Beach Book Club: Wholesome by Sarah
We’re so thrilled to introduce our first Beach Book Club book of the season, Wholesome by Sarah. We are big fans of nutritionist and cookbook author, Sarah Pound, here at UNE PIECE. We were very excited to get our hands on her new cookbook Wholesome by Sarah. We were even more excited to get to chat to Sarah about her new cookbook and how she built a successful career by following her passion.
How did ‘Wholesome by Sarah’ come to be?
Cooking has always been a passion of mine. As a child, I would set up a pretend camera on a tripod and invite my three younger sisters to sit on stools around the kitchen bench as if they were my audience. I'd act out a cooking show, teaching them recipes and kitchen tips.
During high school, I worked part-time as a cook in cafes and restaurants, where my love for food deepened. My favourite school subjects were Food Technology and Health and Human Development. After graduating, I studied Food and Nutrition at university while working at The Essential Ingredient at the Prahran Market, further immersing myself in the culinary world.
At 27, I launched my first business, a catering company called Two Pounds. It started in my tiny Prahran kitchen, delivering nutritious, home-cooked meals across Melbourne. Over the next eight years, Two Pounds flourished, eventually catering large, high-end events, including weddings across Victoria.
When COVID-19 struck, the business came to a standstill for nearly two years. Instead of waiting for the situation to resolve, I shifted my focus and sought a new way to channel my passion. That’s how Wholesome By Sarah was born.
In just 18 months, my online community grew rapidly amassing over 200,000 followers within the first year. This journey has been nothing short of a dream come true. My goal is to share my love of healthy, wholesome food in a way that makes cooking simple, enjoyable, and accessible for everyone.
At UNE PIECE, we love to celebrate with seafood and white wine by the water. What are your top dishes to make (and eat!) for effortless summer entertaining?
Effortless summer entertaining is all about fresh, flavourful dishes that bring people together. Some of my favourites include:
Summer grain salads: Currently loving my roasted pumpkin, farro, dried cranberry, and feta salad.
Shared-style BBQs: Think bbq meats paired with vibrant salads, fresh baguettes, and dips.
Simple seafood platters: Prawns, oysters, and fresh fish paired with a zesty homemade dressing or salsa.
Who or what inspires you in your life and work?
My three daughters are my biggest inspiration. As a feminist, I deeply believe that women have every right to pursue their passions and build the lives of their dreams. My girls remind me daily why I want to contribute to a world where women can thrive.
I see so many women sacrifice their dreams, putting their families and partners first, often at the expense of their own aspirations. This fuels my drive to challenge those norms and create a world where women feel empowered to pursue their goals.
I’m also inspired by incredible women who’ve shaped my perspective, including Sheryl Sandberg, Annabel Crabb, Arianna Huffington, Mel Robbins, Kemi Nekvapil, Emma Isaacs, Janine Allis, and Mia Freedman. Each of them has left a mark on how I approach life and business.
What is your Life Mantra?
Discover who you truly are and embrace that person authentically and unapologetically every single day. By living as your true self, you’ll naturally find your people—those who uplift, inspire, and accept you for who you are.
What is the toughest lesson you’ve had to learn, and how do you deal with overcoming adversity in life and business?
The toughest lesson I’ve learned is that things don’t always go according to plan, no matter how hard you work or prepare.
When faced with adversity, I remind myself that tomorrow is a new day. Resilience comes from acknowledging setbacks, learning from them, and finding ways to improve and move forward.
What is the best piece of life advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received is: “Don’t let the fear of failure hold you back.” It’s a reminder to take chances, embrace challenges, and trust the process—even when the outcome is uncertain. Failures are going to take place – the value is in what you learn from the failure.
What are the three things you can’t live without?
Besides my husband and three girls:
My fan: I can’t sleep without it—even during Melbourne’s coldest winters!
Sunglasses: Love sunglasses, I’m so attached to them that I joked about wearing them down the aisle at my wedding!
Music: It’s my therapy and inspiration. I listen to music daily—it sets the tone for my mood and creativity.
What can we expect next, and what are you excited about in the future?
I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be launching a Wholesome By Sarah subscription program next year. This membership will provide exclusive access to all my recipes, along with tools to create personalised meal plans, categorised shopping lists, and even the ability to transfer your list to an online supermarket cart for delivery or pickup.
We’ve been working on this for over a year, and I can’t wait to share it with my wonderful community. It’s an exciting step toward making healthy, wholesome cooking even more accessible and enjoyable!
What do you think of the UNE PIECE brand and its vision to empower and build confidence in women?
I absolutely love UNE PIECE’s focus on empowering women and fostering confidence. Over the years, I’ve seen how transformative it can be when women feel comfortable in their own skin and connect with one another.
UNE PIECE provides an incredible platform to uplift women, helping them embrace their individuality and connect in meaningful ways. When women are confident and supported, they can achieve extraordinary things. This aligns with my personal vision of encouraging women to pursue their passions and prioritise themselves.