-fat, fully passionate focus.

How, so many of you keep asking me? How am I staying healthy? How am I staying starch-free in the UK, Southern Spain, Provence, and now Greece when pretty much everything comes on top of, surrounded by and engorged with potatoes and bread? Or a croissant?

Well, how about I tell you in pictures.