Each week we profile a different Canadian Food Blogger who is part of the FBC community. This week we meet Tisha, the Toronto food blogger behind The Nourished Mind where she focuses on taking a holistic approach to food, wellness and the mind-body connection.
Name:Tisha Riman
Blog name: The Nourished Mind
Where were you born? Winnipeg, Manitoba!
Where are you living now? Toronto, Ontario
Why did you start your blog?
I started my blog back in 2014 as a way to share all things health and wellness—and so I could stop annoying my friends and family. I was in school for holistic nutrition and really wanting to share gluten-free recipes, so a blog seemed like a natural way to go. Of course, early on, all the photos were shot on my floor, with fluorescent lighting and usually my cat, in frame, sniffing things out.
How did you decide on your blog name?
I named my blog “The Nourished Mind” because I wanted to really focus on mental health and mindfulness. My own journey into healthy eating stemmed from an eating disorder coupled with really bad anxiety around food, so I wanted a blog name that felt like it would be a calming, anti-stress space.
What do you blog about?
I mostly share healthy recipes! I went to culinary school, and currently work as a food stylist, so food is always on the brain. All my recipes are gluten-free, and follow a plant-based, paleo(ish) framework. I’m a big believer that what you eat influences how you feel, so I try to share recipes that are mood-boosting and anti-inflammatory. I also love to write about mind health, self-care and dealing with stress! (And occasionally things about my pets slip in there, too.)
Is your blog your business, your hobby or something in between?
Probably somewhere in between. While my blog is not my main source of income, it does act as a portfolio that has landed me jobs like nutrition writing, recipe development, meal planning and food styling. It’s a great way for me to share what I’m learning, practice something new (like a photography technique) and then use that to build my business.
What post on your blog most encapsulates you and why?
Definitely this post about Chocolate Maca Zucchini Muffins! Not only do I love the photos, and this recipe is bomb dot com (seriously, go make them), it’s also just my signature writing style: funny, friendly and a little ridiculous. Also, it uses maca, and if you know me at all, I’ll add adaptogens to pretty much anything.
Which post do you wish received more love and why?
I’ve been trying to figure out how to blend queer issues and healthy living into my blog, because it’s such a huge part of my identity. I wish this post got a little more attention because the statistics on mental health amongst LGBT+ people is staggering and definitely something I want to bring more attention to. Also, chocolate chai banana bread? Yes please.
Which post’s success surprised you and why?
This guy! Coconut Fudge Bliss Balls. It’s hands down my most popular post—which is funny because, looking at it now, I cringe at the photography.
What’s your biggest challenge as a blogger?
Finding time to create content can definitely be a struggle, especially as someone who works full-time, and then does freelance on the side. Sometimes when you’re tired, it can be hard to have the motivation, or creativity to keep posting. I’ve been wanting to go up to two posts a week—one recipe and one lifestyle post—but so far, there just hasn’t been time! I try to be consistent, but it’s also important to have a healthy balance, so if one week something slips, that’s totally okay.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a blogger?
To be vulnerable! I share a lot of my personal life on the blog, and it always blows me away that the most personal posts get the most response. People want to connect with people, and we’re naturally curious (ahem, nosy) about how other people live. So I’ve learned to lean into that. Also, the importance of sharing posts on sharing networks, like FoodGawker—I didn’t start doing that until this year, and it’s been super helpful.
Share a couple of your favourite food blogs to read. Why do you like them?
The Bojon Gourmet - The photography is gorgeous, and everything is gluten-free.
The Paleo Mom - I think Dr. Sarah Ballantyne is crazy brilliant, and she’s a go-to for me for updates in the health and science sphere.
Favourite food - care to share a recipe or a restaurant destination?
I have such a sweet tooth—I love all things rich and decadent. I try to eat as grain-free as possible when it comes to baked goods, so Butternut Baking Co here in Toronto is my go-to for dairy-free, refined-sugar free desserts. My favourites are the cinnamon buns and cupcakes. I have a solid strategy where I buy one for home, and one to eat on the walk home, because who are we kidding?
What are you working on next for your blog?
Currently, I’m working on trying to get more lifestyle content on my blog. I’m writing about adaptogens, medicinal mushrooms, balancing blood sugar, MCT oil. I’m also working on an ebook all about eating for brain health, cognitive function and stress-free living!
What else should we know about you that may or not be in your “About Me” page?
I’m very eccentric! I don’t think I do anything by the book, and I’ve always been a little weird. I’m a pretty big feminist, and really passionate about the LGBT+ community. I also love to pole dance, because it’s such an epic workout. Seriously, I love barre, yoga and bootcamps, but I think pole takes the cake for how challenging it can be!
What makes your blog unique?
I’d like to hope I bring my own flair and personality to the blog. I think mindfulness is definitely more on the map now, but when I started my blog, no one was talking about nutrition and the mind. So I’m happy to fill that niche. I also don’t know of many bloggers who are queer and into nutrition (but if they exist, please reach out!).
What part of the FBC site do you find most useful?
There have been so many useful posts that I still refer back to. This one on quitting your job to become a freelance writer and () and this one on the importance of diversifying your blog income are my favourites.
Get Social with Tisha and The Nourished Mind:
Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
You can unsubscribe any time!
Leave a Reply