After dealing with stress, overexercise, under and overeating, Nancy decided to change her life. Starting with following a Paleo-ish lifestyle, she began to change her diet, then her physical and mental health, and finally her lifestyle…
Nancy is now a marketing manager for a health and wellness startup, and also yoga and boxing instructor. She shares inspirational posts about food and fitness to her large audience on Instagram and her blog.
We spoke with Nancy about her passion for food. We got a sweet potato toast recipe as a bonus!
What is your favorite dish? What was your childhood favorite?
It’s really hard to choose because it depends on my mood but I will never say no to a really good breakfast taco. Anything in taco form is great! Scrambled eggs, avocado always, and crispy bacon. My childhood favorite I remember is my mum’s handmade dumplings. She would pan-fry them and they were so good! 🙂
What did food mean to you before the lockdown?
Before lockdown, I relied a lot more on snacks and protein bars because I was always on the go. As I was teaching fitness classes and working a full-time job, I didn’t have much time to prepare food.
But during the lockdown, I have been intermittent fasting because it’s easier. I can get started the day, get to work and then make a nice breakfast/brunch. Now, I have much more time to cook and experiment with new recipes and new ingredients.
How did your food choices change during the lockdown? What is a typical day for you?
I have honestly been trying to build my body more intuitively, which I think the lockdown really helped me do. On a typical day, I wake up and make either a coffee or iced matcha. Then I whether head into the workout as the gyms are open now or a home workout. Then I get back, take a shower, and walk my dog. I eat my breakfast around 10:30 AM. I drink lemon juice or apple cider vinegar and ice water mix. My breakfast is easy to prepare – with 2 scrambled eggs, some bacon, avocado — sometimes in breakfast tacos form! This usually tides me over until 2 PM. If I need a snack, I make one depending on my mood. At dinner, I prefer eating protein — ground beef, bison, or turkey or fish with vegetables, gluten-free pasta, or cauliflower rice. Sometimes I order from local restaurants. I’ve been trying to support businesses during this time especially. #supportlocal 🥰
What do you miss the most? What did you discover new?
I miss going back to the gym. Thankfully they are opening. I also miss going to restaurants, hanging out with friends, getting drinks, and chilling just like everything being normal.
I have been experimenting with cooking a bunch of new different things. I made a pork tenderloin for the first time. Recently, I’ve made Lengua tacos, one of my favorite tacos. That’s beef tongue. It is actually super easy in a pressure cooker.
Do you have a food hack or a 2 mins recipe you can share?
Yes! I’ve just posted it recently. Sweet potato toast:
-Take Japanese sweet potatoes (ideally long ones)
-Cut thin slices.
-Cook them in the air fryer for 15 min at 370f.
You can top with anything. I topped mine with cream cheese and peaches on one; avocado, bacon, and eggs on another.
They taste way better than regular sweet potatoes, in my opinion.
Don’t forget to follow @nourishbynancy on Instagram, and take a look at Nancy’s blog!
