This time, we had the luxury to talk to our favourite Finnish girl, Tuulia Talvio. A great spirited woman, who calls herself a creator and who’s not only boosting her digital platform but also building a new Nordic food brand, Puroa Goods, and being a mom at the same time. For sure, we had a lot to chat with her. Now, we can properly start the New Year feeling inspired to be our best conscious selves for us and for the world.

Less & Conscious: – Can you share a short description of yourself? Where do you live?

Tuulia Talvio: – Hey! I’m Tuulia (@tuuliatalvio), 31-year-old wellness enthusiast, entrepreneur, mom, and wife, and I live in Helsinki, Finland. I was born and raised in the western part of Finland, by the sea. I’m always dreaming of living somewhere warmer, but still I’m truly attached to my Nordic roots, as there is this certain magic (and all these awesome wild berries!), that we have here up in the North.

L&C: What do you do?

T.T.: – I like to call myself a creator, as I tend to do lots of different things and I love to be involved in creating something new, whether its physical or digital. I do content creation, brand marketing, photography, recipe development, and creative consulting for different companies. Last year I also started a new food company, Puroa Goods (@puroagoods), together with two of my friends.

L&C: – Tell us more about your brand, Puroa Goods. How did you come up with the idea, what is the
purpose of the brand?

T.T.: I’ve been working in the food business for years, and a few months after the pandemic started in 2020, a friend of mine asked if I’d be interested in developing some recipes for their new business idea and also joining the company. The idea evolved as time passed and, in the end, Puroa Goods was born.
The core idea behind Puroa Goods is to make healthy snacks from 100% real ingredients. Last year we launched our smoothie line with five different oat-based smoothies that are all vegan, gluten-free, made without added sugar, and have really great nutritional values. We utilize pure Nordic ingredients and create products that we ourselves want to use daily. Besides smoothies, we also have some new products in the horizon for this year. It’s taken a lot of work to get a food company started, but now it’s exciting to see the products take off and people enjoying them.

L&C: – What do you do to lead a more conscious life?

T.T.: – I try to focus on the small things that I can influence and that can make a big impact in the long run. I shop vintage and prefer sustainable brands for clothing, cosmetics, and décor, eat lots of plants, avoid single-use products, do meal planning, and try to minimize food waste as best as I can.

L&C: – A book, a documentary and a movie that you can recommend us?

T.T.: – I loved the book “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle. “The Social Dilemma” really got me thinking about how I spend my time in social media and how it affects our kids. I feel like I haven’t seen a movie in a while but just binge-watched too many series haha. “Home” is great for fellow architecture and design lovers, “Modern Love” for getting teary-eyed.

L&C: – Your favorite recipe? Tell us how you make it.

T.T.: – I love creating healthy desserts and I think one of my best recipes is this super easy chocolate cake that I created kind of accidentally. The cake is made just from ripe bananas, eggs, dates, raw cacao powder and vanilla, and the ingredients are mixed in a blender. It’s super easy to make and it turns into this fudge-y, brownie-like cake. I like to top it with chocolate cream frosting (either made with cashews or whipped coconut cream) and lots of fresh berries.

L&C: – What are your tips to cook in a healthier and more conscious way?

T.T.: – Eat as many colors as you can. Buy more fresh produce and find a few recipes that you like that can get you started. I really like baking and started to experiment healthier options through making new desserts, so try to find the areas that get you excited. Plan your meals, make a shopping list, and focus on minimizing food waste.

L&C: – How do you combine building a brand and being a mother with living a more conscious lifestyle?

T.T.: – Some days are harder and some days are easier haha.. Overall, I think combining motherhood and work is sometimes tricky, and it’s easy to feel all the pressures that the modern-day society gives us as women. I try to do the best that I can each day and I keep reminding myself that we should think of our careers more as a marathon instead of a sprint.

L&C: – Think of a sustainable brand that you like, which one is it? Why did you choose it?

T.T.: – I really like Everlane. I love their clothes (the quality is great and the prices are affordable) and find the brand very cool, well-made, and easily approachable.

L&C: – What would you say to someone who is trying to live a more sustainable life?

T.T.: – Choose one thing that you can do today. And then do it again.

L&C: – Before we end, what are your wishes for this 2022? Personally, professionally and for the world.

T.T.: – First and foremost, I’m really hoping for a healthy 2022 for me and my family and for my friends. Last year was tough personally as I went through some health challenges and my friends have gone through a lot too. So I’m just really happy to be in good health right now. 

Professionally I’m hoping to create more exciting new products, that can help people live a healthier and more balanced life. 

For everyone, I hope this is the year we can start gathering stress-free and celebrate life.