Interview with Instagram foodie and blogger Liv from Nourishinglively
Can you tell our readers about yourself and about Nourishinglively?
I’m a third year university student currently studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science and a Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) at Deakin University in Burwood, Victoria. I have a massive passion for eating well and staying active and that is how Nourishinglively came to be. I wanted to share my passion for food and healthy living with the world and what better way than to spam everybody’s Instagram feeds!
You started nourishinglively a few years ago, what gave you the inspiration for this adventure?
It was about August 2015 when I had been making delicious meals and creations for quite some time and my housemate said to me “Liv you take far too much time on your breakfasts to not share it with the world” so that was when I started an instagram account. It’s really just been all about sharing my love and passion for food but is fast becoming more than a lifestyle to me, and I’m loving it! I’ve been vegan for just over a year now, and that in itself is an adventure. Constantly finding out amazing things about food, and broadening my horizons has made this whole instagram journey so much fun! Not only has my knowledge of food grown, I have also become a happier and healthier version of myself!
What do you think is the best service you can provide to your readers?
I love to create simple, healthy and affordable meals that can be replicated in almost any lifestyle. Being a uni student living out of home I know firsthand the pressures of finances and trying to eat healthy on a smaller budget. I want nothing more than to provide my followers with the opportunity to do this in non-boring ways that taste amazing and aren’t too heavy on your finances.
What advice would you give to people wanting to live a healthier lifestyle?
My main advice would be to not be too hard on yourself! I know those wanting to change their lifestyle and eating habits for the better, will tend to go for that “all or nothing” perspective. When in actual fact you should be focusing on the little things and taking it step by step. Nobody is perfect, everybody makes mistakes from time to time. This is all a part of the journey and shouldn’t be the reason you feel poorly of yourself. I know for one that if I restrict myself too much I tend to end up binging, so rather than taking things out of my diet completely I either try and substitute or work on a “rewards” system. For example, once I’ve eaten well for the first half of the day, I’ll reward myself with a smaller portion of the treat. For me this works really well, but each person is different and different things work for different people, so it’s important to find what works for you and go with it. Also, never compare yourself to others. You are you for a reason, OWN IT!
Can you give us a tip on how to overcome the difficulty of eating healthy when on the road?
I think the tip is preparation. If you want to lose weight, be healthy, stay fit and feel good you have to be prepared to put in the hard yards. When travelling, it becomes even more vital that you need to plan ahead. Read up on healthy alternatives available at your next stop, or pack healthy snacks and meals for the road. It’s not hard to buy a pack of carrots and a tub of hummus. Little things like fruit, nuts and raw veggies are all healthy options for snacks whilst on the road. They need little or no preparation time and are a delicious and nutritious alternative to take out options that can too easily become our slip ups.
You call yourself the Breakfast Queen, why is a good breakfast so important?
Breakfast is hands down the most important meal of the day, not only does it set the tone for the rest of your day, it also starts up your metabolism and gets your body up and running for the day. Breakfast provides you with the fuel you need to take on the day, hence why it’s so important to provide your body with right types of fuel of a morning. If I don’t have a good hearty breakfast, I feel sluggish, fatigued and hungry all day. By having a decent meal like (oats, acai, smoothie bowls etc) you’re giving yourself the best possible chance of positive results. Not only are you fuelling your body with the required nutrients for daily activities, but you are also stopping yourself from making poor food choices later on in the day, due to hunger and lack of nutrients. Start the day with an amazingly rich and nutrient dense meal and you’ll be on the right track to a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Thank you for your time Liv,
The team at Absolute Organic
